Groundwater Quality Nitrate Reduction Pipestone

The goal of this project is to reduce nitrate-nitrogen loading to groundwater of Lincoln Pipestone Rural Water's Holland and North Holland Drinking Water Supply Management Areas (DWSMA), City of Pipestone DWSMA, and the City of Edgerton DWSMA from non-point source agricultural land. Groundwater within this area is sensitive to nitrate-nitrogen contamination; all the supply wells within these DWSMAs have detectable nitrate-nitrogen and most supply wells have been over the drinking water standard of 10 mg/L and either needed treatment or have been blended with lower nitrate-nitrogen wells for distribution. This reduction will be achieved by implementation of nitrate-nitrogen reducing Best Management Practices (BMP's). Consideration for implementation is given to the high and very high vulnerable areas within the DWSMAs with the highest priority for initial outreach for BMP implementation would be crop producers within 1 mile to the public water supply wells, with secondary outreach expanding from well areas and following the groundwater flow patterns as established by MDH. Total area of these DWMSAs is 27930 acres, of which, approximately 74% is agricultural land equaling 20,796 acres. This area is prime agricultural land with high production rates. Our goal is 10% of land utilizing perennial crops or cover crops within the proposed area totaling 2080 acres. All acres receiving incentive payments would not exceed University of Minnesota Nitrogen recommendations. Payment rates are based on local costs for seed, application, management, and risk for practices proposed.