Agassiz Pool Accelerated Sediment Reduction

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2012 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$178,750
Fund Source
Clean Water Fund
Recipient
Marshall County Soil and Water Conservation District
Recipient Type
Local/Regional Government
Status
Completed
Start Date
January 2012
End Date
December 2014
Activity Type
Restoration/Enhancement
Counties Affected
Marshall
Marshall
Project Overview

The Thief River and its tributaries have deteriorating water quality due to sedimentation. Sediment plumes and deltas have formed at the inlets of pools in Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge (Agassiz Pool) and Thief Lake, an important recreational resource in Northwest Minnesota.
Radioisotope soil fingerprinting indicates the severity of the sedimentation problem is within Agassiz Pool. It is estimated that 14,900 tons of sediment has been deposited in Agassiz Pool annually, since 1938. The fingerprinting analysis indicates the dominant source of this sediment is erosion of uplands and fields.
This project is a collaborative partnership with USDA-NRCS to establish 50 ft. wide native grassed filter strips, grade-stabilization structures, and field windbreaks to prevent or reduce sedimentation problems. This effort will stabilize the soil, slow down water runoff, and filter the water before entering ditches and streams. The goal is to establish 16 miles of grassed filter strips, 5 miles of field windbreaks, and install 25 grade stabilization structures where needed. Targeted areas within the Thief River Watershed have been prioritized through analysis of sub-basin sediment yields generated by a Soil and Water Assessment Tool model of the watershed. The model estimates that these practices can reduce sediment loads by more than 1,500 tons/year.

Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications

The 20-member BWSR board consists of representatives of local and state government agencies and citizens. Members are appointed by the governor of the state of Minnesota consistent with Minnesota Statutes 103B.101. Board members at the time the grant was made were: County Commissioner Appointees: Quentin Fairbanks; Tom Loveall; Brian Napstad; Soil and Water Conservation District Appointees: Paul Langseth, Louise Smallidge and Bob Burandt; Watershed District or Watershed Management Organization Appointees: Gene Tiedemann, LuAnn Tolliver and Todd Foster; Citizen Appointees: Paul Brutlag ; Gerald Van Amburg; John Meyer; Cities & Townships: Sandy Hooker -Township; Christy Jo Fogarty -Metro City; Keith Mykleseth -Non-Metro City; Agency: Chris Elvrum - Minnesota Department of Health; Rebecca Flood - Pollution Control Agency; Tom Landwehr - Department of Natural Resources; Matt Wohlman - Minnesota Department of Agriculture; Faye Sleeper - Minnesota Extension Service;

Advisory Group Members and Qualifications

Wayne Zellmer -BWSR Grants Coordinator; Matt Drewitz -BWSR South Region Clean Water Specialist; Art Persons -MDH Planning Supervisor Drinking Water Protection; Jeff Hrubes -BWSR North Region Clean Water Specialist; Marcey Westrick -BWSR Metro Clean Water Specialist; Julie Westerlund -DNR Clean Water Coordinator; Robert L. Sip -MDA Environmental Policy Specialist; Anna Kerr -MPCA -Stormwater / TMDL Coordinator; Nick Proulx -DNR Central Region Clean Water Legacy Specialist; Karen Evens - MPCA -Watershed Projects Manager; Joshua Stamper -MDA Research Scientist, Pesticide & Fertilizer Management; Norman R. Mofjeld -MDA Hydrologist P.G. Well Management Section;

Conflict of Interest Disclosed
No
Conflict of Interest Contact

Nicole Clapp

Legal Citation / Subdivision
Minnesota 2011, First Special Session chapter 6, article 2, section 7
Appropriation Language

(a) $13,750,000 the first year and $13,750,000 the second year are for pollution reduction and restoration grants to local government units and joint powers organizations of local government units to protect 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 (SSTS) projects and stream bank, stream channel, and shoreline restoration projects. The projects must be of long-lasting public benefit, include a match, and be consistent with TMDL implementation plans or local water management plans.

2012 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$178,750
Other Funds Leveraged
$89,375
Direct expenses
$178,750
Administration costs
$6,300
Number of full time equivalents funded
0.36
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Buffer strips - Mud, Moose, Thief Rivers Side-water inlets - Mud, Moose, Thief RiversField Windbreaks - Mud, Moose, Thief Rivers Proposed Reductions: 1,800 Phosphorus lbs/year and 1,500 Sediment tons/year

Measurable Outcome(s)

Final pollution reduction estimates include 186 lbs/yr phosphorus, 233 tons/yr sediment (TSS), 194 tons/yr soil loss reduction.

Source of Additional Funds

The source of additional funds varies from project to project, but generally consists of federal, local and non-public sources.

Project Manager
First Name
Lisa
Last Name
Newton
Organization Name
Marshall County Soil and Water Conservation District
Street Address
PO BOX 74
City
Warren
State
MN
Zip Code
56762
Phone
(218) 745-5010
Email
lisa.newton@mn.nacdnet.net
Administered By
Administered by
Location

520 Lafayette Road North
St. Paul, MN 55155

Phone
651- 296-3767