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The Upper Iowa River Watershed is located in a very distinct geologic region known as the "Driftless Area", a region that lies within the larger Upper Mississippi River Watershed. The Driftless Area encompasses portions of four states including Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois. The Upper Iowa River Watershed, 78% of which is located in the farthest northeast corner of the Iowa and 22% of which is located in the farthest southeast corner of Minnesota, is known for its towering limestone bluffs, hardwood forests, public natural areas, exceptional fishery, trout streams, waterfalls and abundant wildlife. Watershed elevations range from about 1,440 [...]

Upper Iowa River Publications, Presentations, and Documents from 1890 – Present 2022 Upper Iowa Project Final Report 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2000 1999 1998 1995 1993 1991 1990 1989 1984 1982 1975 [...]

The hydrologic system of the UIR watershed, with its shallow to bedrock soils, active karst features, and surface to groundwater interactions, intensifies water quality issues. The Iowa DNR draws attention to the vulnerability of surface water and groundwater in karst terrain like that found in the UIR Watershed on their webpage, “Karst Terrain and Sinkholes” They note the following. “Karst terrain is characterized by the presence of easily dissolved bedrock (limestone and dolomite) near the ground surface. Because carbonate rocks can be dissolved by groundwater, karst areas are often characterized by sinkholes, springs, and losing streams where some surface [...]