Klondike Clean Water Retention Project part 2
The Two Rivers Watershed District (TRWD) proposes to construct "part 2" of Phase 1 of the Klondike Clean Water Retention impoundment. Part 1 was recommended for funding by LSOHC last year. The multi-purpose project will provide fish habitat, protect-maintain-improve prairie rich fen habitat, stabilize river flows, keep water on the landscape, reduce erosion and sediment, benefit water quality and provide flood damage reduction. Because only partial funding was awarded, construction was scaled into part 1 and part 2. Reduced funding will result in less construction resulting in 25% lower dikes, less outlet structures, and reduced inlet capacity.
Several natural resources enhancements and flood damage reduction strategies have been identified in this area. The Beaches Lake Area Fen is a prairie rich fen that has been identified by DNR as one of the largest of its type in the lower 48 states. Portions of the fen have been degraded by farming practices and are located on the project site. The MNDNR and TRWD have jointly written a fen management plan and this project will begin plan implementation. Downstream reaches of the Two Rivers have been identified by the MPCA as impaired for fish and macroinvertebrates. These reaches experience flashy flows and become nearly or totally dry in late summer when rainfall is typically sparse, causing a major stressor for fish. Another stressor is upstream sources of sediment that impact the resource by causing turbidity, lowering dissolved oxygen, and increasing nutrients that promote excessive algal growth. Excessive floodwaters frequently impact public and private lands causing erosion, sedimentation, inundation of habitat, loss of crop land and damage to public infrastructure.
An interagency Project Work Team consisting of landowners, local-state-federal government agencies, and non-government organizations convened and discussed the flooding and natural resources problems, identified a purpose and need, investigated a range of alternatives, and selected the preferred alternative. Substantial surface water, groundwater, and vegetative and biological monitoring has been done by local, regional, and state agencies to assess the resources and propose a project. The TRWD is pursuing the project through Minnesota Statute 103D.
This application is for part 2 out of 2 parts relative to phase 1. Part 1 planning and development is underway. Groundwater and vegetation monitoring is being completed during summer 2021 that will identify specific fen protection and enhancement activities. A land exchange application with the MN DNR has been submitted to permanently protect high value fen. Part 1 will construct 75% of the proposed dike, one of the two outlet structures, and 8 miles of diked inlet which will included the main channel and set back levees. These construction items will partially achieve the desired fen protection and fish habitat components of the plan.
The part 2 proposal encompasses this current funding request, and will construct the remaining 25% of the dike, the second outlet structure, 2 additional inlet structures, and a south diversion inlet ditch. These are critical to the fish habitat component of the project because the part 2 structures will maximize the amount of water that can be stored and consequently released into the downstream river system at low flow periods when fish need it the most. The project will also improve habitat by stabilizing band and bed erosion of the river in turn reducing sedimentations to riffle and runs that provide habitat.
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$988,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Two Rivers Watershed District to construct a multipurpose water impoundment project in Kittson and Roseau Counties to provide fish and wildlife habitat. A list of restoration and enhancement projects must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.
Water is kept on the land - The impoundment will store 16,500 acre feet of water to provide flood damage reduction, protect, enhance, and improve fish & wildlife habitat, improve water quality, and provide recreational opportunities. Water levels will be closely monitored and records of storage and operations will be kept and shared with a project work team consisting of local, state, and federal agencies, non government organizations, and local citizens. A detailed operating plan will be followed. Pre and post project monitoring of fish populations, vegetation, stream flows, and surface and ground water quality will be utilized to determine project success
FHMG; RRWMB; TRWD