Chisago Lakes Chain of Lakes Watershed mapA Watershed is an area of land that rain and snowmelt flows over on its way to entering a lake, river or wetland. A watershed is like a funnel – collecting water within the drainage area and channeling it into a stream, river or lake. Even if your home is not next to a lake, river or wetland, you still live in a watershed and the rain and snowmelt from your property flows to area lakes and rivers.
The Chisago Lakes Chain of Lakes Watershed contains the communities of Center City, Lindstrom, and large portions of Chisago City and Chisago Lakes Township. Approximately 14,100 people live in the Chisago Lakes Chain of Lakes Watershed.
The Chisago Lakes Chain of Lakes Watershed contains many of the premier recreational lakes in the northeast metro area. There are 19 lakes in the Watershed including North & South Center, North & South Lindstrom, Chisago and Green Lakes. Combined there are over 7,000 acres of lakes within the Watershed and many miles of streams.
Runoff water drains through many streams into the lakes. The water eventually flows from the Watershed into the Sunrise River via Bloomquist Creek. Water then flows north to the St. Croix River. What we do in the Chisago Lakes Watershed has an effect on the Sunrise River and the St. Croix.