Lower Elk River Watershed Phase II Bacteria Reduction Grant
The Elk River section 579 was found to be impaired for bacteria during a 2009-2012 TMDL study, with 40% of all samples exceeding the State chronic standard. As few large feedlots exist in Sherburne County, the TMDL pointed towards the numerous small farm operations that are found in the county as priority. A 2015 WRAPs investigation has since found additional stretches of the river to be impaired for bacteria as well (507 Mayhew to Rice Creek, 548 St. Francis River to Orono Lake)
A Phase I project, completed in 2017, addressed six projects within Tier 1 & Tier 2 Priority Zones in close proximity to the Elk River. This Phase II project would continue to implement BMPs such as livestock exclusion, pasture management, manure management, filter strips, and other practices within Priority Zones. It is anticipated that between 8 and 12 practices would be installed, resulting in a potential reduction of a 30% reduction from 2009 levels.
Community engagement is built into this proposed project in a number of ways. A Small Farms Pasture and Manure Management Day would be held with assistance of UofM partners. The event would support education and also promote this BMP funding opportunity. Following this event, continued promotion to property owners would occur through direct mailings, annual field tours, and promotion from partnerships (Coalition of Lake Associations, Elk River Watershed Association, MN Horse Council, etc) and social media.
Annie Felix-Gerth
$6,882,000 the first year and $12,618,000 the second year are for grants to protect and restore 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 projects and stream bank, stream channel, shoreline restoration, and ravine stabilization projects. The projects must use practices demonstrated to be effective, be of long lasting public benefit, include a match, and be consistent with total maximum daily load (TMDL) implementation plans, watershed restoration and protection strategies (WRAPS), or local water management plans or their equivalents. A portion of these funds may be used to seek administrative efficiencies through shared resources by multiple local governmental units.
The proposed project would implement projects in Tier 1 and Tier 2 Priority Zone parcels between 2018 and 2020. The projects would focus upon bacteria reduction and thus include measures such as manure management or capture and pasture management. An outcome of this project would be successful establishment of 8 to 12 projects in the Priority Zones, mitigation of 30% relative to 2009 levels. The project would work towards an eventual impaired status delisting for the Elk River.
This project has resulted in an estimated annual reduction of 1040000000000 CFU of E. Coli, 19.5 tons of Soil Loss,
LOCAL LEVERAGED FUNDS