2018/2019 Yellow Medicine River Watershed Based Funding
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 2018/2019 is to reduce 300 tons of sediment per year, increase storage by 100 acre-feet per year, reduce nitrogen by 16,000 pounds per year and to reduce phosphorus by 800 pounds 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
Watershed Based Funding Pilot 2018 - (a) $4,875,000 the first year and $4,875,000 the second year are for a pilot program to provide performance-based grants 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 pounds/year. Individual practices will use field scale estimators. Annual plan progress in the sub-watersheds will be estimated with SAMS.
This project funded local implementation of 71 water and sediment control basins and 13 grassed waterways and swales in the Yellow Medicine River Watershed. The work resulted in a reduction of 344 tons/year of sediment and 392 pounds/year of phosphorus.
Funds covered the costs of Technical Service Area staff to design and engineer projects and work with landowners, including targeted outreach to landowners in priority areas. All projects were in priority areas indicated in the plan, and addressed sediment and phosphorus reduction, which were identified as major issues.
All work was completed on time and on budget. Clean Water Funds provided leverage for the partnership to pursue and secure additional federal funds totaling $603,130 from the Regional Conservation Partnership Program and an EPA Section 319 grant of $106,000 and a $20,000 well sealing grant from Minnesota Department of Health.
LOCAL LEVERAGED FUNDS