Lake Ocheda Shoreline Improvement
The Lake Ocheda Shoreline Improvement Project will restore and provide long term protection of 1,600 feet of lake shoreline resulting in improved drinking water supplies, improved water quality for fishery and upland habitat and historical preservation. A large portion of this shoreline currently has a 10 to 20 foot vertical wall of shoreline that has been sloughing for the past 50 to 100 years. The resulting sediment load from this eroding shoreline is detrimental to the water quality of the lake for local residents, fishery quality and aquatic plants and invertebrates.Lake Ocheda makes up a portion of the local water supply for the City of Worthington and therefore improved water quality is a shared priority for local government officials and residents. A perpetual easement will be placed on the property for protection of the shoreline restoration and to provide a grassed buffer for water quality. A secondary benefit of the re-establishment and protection of the shoreline will be the increased preservation of the historical Native American artifact sites directly adjacent to the current eroding shoreline.
Nicole Clapp
(g) $2,330,000 the first year and $1,830,000 the second year are for grants to implement stream bank, stream channel, and shoreline protection, and restoration projects to protect water quality. Of this amount, $330,000 the first year and $330,000 the second year may be used for technical assistance and grants to establish a conservation drainage program in consultation with the Board of Water and Soil Resources and the Drainage Work Group that consists of pilot projects to retrofit existing drainage systems with water quality improvement practices, evaluate outcomes, and provide outreach to landowners, public drainage authorities, drainage engineers and contractors, and others. Of this amount, $500,000 the first year is for a grant to Hennepin County for riparian restoration and stream bank stabilization in the ten primary stream systems in Hennepin County in order to protect, enhance, and help restore the water quality of the streams and downstream receiving waters. The county shall work with watershed districts and water management organizations to identify and prioritize projects. To the extent possible, the county shall employ youth through the Minnesota Conservation Corps and Tree Trust to plant trees and shrubs to reduce erosion and stabilize stream banks. This appropriation must be matched by nonstate sources, including in-kind contributions (2011 - Shoreland Improvement)
The Lake Ocheda Shoreline Improvement Project will restore and provide long term protection of 1,600 feet of lake shoreline resulting in improved drinking water supplies, improved water quality for fishery and upland habitat and historical preservation.
This project resulted in 1,600 feet of shoreline being restored resulting in an estimated 475 pounds of phosphorus and 475 tons of sediment from entering Lake Ocheda each year.