Red River Tributaries Outlet Gully Stabilization Project

The Clay SWCD will partner with the Buffalo-Red River Watershed District (BRRWD) and landowners to stabilize gullies to the Red River. The first priority will be to address ongoing erosion in Snakey Creek. Snakey Creek is the outlet of County Ditch No. 41 which has become the most critically eroding gully contributing sediment to the Red River in our targeted reach. When stabilized, sediment load to the river will be reduced by 1404 tons per year, and Total Phosphorus will be reduced by 1615 pounds per year. The sediment reduction associated with this project is 1.6 percent of the goal set based on the draft Red River Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan for Red River at the mouth of the Wild Rice River (ND). The Red River is listed as an impaired water for exceeding the turbidity standard for aquatic life. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is completing a TMDL report for the Red River and using that draft report, it was determined that 90,000 tons of sediment per year need to be removed in order for the Red River to no longer be listed as impaired in the vicinity of Moorhead, MN. Snakey Creek drops approximately 14 feet over 2600 feet of channel. The channel is steep and downcutting has caused successive mass wasting of the channel sideslopes which end up delivering significant sediment to the Red River. This project builds off of a 2016 Clean Water Fund Accelerated Implementation Grant (AIG) received by the BRRWD along with subsequent field reconnaissance. The 2016 AIG was used to complete Prioritize, Target, Measure App (PTMApp) within the BRRWD. The PTMApp results were filtered further to identify the best locations for grade stabilization practices. Field review of the sites have led to this project. Any additional funding at the conclusion of addressing Snakey Creek will be used to address additional prioritized gullies to the Red River from the Clay/Wilkin County line north to the Buffalo River.