South Branch Buffalo River Watershed Restoration
The BRRWD will partner with the Wilkin SWCD, West Otter Tail SWCD, NRCS, and landowners to install 50 sediment BMPs (water and sediment control basins, grade stabilization structures, grassed waterways) that are contributing sediment to the South Branch Buffalo River (SBBR). The focus will be on upland areas, away from the SBBR channel corridor, to improve water quality within the SBBR watershed. When these 50 gullies are stabilized, sediment loading within the watershed will be reduced by 2,800 tons/yr and total phosphorus will be reduced by 310 lbs/year. The total sediment reduction associated with this project is 27 percent of the 10,373 tons/yr goal set by the TMDL for the SBBR. This project, the "South Branch Buffalo River Watershed Restoration", is the continuation of phase 1 and 2 of the "South Branch Buffalo River Restoration" projects, which include installation of 72 side inlets adjacent to the SBBR and approximately 9 miles of stream restoration. In total, the sediment loading within the watershed will be reduced by 7,800 tons/yr (75% of the 10,373 tons/yr goal set by the TMDL). In addition, this project continues an ongoing effort over the past decade to improve water quality, manage erosion, reduce sediment, and enhance natural resources throughout the watershed. The Stream Power Index (SPI) Tool and the Prioritize, Target, and Measure Application (PTMApp) have been used to determine areas of high concentrated flow within the SBBR watershed. Based on this analysis, sediment BMP locations were identified that should be stabilized to repair gullies and ensure a reduction of future erosion. Using information from the PTMApp analysis, the total sediment load from all 50 gullies is 2,800 tons/yr and the total phosphorus load is 310 lbs/yr. Each gully was also ranked from most sediment contributing to the least and grouped into High and Medium categories. This project will be targeting the gullies identified as the highest priority within the SBBR watershed.
Annie Felix-Gerth
(Projects and Practices)(b) $10,762,000 the first year and $11,504,000 the second year are for grants to local government units 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. Up to 20 percent of this appropriation is available for land-treatment projects and practices that benefit drinking water.
The 50 sediment BMPs will reduce sediment by 2,800 tons/yr and total phosphorus by 310 lbs/yr. This is 27% of the TMDL goal of 10,373 tons/yr.
LOCAL LEVERAGED FUNDS