Community Blue: Vadnais Lake Area Watershed Management Organization Partner Conservation Program
Lambert Creek is wholly within the Vadnais Lake Area Water Management Area. Vadnais Lake is the drinking water reservoir for the City of St. Paul and surrounding communities. Lambert Creek has elevated bacteria and nutrient levels and water quality in Vadnais Lake will not improve unless there is a reduction in the phosphorus loading from Lambert Creek.
The Community Blue partnership program will be a unique program with a focus on engaging citizens through the installation of exceptionally visible and community accessible raingardens, shoreline restorations, and tree trenches. Significant, measurable outputs with development of long-term partnerships are primary objectives for this program. The program aims to install 7-10 conservation practices targeted within the Lambert Creek subwatershed and Goose Lake drainage area. These projects are anticipated to capture almost 5.5 million gallons of stormwater runoff annually, and reduce the phosphorus load into Lambert Creek by approximately 12 lbs/year.
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;
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;
Nicole Clapp
(g) $1,500,000 the first year and $1,500,000 the second year are for community partners grants to local units of government for: (1) structural or vegetative management practices that reduce storm water runoff from developed or disturbed lands to reduce the movement of sediment, nutrients, and pollutants for restoration, protection, or enhancement of water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams and to protect groundwater and drinking water; and (2) installation of proven and effective water retention practices including, but not limited to, rain gardens and other vegetated infiltration basins and sediment control basins in order to keep water on the land. The projects must be of long-lasting public benefit, include a local match, and be consistent with TMDL implementation plans or local water management plans. Local government unit staff and administration costs may be used as a match.
Project Outputs: 7-10 BMP Installations with the Goose Lake Subwatershed & Lambert Creek Subwatershed 16.6 acre-feet/year hydrology 12 lbs/year of phosphorus 3.5 tons/year sediment. Develop a minimum of 10 new long-term community partnerships
This Community Partners Conservation Program grants has yielded an estimated 3 lbs/yr phosphorus reduction, 1 ton/yr sediment reduction (TSS), and 4,348 acre-feet/yr stormwater runoff reduction.
The source of additional funds varies from project to project, but generally consists of federal, local and non-public sources.