Cook County SWCD FY 14 Surface Water Assessment Grant (SWAG)

Cook County Soil and Water Conservation District (Cook SWCD) will be working with up to four volunteers in the Rainy River Watershed Headwaters to monitor the Cross River during 2014 and 2015.The area of the stream being monitored is located 45 miles north of Grand Marais, MN. The area is remote and travel is slow to the stream. It is an area that was affected by fires with vegetation in the beginning years of succession. There are lodges, resorts and residents scattered throughout the area. The parameters monitored are set by the MPCA, along with the frequency of sampling. Ilena Berg, Water Plan Coordinator with Cook SWCD will be the lead for this project. RMB Environmental Labs will provide assistance with site establishment, lab analysis and data submission to EQuIS. All monitors, both Cook SWCD staff and volunteers, will be trained on proper monitoring techniques to accomplish the monitoring. All reporting will be completed following the grant requirements. Monitors will be trained and provided a schedule for monitoring. Arrangements will be made with the shipping services to accommodate time requirements.