At the edges of the glacial lake plain, the elevation sharply increases at the beach ridges left behind by the receding lake. The beach ridges are home to some of the last vestiges of native tallgrass prairie in the region, and a large source of commercial sand and gravel. Above these ridge lines, the uplands contain numerous prime recreational lakes in the southeast and extensive areas of peatlands and wetlands in the northeast. In addition to issues of water quantity, residents are also concerned with the quality of their water. The large cities on the Red River draw their water from the river, and other cities rely on clean ground water for their supply.
Clean water is essential for both healthy people and a healthy economy in the Red River Basin.
The MPCA performed water quality assessments for selected rivers and lakes in the Red River Basin in 1996. River assessments based on monitoring of streams and surveys of resource managers showed significant water quality problems in the basin. Impairment of streams was found to be caused primarily by high levels of sediment and bacteria, and low levels of dissolved oxygen. Habitat alterations have also degraded Red River Basin streams. Concerns also exist that the quality and quantity of ground-water are being threatened by irrigation, landfills, failing septic systems, abandoned wells, and leaking underground storage tanks.