2020/2021 Yellow Medicine River Watershed Based Funding Phase II
The purpose of the Watershed Based Funding is to address priority concern 1, mitigate altered hydrology and
minimize flooding and priority concern 2, minimize the transport of sediment, excess nutrients, and bacteria. The
goal for the 2020/2021 is to reduce 300 tons of sediment per year, increase storage by 100 acre-feet per year,
reduce nitrogen by 16,000 lbs per year and to reduce phosphorus by 800 lbs per year. Grant funds will also be
used for technical staffing in order to have the capabilities of implementing the priority BMPs in the seven
priority sub-watersheds.
Annie Felix-Gerth
(a) $13,591,000 the first year and $13,375,000 the second year are for performance-based grants with multiyear implementation plans to local government units. The grants may be used to implement projects that protect, enhance, and restore surface water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams; protect groundwater from degradation; and protect drinking water sources. Projects must be identified in a comprehensive watershed plan developed under the One Watershed, One Plan or metropolitan surface water management frameworks or groundwater plans. Grant recipients must identify a nonstate match and may use other legacy funds to supplement projects funded under this paragraph.
Reduce sediment 300 tons/year; Increase storage 100 acre-feet/year; reduce phosphorus 800 lbs/year. Individual
practices will use field scale estimators. Annual plan progress in the sub-watersheds will be estimated with SAMS.
This project funded implementation of 103 agricultural best management practices, one wetland restoration, and 438 acres of cover crops and reduced tillage in the Yellow Medicine Watershed. The work resulted in reductions of 280 tons/year of sediment, 367 pounds/year of phosphorus, and 907 pounds/year of nitrogen.
Funds paid for technical and engineering services for practice investigation, design, and construction. All work was done in priority areas and addressed sediment, which is a major issue identified in the Yellow Medicine Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan.
Work was completed with a one-year extension, which was needed because contractors were not available to do the work in the original grant time frame.
LOCAL LEVERAGED FUNDS