Loretto Creek Restoration
Lake Sarah is a regionally significant lake and currently suffers from excess phosphprus levels. Loretto Creek, located partially within the Cities of Medina and Loretto, is Lake Sarah's east tributary carrying approximately 269 pounds of phosphorus to the lake each year. This is a joint project between the Cities of Loretto and Medina developed for the Loretto ballfields to address this problem.
The project includes restoring a portion of Loretto Creek to a more natural design by meandering the channel, flattening the side slopes and creating native vegetated buffers. A sedimentation pond will be constructed to collect coarse sediment during low flow storm events and will slow down the velocity of the stream. Down stream of the sedimentation pond, a larger water quality pond will be constructed within the existing upland area of the northwest ball field. This pond will store larger storm events and will settle out phosphorus-laden sediment. In addition, this project will restore a historically filled wetland within the ball field complex. The water quality pond will outlet through the restored wetland. This will allow for additional overland treatment of stormwater along with improving wildlife habitat.
Qualifications: The 20-member BWSR board consists of representatives of local and state government agencies and citizens. Members are appointed by the governor of the state of Minnesota consistent with Minnesota Statutes 103B.101. Board members at the time the grant was made were: County Commissioner Appointees: Quentin Fairbanks; Tom Loveall; Brian Napstad; Soil and Water Conservation District Appointees: Paul Langseth, Louise Smallidge and Bob Burandt; Watershed District or Watershed Management Organization Appointees: Gene Tiedemann, LuAnn Tolliver and Todd Foster; Citizen Appointees: Paul Brutlag ; Gerald Van Amburg; John Meyer; Cities & Townships: Sandy Hooker -Township; Christy Jo Fogarty -Metro City; Keith Mykleseth -Non-Metro City; Agency: Chris Elvrum - Minnesota Department of Health; Rebecca Flood - Pollution Control Agency; Tom Landwehr - Department of Natural Resources; Matt Wohlman - Minnesota Department of Agriculture; Faye Sleeper - Minnesota Extension Service;
Wayne Zellmer -BWSR Grants Coordinator; Matt Drewitz -BWSR South Region Clean Water Specialist; Art Persons -MDH Planning Supervisor Drinking Water Protection; Jeff Hrubes -BWSR North Region Clean Water Specialist; Marcey Westrick -BWSR Metro Clean Water Specialist; Julie Westerlund -DNR Clean Water Coordinator; Robert L. Sip -MDA Environmental Policy Specialist; Anna Kerr -MPCA -Stormwater / TMDL Coordinator; Nick Proulx -DNR Central Region Clean Water Legacy Specialist; Karen Evens - MPCA -Watershed Projects Manager; Joshua Stamper -MDA Research Scientist, Pesticide & Fertilizer Management; Norman R. Mofjeld -MDA Hydrologist P.G. Well Management Section;
Nicole Clapp
(a) $13,750,000 the first year and $13,750,000 the second year are for pollution reduction and restoration grants to local government units and joint powers organizations of local government units to protect surface water and drinking water; to keep water on the land; to protect, enhance, and restore water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams; and to protect groundwater and drinking water, including feedlot water quality and subsurface sewage treatment system (SSTS) projects and stream bank, stream channel, and shoreline restoration projects. The projects must be of long-lasting public benefit, include a match, and be consistent with TMDL implementation plans or local water management plans.
Construction of stormwater ponds and restoration of impacted stream and wetland - Divert low flows to constructed stormwater pond and excavate an existing impacted wetland to reduce phosphorus to Lake Sarah. - Lake Sarah Proposed Reductions: 140 lbs/year Phosphorus
The restoration of impacted stream and wetlands went as planned. The low flows were diverted to the constructed stormwater ponds and wetlands to reduce phosphorus to Lake Sarah. The final number for phosphorus removal will be a total of 140 pounds.
The source of additional funds varies from project to project, but generally consists of federal, local and non-public sources.