Martha Lake Iron Enhanced Drainage System
Due to its high water quality, protecting Martha Lake is a prioirty for Wright County. A monitoring study of the tile system outlet that flows into Lake Martha revealed high amounts of dissolved phosphorus were entering the lake through the tile system. This validated the concerns of the Lake Martha Lake Association.
This purpose of this project will be to reduce the dissolved phosphorus loads entering Martha Lake. Though the technical assistance from the University of Minnesota, an iron enhanced sand infiltration trench will be installed to treat the tile discharge before it reaches Martha Lake. Literature supports an 80% reduction of phosphorus is expected from this proposed practice. Once the trench is installed, monitoring and chemical analysis will be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of this project.
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;
Bill Thompson - MPCA Project Manager and Research Scientist; Sonia Maassel Jacobsen - Hydraulic Engineer, NRCS; Bruce Henningsgaard - Principal Engineer; William P Anderson - Principal Engineer; Greg Eggers - Drainage Engineer, MN DNR; Jim Solstad - Hydrologist 3; Allan M. Kean - Chief Engineer, BWSR; Adam Birr - Impaired Waters Technical Coordinator;
Nicole Clapp
(d) $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000 the second year are for technical assistance and grants for the conservation drainage program in consultation with the Drainage Work Group, created under Minnesota Statutes, section 103B.101, subdivision 13, that consists of 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.
Project Outputs:Iron enhances sand filter - Martha Lake and Charlotte Lake Proposed Reductions:12 lbs/year Phosphorus
This project achieved an estimated 12 lb/yr reduction in phosphorus.
The source of additional funds varies from project to project, but generally consists of federal, local and non-public sources.