Todd County Systematic Lake Septic System Inventory
This project will inventory and conduct compliance inspections on Subsurface Treatment Systems (SSTS) around eight lakes in Todd County. Lakes to be inventoried include Big Sauk Lake, Big Swan Lake, Little Osakis Lake, Fairy Lake, Lily Lake, Long Lake, Little Birch Lake and Moose Lake. Approximately 1,200 parcels will receive compliance inspections. Systems that fail to meet standards will be brought into compliance using procedures available in rule and ordinance.
This is the second round of lake SSTS inspections that have been conducted in Todd County. This is a collaborative effort between the Todd County Division of Soil, Water Conservation and Development, the Sauk River Watershed District in cooperation with lake associations. Todd County will provide logistical support, oversight and fiscal management of the project.
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
(b) $3,000,000 the first year and $3,000,000 the second year are for targeted local resource protection and enhancement grants. The board shall give priority consideration to projects and practices that complement, supplement, or exceed current state standards for protection, enhancement, and restoration of water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams or that protect groundwater from degradation. Of this amount, at least $1,500,000 each year is for county SSTS implementation.
Big Sauk Lake - Todd County; Septic System Inventory and upgraded septic systems. Big Swan Lake - Todd County; Septic System Inventory and upgraded septic systems. Little Osakis Lake-Todd County; Septic System Inventory and upgraded septic systems. Fairly Lake, Lily Lake and Long Lake-Todd County; Septic System Inventory and upgraded septic systems. Little Birch Lake and Moose Lake - Todd County; Septic System Inventory and upgraded septic systems
Vouchers for 144 septic inspections completed in 2013, and 97 in 2014. 432 properties were investigated in 2013. Of these 308 were fully compliant (73%), 95 (22%) had drain fields that passed but still need a tank inspection, and 20 (5%) had failed systems. In 2014, 97 systems had soils verified. Tanks were inspected by private companies and landowners reimbursed for having tanks pumped and inspected. All results are recorded in the county land use data base.
The source of additional funds varies from project to project, but generally consists of federal, local and non-public sources.