2022 Hill River Subwatershed Water Quality Agricultural Practices
The Clearwater River WRAPs & TMDL Reports identified the Clearwater River, located within the Lower Clearwater River subwatershed (0902030507), as having a current sediment load of 13,201.69 tons/year at S002-914. The target is to reduce loading by 7,123.34 tons/year (Annual TSS load Reduction needed for the Clearwater River at CSAH 12 on AUID 511), which is a 53.96% reduction.
Red Lake County SWCD has targeted seven sites for implementation of structural agricultural practices based on data analysis obtained from using the Clearwater River WRAPs and TMDL Reports, Water Quality Decision Support System (WQDSS) tool, DNR Stressor ID database, and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) models upstream in the Hill River subwatershed. The data identified the Hill River subwatershed as contributing to the impairments on the Clearwater River, highlighted fields in the subwatershed with the highest sediment loading, and even showed specific locations in the field which were most vulnerable to erosion. Red Lake County SWCD conducted an Erosion Site Inventory in 2021, which verified the information from the tools/models and found landowners in these priority areas that were eager to fix the erosion problems on their fields.
The structural agricultural practices will include, but are not limited to, grade stabilization structures, grassed waterways, and water & sediment basins. The implementation of these practices is estimated to reduce sediment loading to the Clearwater River (AUID 511) by 1,780. 84 tons/year, or 25% of the TMDL required annual load reduction. This will improve water quality, recreation, fish habitat, and aesthetics. Further downstream, the City of East Grand Forks pulls its drinking water from the Red Lake River, making these projects a regional concern as well.
Annie Felix-Gerth
(Projects and Practices)(b) $10,762,000 the first year and $11,504,000 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. Up to 20 percent of this appropriation is available for land-treatment projects and practices that benefit drinking water.
The implementation of these practices is estimated to reduce sediment loading to the Clearwater River by 1,780.84 tons/year, soil loss by 3917.64 tons/year, and phosphorus by 938.85 pounds/year.
LOCAL LEVERAGED FUNDS