Watonwan Watershed Drinking Water Protection

The focus of this project will be over 8,800 acres identified as High and Very High Vulnerability areas within six drinking water supply management areas in the Watonwan River watershed. This will be accomplished by using the Drinking Water Wellhead Protection Plans (DWWPP) as a guide to installing conservation practices for the cities of Comfrey, Darfur, La Salle, Madelia, Mountain Lake, St. James, Truman, Windom, and the Red Rock Rural Water well field. Potential contaminants in drinking water will be prevented/reduced by cost sharing recommended practices outlined in the DWWPPs. All practices installed with this grant, with the exception of well sealing, will be in Highly Vulnerable areas only. Practices that will be installed include: 10 or more well sealings, 10 acres of native plant cover, 12.5 acres of urban forest tree planing and other plan identified practices. There will also be a strong information/education effort that will include 10 drinking water public education events, 10 drinking water promotional signs, and 50 drinking water protection public service radio spots projects, cover crops, nutrient management, and erosion control practices. Reductions from these efforts are anticipated to reduce sediment by 150 tons/year, phosphorus by 310 pounds/year and nitrogen by 1,870 pounds/year.