Preventing Erosion to the Mississippi River Gully
Water from an area in and near the interchange of US Highway 52 and MN Highway 55 spills onto a steep bluff face at the head of a ravine. This has accelerated the amount of sediment eroding from the ravine into the Mississippi River. In partnership with Dakota County, Dakota Soil and Water Conservation District, the City of Rosemount, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Flint Hills Resources, the Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization has been working for several years to identify a solution to this severe erosion problem.
A grade control structure would take the water from the top of the bluff and drop it to the bottom of the bluff, thereby eliminating further erosion of the bluff face and existing head cut. This was determined to be the most effective and inexpensive solution to address the erosion and sediment issue. This project will reduce sediment to the Lower Mississippi River by an estimated 82 tons/year.
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.
Installation of grade control structure and infiltration features to eliminate erosion from Mississippi River gully - Mississippi River Pool 3/Spring Lake (Pool 2) & Lower Vermillion River Proposed Reductions: 43,560 acre feet/year Hydrology, 70 lbs/year Phosphorus and 82 tons/year Sediment
A grade control structure was installed to eliminate erosion from the gully area. Upstream and downstream controls to promote infiltration were also installed to provide addition pollutant and water volume reductions.
The project reduced the following reaching Mississippi River Pool 3/Spring Lake (Pool 2) & Lower Vermillion River: 43,560 acre feet/year Hydrology, 70 pounds per year Phosphorus and 82 tons per year Sediment.
The source of additional funds varies from project to project, but generally consists of federal, local and non-public sources.