2019 Chisago Lakes Chain of Lakes Watershed BMP Implementation
The Chisago Lakes Chain of Lakes watershed in southern Chisago County is made up of 18 lakes and outlets to the St. Croix River through the Sunrise River. The top 20 urban and rural projects around North and South Center Lakes that are identified in the Rural Subwatershed Assessment and Urban Stormwater Retrofit Analysis reports will be the top priority of this application. The goal is a phosphorus reduction of 100 pounds (4%) to North and South Center Lakes.
The Chisago Lakes Chain of Lakes watershed in southern Chisago County is made up of 18 lakes and outlets to the St. Croix River through the Sunrise River. North Center Lake and South Center Lake are the first two substantial lakes at the ?head? of the watershed. Both these lakes are currently listed on the Minnesota Impaired Waters List for excess nutrients, particularly phosphorus. The Chisago Lakes Chain of Lakes TMDL identifies the need for a reduction in phosphorus by 1,108 lbs (18%) to North Center Lake and 1,260 lbs (21%) to South Center Lake to meet the TMDL. The top 20 urban and rural projects around North and South Center Lakes that are identified in the Rural Subwatershed Assessment and Urban Stormwater Retrofit Analysis reports will be the top priority of this application. The goal is a phosphorus reduction of 100 lbs (4%) to North and South Center Lakes. The second level priority will be reducing phosphorus loading to Chisago Lake and Green Lake, which are both currently meeting water quality standards, but are close to becoming impaired. This application will aim to reduce phosphorus loading to Chisago and Green Lakes by 20 lbs. The third level priority will be for projects located throughout the rest of the Chain of Lakes watershed. On occasion, the opportunity to complete a project that is located outside of the target zone, but that has substantial benefits and potential impact comes up. The project may be time sensitive, may include working with a landowner that has been reluctant in the past, or may be identified as a top project in an assessment for another lake within the Chain of Lakes watershed. In such a case, the Chisago SWCD doesn't want to lose the opportunity to complete a necessary project because it is outside of the target zone. The remaining 5 lbs of phosphorus reduction may come from areas outside of the North Center, South Center, Chisago, or Green Lakes watersheds, but still within the larger Chain of Lakes watershed.
Annie Felix-Gerth
(b) $6,882,000 the first year and $12,618,000 the second year are for grants to protect and restore surface water and drinking water; to keep water on the land; to protect, enhance, and restore water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams; and to protect groundwater and drinking water, including feedlot water quality and subsurface sewage treatment system projects and stream bank, stream channel, shoreline restoration, and ravine stabilization projects. The projects must use practices demonstrated to be effective, be of long-lasting public benefit, include a match, and be consistent with total maximum daily load (TMDL) implementation plans, watershed restoration and protection strategies (WRAPS), or local water management plans or their equivalents. A portion of these funds may be used to seek administrative efficiencies through shared resources by multiple local governmental units.
At least 20 BMPs with a pollution reduction of 125 lbs of phosphorus per year will be implemented. The goal is that 100 lbs is reduced to North and South Center Lakes, 20 lbs to Chisago and Green Lakes, and 5 lbs within the remaining watershed.
Grant funds were used to implement 11 projects, resulting in a reduction of 554 lbs/year of phosphorus and 146 tons/year of sediment to the target waterbodies. The overall proposed measurable outcome was exceeded, as were the outcomes to Chisago and Green Lakes and the remaining watershed. However the proposed outcome to North and South Center Lakes was not achieved.
LOCAL LEVERAGED FUNDS