The purpose of the project is to reduce sediment and nutrient deposition in surface waters within priority areas of the watershed. A five percent reduction goal has been established in the County Local Water Management Plan and Impaired Waters project in progress. Eleven Best Management Practice (BMP) installations are planned for this project in cooperation with local landowners, Cities, Townships and Lake Associations.
The Project and Outreach Coordinator will facilitate efforts within the watershed to provide landowner support and assistance in identifying areas in need of conservation plans and best management practices. The coordinator would use the Watershed Protection and Restoration Strategy Report and county water plans to target and prioritize outreach and education to maximize water quality benefits. This will greatly multiply the number of educated landowners in the watershed and increase the number of projects implemented.
This project primarily focuses on riparian restoration (permanent vegetative buffer enhancements and plantings) on 6.5 miles (both sides) of targeted tributaries, ditches, and wetlands within five sub - watershed areas identified in the Snake River Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) Report. These plantings will consist of native perennials, trees, and shrubs where practical. In addition to the riparian plantings, this project will include fence exclusions for cattle and heavy use protections at cattle crossings in streams and ditches.
Implement cover crops, no tillage management, forestry improvements, and prescribed grazing to improve soil health, sequester carbon, and protect drinking water within the southwestern portion of the Mississippi River-Sartell watershed, including areas immediate upsteam of the St. Cloud drinking water surface intake. This will be achieved by providing financial and technical assistance paired with targeted outreach and in combination with other CWF grant programs.
The primary goal of this project is to protect public water supplies from contamination from nonpoint-sourced pollution by providing farmers with resources to implement soil health Best Management Practices (BMPs) within a set radius of municipal Drinking Water Supply Management Areas (DWSMAs) for cities within Traverse County. The secondary goal of the project is protection of public surface waters and measurable progress towards reduction of nutrient and sediment pollution to impaired watercourses.
The Minnesota Soil Survey is an ongoing effort by the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) that is systematically collecting and mapping data pertaining to soil types and other soil properties in each county of the state. Soils data is used by governments, farmers, and other businesses for a number of purposes from protection and restoration of soil, water, wetlands, and habitats to agricultural soil management to building construction.
The purpose of this project is to provide a new shared position in southeast Minnesota which will accelerate the adoption of soil health practices by leveraging the existing efforts of the National Resources Conservation Service and other organizations.
This project seeks to inventory twenty registered feedlots identified as having an Unpermitted Liquid Manure Storage Area. Specifically, this inventory would include offering cost-share for soils investigations. These feedlots are located in three townships that have also been identified as having groundwater that is vulnerable to nutrient pollution, necessitating a need for nitrate testing per MN Department of Agriculture. These townships also house the vast majority of remaining unpermitted Liquid Manure Storage Areas in the County.
Manage cost share program by encouraging producers within the DWSMA to implement Nitrogen Best Management Practices and perennials, cover crops and/or extra side dressing.
Provide first half of annual rent payment (2018-2019) to landowner to allow City to implement nitrogen BMPs on field immediately upgradient of high nitrate public supply well.
Educate well owners on the proper operation and maintenance of their wells, prepare and send letter to owners of properties in moderate and high vulnerability portions of the DWSMA and educate property owners in the DWSMA on issues related to source water
Design, print and mail request for information for 40 unknown wells located within the DWSMA, Bayerl Water Resources to facilitate two wellhead meetings on virus study, create letters to appropriate agencies, explore feasibility of training for local fire
Conduct well survey, Develop wellhead protection information for newsletters, handouts and website; and contact tank property owners on placement and best management practices to prevent contamination of groundwater resources.
Promote water protection and conservation at Middle Spunk Water Festival as an educational Sponsor, update and maintain city web site with water protection and conservation information, promote community awareness and education on Source Water Protection
