Phase X of the Camp Ripley Sentinel Landscape ACUB Partnership will utilize permanent conservation easements (BWSR RIM) to acquire 1,421-acres of high quality habitat in order to accomplish: PERMANENT PROTECTION of habitat corridors and buffers around public lands, PRESERVE open space within the CRSL, and conservation enhancement and restoration PRACTICES to protect soil and water quality and habitat corridor connectivity.
Over the past 10 years, the Chisago SWCD has invested heavily in the Chisago Lakes Chain of Lakes watershed. In 2020, the fruits of that investment paid off when North and South Center Lakes, formerly impaired for excess nutrients, were de-listed from the MN Impaired Waters List. The other 16 lakes within the watershed are showing improving trends in Total Phosphorus (TP) and Chlorophyll-a concentrations and increasing clarity of the water.
This project targets sediment and TSS reduction in the Lake Emily subwatershed. Funded Best Management Practices will address non-point source pollution from agricultural lands, specifically those on steep, erodible slopes and ravines (root cause) that are delivering sediment and phosphorus to the Chippewa River and Lake Emily, an important local resource as it passes through several highly recreated and populated lakes within Pope County along with highly productive agricultural and wildlife lands. These lands have been converted to row crop production.
The St. Croix River escarpment has been a focal point for the Chisago SWCD for over 11 years with a multi-phase targeted plan to reduce Total Phosphorus (TP) and sediment loading to the St. Croix River and Lake St. Croix. The Lower St. Croix River Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan (LSC CWMP) prioritizes the continuation of improving trends of TP and sediment to the St. Croix River and Lake St. Croix. In 2011, the SWCD received a Clean Water Fund (CWF) to complete an assessment of erosion along the St. Croix River escarpment.
West Indian Creek (WIC) watershed has been specifically mentioned in multiple plans as a location to target for protection and restoration. It is recognized for its' high conservation value forests, biodiversity , and rare species. WIC is one of 18 cold water trout streams in Wabasha County and approximately 3 stream miles have been restored by Trout Unlimited. WIC is currently listed as impaired for E. coli and mercury. However, the focus of our application is on sediment and nitrates.
The DRAFT Clearwater River Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan (CWMP) identifies the Lower Clearwater Planning Region as having a current sediment loading from overland sources of 18,491 tons/year at the planning region outlet. The 10-year Plan goal is to reduce loading to the outlet by 4% (767 tons/year). The targeted implementation schedule includes structural agricultural practices with a 10-year measurable outcome of 1,271 tons/year (catchment outlet) to meet the 10-year Plan goal.
According to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's (MDAs) Final Township Testing Nitrate Report for Benton County, significant portions of Langola, Watab, Minden, and Maywood townships have high aquifer vulnerability ratings due to the geologic setting in Benton County. The purpose of this project is to reduce the risk of groundwater contamination in critical drinking water areas in Benton County through the process of sealing unused wells.
In Dakota County, groundwater supplies more than 90 percent of the drinking water. In order to protect Dakota County's primary drinking water source, this project proposes to support the County well seal grant cost-share program. The project will provide 50 percent cost-share funding to reimburse landowners for the sealing of unused wells. The goal is to permanently seal between 80-100 unused/abandoned wells throughout the county.
The purpose of this workplan is to implement practices within the Wild Rice - Marsh Watershed (WRMW) to make progress toward the sediment, total phosphorus, storage, soil health, forest, and groundwater goals established in the Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan (plan). Practices are targeted to the ?highest? priority catchments that were prioritized by sediment loading. Sediment is a priority issue within the WRMW plan. Projects targeted by this workplan are estimated to reduce 2,799 tons/year of sediment. Total phosphorus is also a priority issue in the WRM plan.
The Middle-Snake-Tamarac Rivers Watershed is divided into four planning regions including the Headwaters, Lower Tamarac, Lower Middle, and the Snake River regions. In all four regions, concerns for sediment, stream stability, drainage system instability, groundwater pollution, and excess phosphorus have been identified as either high or medium priority resource concerns in The Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan.
