RCRCA Home Page

The Redwood-Cottonwood Rivers Control Area (RCRCA) is an eight county non-regulatory joint powers organization which was established in 1983. RCRCA works to enhance and protect the Redwood and Cottonwood Rivers by making land use changes that improve water quality.

Its purpose is to develop and implement plans for the Redwood and Cottonwood watersheds to:

protect property, streams and lakes from sedimentation and pollution;
maintain and improve the quality of water in streams, lakes and ground water;
protect property from flood damages;
control erosion of land; and
improve recreational and wildlife opportunities.

These points are summarized in our mission statement: RCRCA, in cooperation with partner groups and landowners, works to improve water quality, reduce erosion, and enhance recreational opportunities by providing education, outreach, monitoring and technical assistance within the watershed boundaries.

Members include the counties and soil and water conservation districts of Brown, Cottonwood, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Pipestone, Redwood, and Yellow Medicine. It is governed by a sixteen member Board of Director's that meet monthly.

RCRCA is a recognized leader in watershed management, working with local, state and federal agencies, as well as private foundations to distribute information, and to finance and carry out programs of benefit to the two watersheds.

Brochure maps2

Thank you for visiting the Redwood-Cottonwood Rivers Control Area website! We hope you enjoy browsing our website and that you find alot of useful information. We look forward to sharing our knowledge and experience in order to help you improve the water quality in your area.

Website Accessibility

It is the goal of the Redwood-Cottonwood Rivers Control Area that the information on its website be accessible to individuals with disabilities in compliance with the requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and that the statutes implementing regulations at 34 C.F.R. Part 104, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and that statutes implementing regulations at 28 C.F.R. Part 35.

If you have difficulty accessing information on our website due to a disability, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and provide the URL (web address) of the material you tried to access, the problem you experienced and your contact information. Be sure to include your name, email address and phone number so that we may contact you to provide the information in another format.

Upcoming Meetings:

Joint RCRCA/Area II Meeting starts at 9:00 a.m.

May 6, 2021 - Board Meeting - Via Zoom

June 7, 2021 - Board Meeting - Hybrid (Via Zoom/Redwood Learning Center) - Monday Meeting

July 1, 2021 - Board Meeting - Hybrid (Via Zoom/Marshall - Lyon County Commissioner's Room) - Thursday Meeting

August, 5, 2021 - Board Meeting - Hibrid (Via Zoom/Redwood Learning Center) - Thursday Meeting

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Meeting Locations:

Lyon Street Service Center/BWSR Meeting Room, 1400 E. Lyon Street, Marshall, MN 56258

Redwood Government Center - Learning Center, 501 S. Mill Street, Redwood Falls, MN 56283

Lyon County Commissioner's Room - Lyon County Courthouse, 607 W. Main, Marshall, MN 56258

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2021 CANOE TRIPS - RCRCA CANOE TRIP ON THE COTTONWOOD IS CANCELLED DUE TO A UNREPAIRED LAUNCH SITE SOUTH ESSIG THAT IS NOT SAFE. FOR THE REDWOOD RIVER CANOE TRIP - STAY TUNED WE ARE MONITORING THE START OF CONSTRUCTION FOR LAKE REDWOOD RECLAMATION DREDGING. IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO DO A TRIP IN 2021. WE WILL FOLLOW COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS.

Please check back next year for the 3rd week in June.

Check out our Annual Canoe Trip page! It is a lot of fun!

Canoe/Kayak Rental - Call 507-532-1325 to make arrangements.