Environment

Olmsted County works to preserve existing natural areas and wildlife, promote sound policies, educational and discussion opportunities.

Decorah Edge

The “Decorah Edge” is defined as the area in which the Decorah, Platteville, or Glenwood formation is the first encountered bedrock according to the “Bedrock Geology: Steele, Dodge, Olmsted and Winona Counties” data plate produced by the Minnesota Geological Survey – University of Minnesota in 2004, as modified by field investigation or more precise mapping; and having a depth to bedrock of less than twenty-five feet according to the “Depth to Bedrock: Steele, Dodge, Olmsted and Winona Counties” data plate produced by the Minnesota Geological Survey – University of Minnesota in 2004, as modified by field investigation, reliable well logs, or more precise mapping; and for which there are contiguous adjacent areas with the Cummingsville or higher formations as the first encountered bedrock.

• City of Rochester Decorah Edge Features Map
• City of Rochester Decorah Edge Map Showing Hydric Soils and Cummingsville Formation
• Section 9.20 Decorah Edge Overlay District
• Olmsted County Wetland Conservation Ordinance
• City of Rochester Unified Development Code

Decorah Edge Features Maps

• Cascade TWP
• Dover TWP
• Elmira TWP
• Eyota TWP
• Farmington TWP
• Haverhill TWP
• High Forest TWP
• Kalmar TWP
• Marion TWP
• New Haven TWP
• Orion TWP
• Oronoco TWP
• Pleasant Grove TWP
• Quincy TWP
• Rochester TWP
• Rock Dell TWP
• Viola TWP

Wetlands

• Olmsted County Wetland Conservation Ordinance

City of Rochester Wetland Maps

• Wetlands - North Half of City
• Wetlands - South Half of City

Olmsted County Potential Future Wetlands

• Map of Potential Future Wetland Areas Within Olmsted County
• Wetlands 101

Olmsted County Water Management Plan

The Olmsted County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution on June 9, 2009, requiring the update and revision of the Olmsted County Water Management Plan, as authorized under Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 103B.301, the Comprehensive Local Water Management Act. A public hearing was held on July 24, 2012 to take public testimony on the draft plan document, Olmsted County Water Management Plan 2013-2023, and decide whether to send the document on for State review. This hearing was continued to August 14, 2012, at which time the County Board voted to send the draft plan on for State review.

The draft document has been submitted to the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) for the required 60-day period for State agency review and BWSR Board approval. After State approval, the Olmsted County Board of Commissioners will be asked to give final approval to this plan and adopt it.

The draft plan, as well as other supporting documents, can be found on the Olmsted County Environmental Resources Department’s webpage for the Water Management Plan.