Elk River Targeted Bacteria Reduction
The Elk River Watershed Association Joint Powers Board, via the Sherburne Soil and Water Conservation District, will utilize project funds to implement a pasture and manure management program which will provide technical and financial assistance to large animal/hobby farm owners. Staff will work with identified landowners to implement bacteria reduction best practices such as pasture renovation/management, riparian buffer strips, clean water diversions, vegetated buffer strips, and manure management including composting structures. Assistance will be most closely focused on those priority locations identified in the Elk River Bacteria Total Maximum Daily Load and Implementation Plan.
See http://www.bwsr.state.mn.us/aboutbwsr/index.html and http://www.bwsr.state.mn.us/aboutbwsr/boarddirectory.pdf
See http://www.bwsr.state.mn.us/aboutbwsr/index.html
Nicole Clapp
Projects and Practices 2014
We estimate that by implementation of up to 20 bacteria reduction practices, bacteria will be reduced by approximately 30 percent or 15,721,900 10^9 Colony Forming Units (CFUs) per year. This reduction will help to rectify the impairment which currently results in a recreational hazard. These practices will coincidentally also reduce levels of nutrients and sediment in the river working to improve water clarity which is adding to the turbidity impairment in the river . Should effectiveness monitoring indicate that bacteria levels are not meeting
standards at the end of the grant cycle (although the plan is to maintain the pasture and manure management program even after the grant term) the ERWA will continue to move forward with additional bacteria reduction activities identified in the ERWA TMDL such as working with the County to identify and upgrade leaking septic systems.
LOCAL LEVERAGED FUNDS