Greater Zumbro River WBIF
This grant will fund an expected 37 projects in eight (8) Priority 1 and 2 subwatershed areas (South Fork Zumbro River, South Fork Middle Branch Zumbro River, Middle Fork Zumbro River, North Fork Zumbro River, Zumbro River Main Branch, Hay Creek, Wells Creek and Lake Pepin) to increase headwater storage, reduce peak flow rates, reduce erosion, and filter pollutants. Projects include grassed waterways, WASCOBs, grade stabilization structures, soil health assistance such as cover crops and conservation tillage, along with project development and technical assistance. Project development will include an inventory of non-functioning SSTS and identification of high priority wetland restoration projects. Funding from this proposal will also assist with the implementation of an education and outreach campaign to promote soil health practices and increase resident awareness of groundwater contamination. The partnership will distribute 2 educational mailings per year to increase resident awareness of groundwater issues, testing frequency recommendations and pollutant loading best practices and will host at least one demonstration project to show impact and implementation of soil health practices. The workplan will leverage the local Area 7 TSA for additional engineering assistance to landowners. The Greater Zumbro River Watershed has numerous impairments with sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus as the primary pollutants. The overall HSPF estimated reduction in sediment is 3,622 tons/year, total phosphorus is 5,445 lbs/year, and nitrogen is 119,398 lbs/year needed to attain water quality standards. Our ten-year goal is to increase watershed storage by 0.25 inches or 22,000 acre-feet.
Annie Felix-Gerth
(Watershed Based Implementation Funding) (a) $21,197,000 the first year and $22,367,000 the second year are for performance-based grants with multiyear implementation plans to local government units. The grants may be used to implement projects that protect, enhance, and restore surface water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams; protect groundwater from degradation; and protect drinking water sources. Projects must be identified in a comprehensive watershed plan developed under the One Watershed, One Plan and seven-county metropolitan groundwater or surface water management frameworks as provided for in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 103B, 103C, 103D, and 114D. Grant recipients must identify a nonstate match and may use other legacy funds to supplement projects funded under this paragraph. This appropriation may be used for:
(1) implementation grants to watershed planning areas with approved plans, including but not limited to Buffalo-Red River, Cannon River, Cedar River, Clearwater River, Des Moines River, Hawk Creek, Lac qui Parle Yellow Bank, Lake of the Woods, Lake Superior North, Le Seuer River, Leech Lake River, Long Prairie River, Lower Minnesota River North, Lower Minnesota River West, Lower Minnesota River South, Lower St. Croix River, Marsh and Wild Rice, Middle Snake Tamarack Rivers, Mississippi East, Mississippi River Headwaters, Mississippi West, Missouri River Basin, Mustinka/Bois de Sioux, Nemadji River, North Fork Crow River, Otter Tail, Pine River, Pomme de Terre River, Red Lake River, Redeye River, Root River, Rum River, Sauk River, Shell Rock River/Winnebago Watershed, Snake River, South Fork Crow River, St. Louis River, Thief River, Two Rivers Plus, Vermillion, Watonwan River, Winona La Crescent, Yellow Medicine River, and Zumbro River;
(2) seven-county metropolitan groundwater or surface water management frameworks; and
(3) other comprehensive watershed management plan planning areas that have a board-approved and local-government-adopted plan as authorized in Minnesota Statutes, section 103B.801.
The board may determine whether a planning area is not ready to proceed, does not have the nonstate match committed, or has not expended all money granted to it. Upon making the determination, the board may allocate a grant's proposed or unexpended allocation to another planning area to implement priority projects, programs, or practices.
Estimated increase storage by 2,982 acre-feet and field scale sediment reduction from this work will be 491.04 tons/year of sediment, 738.29 lbs/year of total phosphorus, and 16,189.17 lbs/year of nitrate, or 13.56% of the 10-year goals.
LOCAL LEVERAGED FUNDS