2018 Lake Emily Watershed BMP Targeted Implementation Project III

The Lake Emily Watershed BMP Targeted Implementation Project will provide funding for 15 water and sediment control projects with potential shoreline and riparian restoration projects. This work will address surface water quality sources identified in the water plan (Section 2-pg 11) including direct drainage from Lake Emily sub watersheds (070200050304, 070200050303, 070200050203, 070200050201, 070200050202), the Little Chippewa, and from upstream discharge between Lake Emily and Lake Minnewaska. The Pope County Water plan has identified surface water quality and erosion control as the top two priority concerns in the 2013-2023 Comprehensive Water Plan (page 1-17). These two priorities account for 33% of the phosphorus loading to Lake Emily. Lake Emily is identified in the Eight Lake TMDL study and the Pope County Water Plan as being impaired for excessive nutrients. In recent years, Pope County has had rainfall events 2-4 times a summer that has caused severe gully erosion. By utilizing water and sediment control basins as identified in the TMDL implementation plan (section 1.1 page 3) and the Pope County Water Plan (2-25) as a method to lowering the annual load of TSS and TP water quality trends improve and do not decline. A Water Quality Decision Support App (WQDSA) was used to target the highest contributing areas and this proposal will target the highest contributing direct drainage areas to implement projects. Based on averages calculated from the past WASCOBs in the West Central Technical Service area these projects have the potential to reduce sediment and load leaving the field by 350.25Tons/year of TSS and 300 lbs/year of TP which will directly address 15% of Lake Emily's TP reduction goal for direct drainage from storm water runoff. A Water Quality Decision Support App (WQDSA) has also been completed and projects identified in this application in the medium to highest category will receive priority for funding.