2021 Priority Implementation Targeting Lawrence Creek, Dry Creek, and Direct Drainage to the St. Croix River
The St. Croix River escarpment has been a focal point for the Chisago SWCD over the past eight years in a multi-phase targeted plan to reduce phosphorus and sediment loading to the St. Croix River and Lake St. Croix. A recent rural assessment examines smaller catchments within the Lawrence Creek, Dry Creek, and direct drainage subwatersheds to determine those with the highest potential phosphorus and sediment loading. Through this application, the focal area will be subwatersheds in the rural area, which are upstream of the escarpment, or drain directly to the St. Croix River. Lawrence Creek and an unnamed direct drainage stream are the County?s only listed trout streams and are Regionally Significant Streams for pollution reduction. A minimum of 20 projects will reduce the phosphorus loading by at least 140 pounds/year and sediment loading by at least 140 tons/year.
Annie Felix-Gerth
(Projects and Practices)(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.
The minimum of 20 conservation practices implemented with this grant will reduce the total phosphorus loading by 140 pounds per year and sediment loading by 140 tons per year to the St. Croix River and Lake St. Croix.
LOCAL LEVERAGED FUNDS