St. Louis River Watershed Implementation

The St. Louis River Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan targets projects to solve water quality problems. For this request the partnership will complete the following types of projects and activities in priority areas: Well Sealing, Septic System replacement, Enhanced Street sweeping, Smart Salt programing, livestock management, stormwater plans and BMPs, pet waste reduction programming, forestry education and projects, invasive species education and control, shoreline education and projects, culvert replacements, and stream restorations. Approximately eight wells will be decommissioned. In order to address impacts from SSTSs at least three failing septic systems will be replaced. For Forestry Practices, outreach and technical assistance will be provided. These efforts will make an estimated 2,000 acres eligible for private forest protection to benefit surface water, drinking/groundwater water quality and riparian habitat. This will be accomplished through land owner contacts, RIM program assistance, and technical assistance for riparian plantings and small acre plans. In addition, the partnership will identify priority locations to implement approximately three invasive species control projects. The partnership will address streambank and shoreline protection activities in several ways. Approximately 17 miles of streams will be reconnected. This will be accomplished by: design and implementation of as many as four culverts in priority areas to benefit aquatic life and improve water quality, completion of up to ten stream restoration feasibility studies, preparation of straightened stream reach inventory and prioritizations covering an estimated 2000 feet in the NSL Planning Area. In addition, the partnership will address shoreline protection for 1,500 linear feet of lakes and streams. Natural buffers, bank stabilization, bioengineering, and other practices will be utilized. This will be accomplished through outreach, design, and cost-sharing. Approximately 20 projects that limit the negative water quality impacts from stormwater and animal waste will be completed. Livestock management projects will be completed to reduce bacteria and other pollutants reaching surface water. Partners will develop and implement an outreach campaign to livestock owners in priority areas. Also, approximately 10 BMPs for livestock management, pasture management or related practices will be implemented. Partners will also address Pet Waste and develop an education program. This effort will seek to reduce bacteria in surface waters. The program will be developed for approximately four communities in the NSL Planning Area. Urban Stormwater Management Practices will be utilized by partners by completing the follow projects: Up to three rain gardens/catch basins will be installed in St. Louis River South to promote the implementation of low impact development techniques to reduce stormwater runoff, volume, and rate control. Enhanced Street Sweeping will be performed in Carlton County. This will include the purchase of a street sweeper and an Enhanced Street Sweeping Plans for five communities in the SSL Planning Area. Increased Smart Salt training and outreach for municipalities and private landowners to manage chlorides reaching surface and ground water from road salts and water softener salts with the goal that municipalities have Smart Salt Certified Staff, Communities achieved Level 2 Certification and education & outreach is delivered to priority landowners. The program will be delivered to approximately 8 communities in the SSL and NSL Planning Areas. These chloride reduction efforts could also be considered Non-structural Management Practices or Special Project Activities. Stormwater Management Plans will be developed for approximately 5 communities in the NSL Planning Area. An Adopt a Storm Drain Program will be developed for up to four communities in the NSL Planning Area.