The overall plan is designed to gather information on almost every aspect of the watershed district. These include a description of the watershed which lists: the general features of the watershed district, the economy, the hydrologic characteristics, the general water quality, the water uses, fish and wildlife resources, water resource projects, water-related problems in the District, and management policies and regulations.

The Overall Plan provides a strategy for establishing water management and conservation programs that incorporate the desires of the local residents and officials of the cities, townships and counties within the District. Minnesota Statutes 103D prescribes the contents of the overall plan, including identifying possible solutions (or implementation steps) to the problems and the general objectives of the Watershed District.