Blue Earth County / SWCD Watershed Implementation Targeting

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$69,000
Fund Source
Clean Water Fund
Recipient
Blue Earth County
Recipient Type
Local/Regional Government
Status
In Progress
Start Date
March 2014
End Date
December 2016
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Blue Earth
Blue Earth
Project Overview

With limited funds and limited staff time available for targeting critical service areas and implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs), Geographic Information System (GIS)-based tools that pinpoint locations where BMPs will have the highest effectiveness are increasingly important. The Blue Earth County/SWCD Watershed Implementation Targeting project will utilize LiDAR topographic data to determine areas of high importance for BMP implementation. The county is located in the Blue Earth, LeSueur, Watonwan and Middle Minnesota watersheds where there is a high density of impaired waters. 8 lakes and 37 reaches on 19 streams within the county are on the MPCA 2012 Impaired Waters List as being impaired for aquatic recreation or aquatic life because of turbidity, excess nutrients or bacteria.

Using sophisticated GIS analysis techniques with LiDAR data, soils and land-use data, the project will assess the probability of erosion on the landscape. In addition to analyzing for erosive potential, the project will also use the LiDAR data to determine ideal locations to store runoff on the landscape, done through a process called the Compound Topographic Index, or Wetness Index. By assessing the ability to store water along with the erosive potential of the landscape, BMP implementation locations can be determined which provide benefits for both water quality and water storage. This will give resource managers the ability to replace existing volunteer approaches with targeted outreach efforts using a systematic approach at any scale the user specifies such as field, ditch-shed or watershed. Analysis findings will also be made available through an online map viewer for broad public use.

Competitive Grant Making Body
Advisory Group Members and Qualifications
Conflict of Interest Disclosed
NO
Conflict of Interest Contact

Nicole Clapp

Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2013, Regular Session chapter 137
Appropriation Language

Accelerated Implementation Grant 2014

2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$69,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$25,000
Direct expenses
$69,000
Number of full time equivalents funded
0.08
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Targeted watershed analysis

Source of Additional Funds

LOCAL LEVERAGED FUNDS

Recipient Board Members
Members for Blue Earth County are:
Project Manager
First Name
Scott
Last Name
Salsbury
Organization Name
Blue Earth County
Phone
507-304-4489
Email
scott.salsbury@blueearthcountymn.gov
Administered By
Administered by
Location

520 Lafayette Road North
St. Paul, MN 55155

Phone
651- 296-3767