Greater Zumbro River WBIF 24/25
This grant will fund an expected 37 projects in eight (8) Priority 1 and 2 subwatershed areas (South Fork Zumbro River, South Fork Middle Branch Zumbro River, Middle Fork Zumbro River, North Fork Zumbro River, Zumbro River Main Branch, Hay Creek, Wells Creek and Lake Pepin) to increase headwater storage, reduce peak flow rates, reduce erosion, and filter pollutants. Projects include grassed waterways, WASCOBs, grade stabilization structures, soil health assistance such as cover crops and conservation tillage, along with project development and technical assistance. Project development will include an inventory of non-functioning SSTS and identification of high priority wetland restoration projects. Funding from this proposal will also assist with the implementation of an education and outreach campaign to promote soil health practices and increase resident awareness of groundwater contamination. The partnership will distribute 2 educational mailings per year to increase resident awareness of groundwater issues, testing frequency recommendations and pollutant loading best practices and will host at least one demonstration project to show impact and implementation of soil health practices. The workplan will leverage the local Area 7 TSA for additional engineering assistance to landowners. The Greater Zumbro River Watershed has numerous impairments with sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus as the primary pollutants. The overall HSPF estimated reductions to the resource are: sediment: 4,119 tons/year, total phosphorus: 8,803 lbs/year, and nitrogen: 100,746 lbs/year needed to attain water quality standards. Our two-year planned reductions to the resource are: sediment: 845 tons/year, total phosphorus: 1,744 lbs/year and nitrogen: 19,384 lbs/year. Our two-year goal is to increase watershed storage by 4,400 acre-feet.
Annie Felix-Gerth
(a) $39,500,000 the first year and $39,500,000 the second year are for grants to implement state-approved watershed-based plans. The grants may be used to implement projects or programs that protect, enhance, and restore surface PreviouswaterNext quality in lakes, rivers, and streams; protect groundwater from degradation; and protect drinking PreviouswaterNext sources. Projects must be identified in a comprehensive watershed plan developed under the One Watershed, One Plan program and seven-county metropolitan groundwater or surface PreviouswaterNext management frameworks as provided for in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 103B, 103C, 103D, and 114D. Grant recipients must identify a nonstate match and may use other legacy funds to supplement projects funded under this paragraph. This appropriation may be used for: (1) implementing state-approved plans, including within the following watershed planning areas (see Chapter 40 Article 2 Section 6(a) (2) for the list of watershed planning areas: seven-county metropolitan groundwater or surface PreviouswaterNext management frameworks; and(3) other comprehensive watershed management plan planning areas that have a board-approved and local-government-adopted plan as authorized in Minnesota Statutes, section 103B.801. The board must establish eligibility criteria and determine whether a planning area is ready to proceed and has the nonstate match committed.
Estimated increase storage by 4,400 acre-feet and planned reductions to the resource is estimated: 845 tons/year of sediment, 1,744 lbs/year of total phosphorus, and 19,384 lbs/year of nitrate, or 20% of the 10-year goals.
LOCAL LEVERAGED FUNDS