Annual Watershed Wide Clean-up
For more than a decade, volunteers have combed the banks of streams and waterways in and around Owatonna to clean up trash and debris from the Straight River. Every year, more garbage is removed by hard-working individuals and businesses who are dedicated to making a difference. This is the largest one-day clean-up event in Minnesota with 200-plus volunteers working in nine locations across the Cannon River Watershed.
Straight River
One of the great natural resources that the City of Owatonna can be proud of is the Straight River. As the chief tributary of the Cannon River, the Straight River is an important and scenic river in its own right. It originates in southern Steele County at Oak Glen Lake near Bixby and flows northward through Steele County into southern Rice County, passing through the cities of Owatonna and Medford, to its mouth at the Cannon River in Faribault.
Clean River Partners
The City of Owatonna is very fortunate to have the support of the Clean River Partners (CRP) in making great strides at improving the Straight River and Maple Creek. With the help of CRP and 300 volunteers, over 9 tons of trash and debris has been removed from the watershed. The event takes place each year on the third Saturday in September.
