Red River of the North ecosystem

• Category: Inland Aquatic Biomes
• Geographic Location: North America
• Summary: This important river has had a number of major flooding episodes, to which humans have responded with dam-building, a practice that challenges some species and habitats.

The Red River of the North originates at the confluence of the Bois de Sioux River in North Dakota and the Otter Tail River in Minnesota, and flows north through the Red River Valley, forming part of the boundary between the two states. The river then flows into Canada toward Lake Winnipeg and ultimately into Hudson Bay.

The Red River has its origins in a flatbed lake, Lake Agassiz, and was created from about 9000 to 8000 BCE, toward the end of the Wisconsin Glacial Episode. When the lake finished draining, probably in about 7500 BCE, the lake shrank, and the river was all that remained.

Because of the flat plains on either side of it, the Red River of the North regularly floods, creating rich alluvial soils around it. These soils attracted the Métis people; and the rich fauna there led to the arrival of European fur traders, followed by the establishment of towns, the most important being Winnipeg, formerly the center of the Red River Colony.

The river valley has endured major flooding five times since 1826, including in 2022, which was the worst the Red River Valley had seen in decades. The prospect of flooding was a particular concern, and in 1969, the Red River Floodway, a large channel that aims to take water to the east of the city of Winnipeg, was completed. It has been used many times over the years, but the floodway was unable to block the floodwaters in 1997 and 2009, although it reduced the amount of water that otherwise would have inundated Winnipeg.

The river’s path from Lake Winnipeg flows through a range of biomes. It begins in a coniferous forest area, then moves through deciduous forest and grassland near where the river water helps irrigate some of the major spring-wheat regions.

Biodiversity

The river flows through various northern United States jurisdictions and two Canadian provinces, and there is wide temperature fluctuation, consisting of hot summers when temperatures can rise to 100 Fahrenheit (F) (37 Celsius [C]) and cold winters, often marked by heavy snows, blizzards, and temperatures consistently below freezing. In Fargo, North Dakota, as an example, the average annual temperature is 41 F (5 C), with the average summer temperature of 71 F (21 C) and the average winter temperature of 7 F (minus 14 C).

A wide range of flora and fauna have established themselves along and in the Red River of the North. Until the nineteenth century, bison herds grazed in the grasslands along the river but the herds were destroyed; trappers then decimated many of the communities of squirrels and beavers. These latter animals are once again relatively common in the twenty-first century, as are prairie dogs, rabbits, and foxes. Also present are pheasants, migrating waterfowl, whitetail deer, mourning doves, partridge, turkeys, squirrels, and rabbits.

The floodplains have provided habitat for migrating shorebirds, and in the river, many species of fish have established habitats, although, with the runoff from agricultural lands and effluent from cities, these numbers have diminished significantly in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

The river water has long been turbid, which has led to the proliferation of mayflies, that, in turn, have been good for the fish. The best-known fish is the channel catfish, which, along with the carp, continues to attract recreational anglers from around the world. The river also is home to northern pike, smallmouth bass, walleye, and sauger.

The lake sturgeon, which was relatively common until the start of the twentieth century, declined because of pollution and the damming of nearby rivers. In 1995, scientists estimated that only a few sturgeon were left. A major restocking program started in 1997 and was ultimately successful. In 2022, the sturgeon in the lake naturally spawned for the first time. Farther along the river, in Canada, are abundant trout, pike, and golden eye.

Along the banks of the river, in areas that have not been cleared, are birch trees and many species of birds, including the great gray owl, the official bird of the Canadian province of Manitoba, through which the river flows. Among the waterfowl of the area are various grebes and gulls, loons, gannets, and cormorants.

Environmental Threats

River flooding continues to threaten the river basin area because of a changing climate and the drainage of area prairie wetlands. Climate change is causing more extreme weather, such as intense spring storms and melting river ice. River dams were constructed to help alleviate the flooding. However, the dams pose other environmental issues to the area by changing or choking off the natural water supply to fish, plants, birds, and mammals. Sand mining also poses a threat to the region.

As wetlands in the Red River region are reduced for agricultural use and urban development, their natural water flow regulation also decreases. This increases the region’s susceptibility to flooding events, which pollutes the water system and impacts the habitat of native species. Climate change also contributes to water level and flow fluctuations, with extreme weather events increasingly occurring in the first two decades of the twenty-first century. However, a longitudinal research study of the water level and quality in the region in 2024 indicated that human activity, like dam operation, sand mining, and certain farming practices, is a much greater threat to the Red River basin ecosystem than climate change impacts in terms of water level fluctuation and river flow.

Many organizations continue efforts to monitor the conditions of the Red River ecosystem. The International Red River Watershed Board monitors and researches water quality, flood and drought conditions, ecosystem biodiversity, and the availability of nutrients in the region. Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Wetlands Reserve and Conservation Reserve Programs and the Red River Basin Commission also contribute to conservation efforts in the area. Conservation efforts primarily focus on protecting remaining wetlands, reestablishing previous wetland sites, and enhancing the natural habitat to encourage native flora and fauna. Sustainable agricultural practices, like no-till farming and rotational grazing, have been encouraged to improve water quality and manage the pollution caused by farm runoff and soil degradation.

Bibliography

Drache, Hiram M. The Day of the Bonanza: A History of Bonanza Farming in the Red River Valley of the North. Interstate Printers & Publishers, 1981.

Morse, Jacob. "The Worst in More than a Decade: Looking Back at the Red River Valley Spring Flooding That Is Finally Receding." KFYR TV, 6 June 2022, www.kfyrtv.com/2022/06/06/worst-more-than-decade-looking-back-red-river-valley-spring-flooding-that-is-finally-receding. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Murray, Stanley Norman. The Valley Comes of Age: A History of Agriculture in the Valley of the Red River of the North, 1812-1920. North Dakota Institute for Regional Studies, 1967.

Quang, Nguyen Hao, et al. “Long-Term Water Level Dynamics in the Red River Basin in Response to Anthropogenic Activities and Climate Change.” Science of the Total Environment, vol. 912, 2024, doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168985. Accessed 2 Jan. 2025.

"Red River of the North - Marsh River." Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, www.pca.state.mn.us/watershed-information/red-river-of-the-north-marsh-river. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

"Red River of the North." National Wildlife Federation, www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Wild-Places/Red-River-of-the-North. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

"Red River Basin." North Dakota Department of Water Resources, www.swc.nd.gov/basins/red‗river/red‗river.html. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

"What Climate Change Means for North Dakota." US Environmental Protection Agency, Aug. 2016, digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc949552/. Accessed 2 Jan. 2025.