Streams
Le Sueur County has numerous streams; 45 in total! Our most notable stream is the Minnesota River which defines the western boundary of the County. Our streams provide numerous recreational activities, but also serve as an important function when it comes to drainage, specifically surface flow and runoff.
Volunteer Streams Monitoring Program
We currently do not have a Volunteer Stream Monitoring Program. However, we would love to create one! If you are interested in sampling a stream near you, please reach out to our office to see how you can get started!
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Surface Water Assessment Monitoring Program
The State of Minnesota has entered into its second round of developing the Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies Report (WRAPS). This report assesses conditions and resources within a watershed and provides recommendations for protection and improvement efforts. As part of developing this report, water resources, both lakes and streams, are monitored and sampled for different water quality parameters. For this second round of monitoring efforts, lakes were primarily chosen based off of local and watershed priorities. Local government units are not required to participate in these efforts; however, Le Sueur County and Le Sueur SWCD are active participants in this program!
The Cannon River Watershed was sampled in 2022 and 2023. Streams that were sampled during these efforts include: Cannon River
The Middle Minnesota River Watershed was sampled in 2024 and 2025. Streams that were sampled during these efforts include: Shanaska Creek.
The Lower Minnesota River Watershed was sampled in 2025 and will be sampled in 2026 as well. Streams that were sampled during these efforts include: Le Sueur Creek, Forest Prairie Creek, Sand Creek, and Unnamed Creek 761 (Near Henderson).
Currently there are no updated WRAPS reports available for recent monitoring efforts. To view recent data that was collected for lakes in these watersheds, please visit the following website: https://webapp.pca.state.mn.us/surface-water/search.
The Cannon River expands 112 miles and begins at Shields Lake in Rice County. The river then flows into Le Sueur County connecting with numerous lakes and streams and continues to flows east into Cannon Lake and Byllesby Reservoirs. The Cannon River outlets into the Mississippi River near Red Wing.
The Cannon River was sampled in Le Sueur County just south of Dora Lake on County Road 3. Currently the Cannon River is impaired for E.coli, Benthic macroinvertebrates bioassessment, and dissolved oxygen.
This Cannon River is located within the Cannon River Watershed. While the Cannon River is not directly a priority water resource within the Cannon River Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan, other resources such as lakes and streams and their subwatersheds are priorities, and do impact the health of the Cannon River. Furthermore, it is still considered a local priority.
Forest Prairie Creek expands 13.72 miles and its headwaters begin a few miles west of Montgomery. The creek begins to flow northwest, just north of St. Thomas, and then turns southwest until it meets the confluence with Le Sueur Creek; approximately 1 mile from the City of Le Sueur.
Forest Prairie Creek was sampled in Le Sueur County just south of Dora Lake on County Road 3. Currently the Forest Prairie Creek is impaired for E.coli, Benthic macroinvertebrates bioassessment, and Fish bioassessments.
Forest Prairie Creek is located within the Lower Minnesota River Watershed. Forest Prairie Creek is a priority water resource within the Lower Minnesota River East Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan, and is still considered a local priority.
Le Sueur Creek flows 24.72 miles and begins at the outlet of Greenleaf Lake in Le Sueur County. From the outlet of Greenleaf Lake, the creek flows north and then turns south and continues flow west, just north of Le Center, before flowing north towards the City of Le Sueur where it meets Forest Prairie Creek before outletting into the Minnesota River. Le Sueur Creek has many small unnamed tributaries.
Le Sueur Creek was sampled in Le Sueur County in 2 locations. One is sample location is on CR 116 (Jay St) which is right before the confluence of Le Sueur Creek and Forest Prairie Creek. The other sample location is on County Highway 28 which is after the confluence of Le Sueur Creek and Forest Prairie Creek and right before Le Sueur Creek outlets into the Minnesota River. Currently the Le Sueur Creek is impaired for E.coli, Benthic macroinvertebrates bioassessment, and Fish bioassessments.
Le Sueur Creek is located within the Lower Minnesota River Watershed. Le Sueur Creek is a priority water resource within the Lower Minnesota River East Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan, and is still considered a local priority.
Sand Creek expands 39.87 miles and its headwaters begin just north of Sanborn Lake in Le Sueur County. The creek continues to flow north through Le Sueur County and east of the City of New Prague. Sand Creek then flows north into Scott County and takes a turn west. The creek then continues to flow north through the City of Jordan. The last stretch of the Creek flows north through the Minnesota National Valley Wildlife Refuge and then outlets into the Minnesota River just south of the City of Shakopee.
Sand Creek was sampled in Le Sueur County on the intersection of CR 164 and CR 145. Currently Sand Creek is impaired for E.coli, Nutrients, Turbidity, Chlorides, Benthic macroinvertebrates bioassessment, and Fish bioassessments.
Sand Creek is located within the Lower Minnesota River Watershed. Sand Creek is a priority water resource within the Lower Minnesota River East Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan, and is still considered a local priority.
Shanaska Creek flows 7.77 miles and begins at the outlet of Lake Washington in Le Sueur County. From the outlet of Lake Washington, the creek flows north and then turns west at the confluence with Dog Cree and continues flow west through the City of Kasota and outlets into the Minnesota River north of the City.
Shanaska Creek was sampled in Le Sueur County just south of Dora Lake on County Road 3. Currently Shanaska Cree is impaired for E.coli, Benthic macroinvertebrates bioassessment, and Fish bioassessments.
Shanaska Creek is located within the Middle Minnesota River-Mankato Watershed. Shanaska Creek is a priority water resource within the Middle Minnesota River-Mankato Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan, and is considered a local priority.
Unnamed Creek 761 1.56 miles and its headwaters begin at Judicial Ditch 1 which is north of the City of Le Sueur and west of Highway 169. The creek begins to flow south and makes a horseshoe shape and then flows north outletting into Judicial Ditch 2. The outlet of Unnamed Creek 761 is about a half mile from the Minnesota River.
Unnamed Creek 761 was sampled in Le Sueur County on CR 118 (Henderson Station Rd). Currently Unnamed Creek 761 is impaired for E.coli.
Unnamed Creek 761 is located within the Lower Minnesota River Watershed. Unnamed Creek 761 is a priority water resource within the Lower Minnesota River East Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan, and is considered a local priority.