Trout Lake Stormwater Enhancement Project
The Trout Lake Stormwater Enhancement Project has been developed to reduce phosphorous and sediment loading in Trout Lake and came out of recommendations in a 2018 study. The study estimated nutrient loads and cost-effective treatment options by sub-watershed (HR Green Coleraine Stormwater Retrofit Assessment 2018). 30% of the phosphorous and sediment will be removed for three of the sub watersheds delineated in the analysis, which adds up to preventing 30,000 lbs. of sediment and 43 lbs. of phosphorus from reaching Trout Lake annually. Polluted runoff will be re-routed to surface stormwater practices for treatment and infiltration. Sediment and phosphorous removal in the rain gardens, swales, and planter boxes will be enhanced with the installation of native vegetation to promote nutrient uptake and pollutant removal. Furthermore, to increase adoption of these principals by landowners the SWCD will provide two educational workshops on the benefits of stormwater management. Reducing phosphorous loads to the lake is a priority of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Itasca County Local Water Management Plan, and has the support of local citizens, the lake association, the Greenway Recreational Board, and City of Coleraine Council. It is the first step toward a watershed-based stormwater implementation approach to reduce phosphorus and total suspended solids in Trout Lake watershed. The Itasca County LWM Plan identifies this project as a priority due to its high phosphorus sensitivity (page 27), outstanding resource for Cisco refuge lakes and biological significance (page 34).
Annie Felix-Gerth
(b) $16,000,000 the first year and $16,000,000 the second year are for grants to local government units 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 this money may be used to seek administrative efficiencies through shared resources by multiple local governmental units. Up to 20 percent of this appropriation is available for land-treatment projects and practices that benefit drinking water.
This project will reduce Total Phosphorus and Suspended Solids from entering Trout Lake by 30%, from the city of Coleraine's storm-water infrastructure. Educational workshops will also take place with association groups and residents.
Three projects were installed and provided reductions of 65.9 lbs of phosphorus / year, 7.6 tons of sediment/yr, and reduce stormwater volume by 0.4 acre ft/yr. This achieves 62% or better pollutant reductions in a 7 sub-watershed area within the City of Coleraine. This is twice the volume treated, from more than double the area, resulting in 35% greater phosphours reduction, than was planned. 13 subwatersheds in Coleraine City Limits have been identified as draining to directly adjacent Trout Lake. These three projects complete the cost effective strormwater management needs of 7 of those 13 subwatersheds.
LOCAL LEVERAGED FUNDS