Pell Creek Turbidity Reduction Project

Pell Creek, 34.1 miles in length, drains 33,171 acres of highly productive agricultural land in Redwood, Murray and Cottonwood Counties in southwestern Minnesota. Extensive subsurface drainage and open ditches are found throughout the counties in order to improve crop productivity. Glacial geology and steep topography make the loamy soils very prone to wind and water erosion. Surface water issues within this watershed are a historical priority concern of local leadership. Redwood-Cottonwood Rivers Control Area (RCRCA) was formed by these leaders in 1983 to address sedimentation, water quality, water quantity, and erosion issues. Past diagnostic studies and implementation plans for the Cottonwood River defined specific pollutants, processes affecting transport, and measures to reduce delivery. RCRCA authored a TMDL and implementation plan to address turbidity in 2008. Wenck Associates, Inc. (Stantec) have drafted a TMDL (2021) using water quality data from 201-2018 and estimating a 44% TSS reduction needed (or 172 tons/year) for the Pell Creek subwatershed. These practices will be used to capture sediment from excessive overland flows and provide up to 75% cost-share for landowners. This proposal will annually reduce 300 tons of sediment through implementation of 3 water and sediment control basins, 2 grade stabilization projects, and 6 grassed waterways. This proposal?s sediment reduction goal would constitute 100% toward the Pell Creek TSS reduction goal and 0.43% toward the interim 25% reduction goal set in the Sediment Reduction Strategy for the Minnesota River Basin. RCRCA currently holds a CWF grant for the adjacent Plum Creek watershed awarded in 2020. No additional staff are needed as all projects are designed and shovel ready, and staff are well-experienced in grant administration.