Judicial Ditch 11 Restoration and Drainage Management

The Bois De Sioux Watershed District (BdSWD) is partnering with the Traverse County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), Wilkin County SWCD, and landowners to reduce sediment load by 420 tons per year and phosphorus load by 117 pounds per year to the Bois de Sioux River. This is an 8.5% annual sediment reduction and 2.4% annual TP reduction for the JD 11 drainage area. JD 11 outlets to the Bois de Sioux River, which is impaired for turbidity, dissolved oxygen, total phosphorus, and e. coli. The Bois de Sioux River flows into the Red River of the North. The project will improve drainage system efficiency and reduce future maintenance-related expenses, while reducing sediment and phosphorus loading, and improving turbidity and DO in JD 11 and downstream waters. 60 grade stabilization structures (i.e., side inlet structures) and 9 miles of continuous berms will be constructed as a permanent part of the main stem of Judicial Ditch (JD) 11 adjacent to Minnesota State Highway (MN Hwy) 55 (Wilkin County) and MN Hwy 75 (Wilkin/Traverse Counties).

This main stem JD 11 project is part of a larger effort within the drainage system to use BMPs to reduce peak flows into County ditches, provide better erosion control, reduce sediment, and improve water quality. While part of the overall project but not part of the grant request, the project also includes 20 additional miles of right-of-way that will be seeded to establish grass buffers, approximately 18 acres beyond those required by law. It also includes installation of side-inlet structures along JD 11 laterals and establishment of legally required grass buffers throughout the drainage system. This grant request for the entire 9 miles of the main stem of JD 11 will provide a significant benefit to the overall BMP plan, be highly visible from the two state highways, and ultimately bolster support for additional drainage management and water quality improvement projects.