The Minnesota River Basin generates a disproportionately high amount of total suspended sediments to the Upper Mississippi River Basin. Many reaches in the Minnesota River Basin have impaired water quality due to turbidity. Critical landscapes can be divided into depressional areas, riparian areas, highly erodible lands, and areas susceptible to ephemeral gullies or ravines. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) were utilized, and terrain analysis was conducted using digital elevation models in an attempt to identify the locations and areal extent of these features in the Le Sueur River Watershed, one of the major watersheds in the Minnesota River Basin. Field verification showed that these methods were highly successful. Upland depressions cover 19,896 ha, which is roughly 7% of the watershed. Critical riparian areas cover 73,734 ha, which is about one fourth of the watershed. Forested ravines cover roughly 2,000 – 3,000 ha of the watershed (0.9%). Results from this research can be used to guide selection of locations for implementation of precision conservation strategies. These strategies can be tailored to specific landscape functions and transport pathways for contaminants.