2023 Lake Emily Watershed BMP Targeted Implementation Phase IV

This project targets sediment and TSS reduction in the Lake Emily subwatershed. Funded Best Management Practices will address non-point source pollution from agricultural lands, specifically those on steep, erodible slopes and ravines (root cause) that are delivering sediment and phosphorus to the Chippewa River and Lake Emily, an important local resource as it passes through several highly recreated and populated lakes within Pope County along with highly productive agricultural and wildlife lands. These lands have been converted to row crop production. Pope has 6 landowners ready to implement 44 erosion and sediment control practices. 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. 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 recently constructed WASCOBs in the West Central Area II these projects have the potential to reduce TSS by 1,027 T/year, and 880 lbs/year of TP. This will directly address 44% of Lake Emily's TP annual reduction goal (2,000 lbs) for direct drainage from stormwater runoff.