This project is designed to complete an inventory and assessment of existing stormwater infrastructure in the cities of Two Harbors and Silver including mapping urban surface and sub-surface storm water flow to determine flow paths, pour points, and areas of limited storm water infrastructural capacity. The results of this assessment will be an assessment with prioritized and targeted opportunities for municipal infrastructure retrofits or best management practice installation on both public and private land.
Deteriorating water quality of Sand Creek and some of its tributaries are.linked to inorganic sediment from field erosion and channel instability. This project continues a successful 2010 Clean Water Fund effort that addresses turbidity and sediment by targeting select subwatersheds for the conversion of row crops to native grasses.
This project aims to significantly reduce the amount of sediment transfer from eroding bluff areas to Seven Mile Creek during spring snowmelt and rain events throughout the year. This will be accomplished by installing and maintaining drop structures and reinforcing the existing spalsh pool at the outlet pipe without destabilizing the surrounding bluffs. When applied in tandem, this project will reduce the peak flow rate to ravine areas while shielding and protecting the bluff itself from eroding.
Nitrate levels in the water supply for the city of Benson have slowly but steadily been increasing since 2012. This project aims to work with the landowners surrounding the Drinking Water Supply Management Areas (DWSMA's) for Benson and Appleton in Swift County to reduce or eliminate the amount of nitrate entering these water supplies. Proven and effective strategies will be implemented to achieve the goals set forth in this grant.
The South Branch of Cascade Creek Turbidity Reduction Project will construct three wetland retention structures within the upper half of the watershed for water quality improvement including sediment reduction, flood attenuation and wildlife habitat improvement. The project will construct wetland basins on the Meadow Lake Golf Course to provide water quality improvement on a previously untreated branch that flows into the upper end of the stream channel restoration project.
Crow Wing County is pursuing this grant to continue this proven community and landowner outreach campaign by developing new water planning tools and using print and social media strategies to effect a positive change in our watersheds. The County believes that landowners want to do the right thing and has the data to show that when doing the right thing can be presented in customer-focused, fact-driven, easy-to-understand format, they get engaged and conservation gets done!
A joint effort of Becker and Clay Soil and Water Conservation District, the Buffalo Red Shallow Lakes and Mainstem Improvement Strategy will reduce nutrient and sediment delivery to 12 impaired lakes and impaired reaches of the Buffalo River through a targeted and prioritized approach to the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs). Numerous models have been combined with local knowledge to identify chief sources of constituents in the watershed and to isolate and prioritize implementation sites demonstrating the most significant gains in water quality.
The Credit River runs the entire length of the City of Savage before discharging to the Minnesota River. Both the Credit and Minnesota Rivers have been identified as not meeting state water quality standards for turbidity. A ravine running from Utica Avenue, east a distance of 2,600 feet to the Credit River, receives stormwater from more than 1,700 acres of the City. The long term and often very high flows of stormwater have resulted in significant erosion of the stream banks.
This project will continue to protect and improve Valley Creek, a world-class trout stream located in the Valley Branch Watershed District. Stabilizing Ravine 2E, which conveys runoff from a 150-acre watershed directly into the main stem of Valley Creek, will prevent 7 tons of sediment from depositing in the creek and silting over trout spawning sites on an annual basis. It will also reduce the annual total phosphorus load to Valley Creek and the nutrient-impaired Lake St. Croix by 51 pounds per year.
Valley Creek is one of only a few high-quality, naturally reproducing trout streams in the Twin Cities. Stormwater runoff, which causes bank erosion and carries excessive sediment and contaminants into the creek poses the largest threat to this stream and to the phosphorus-impaired Lake St. Croix. Overall, two projects are expected to reduce sediment delivery to Valley Creek by 36 tons per year. The reduction in sediment load will also prevent 31 pounds of phosphorus, per year, from entering Valley Creek and Lake St. Croix.
Project partners play a vital role in the implementation of the Verdi Wellhead Protection Plan and have made this water source a priority in lowering nitrate levels. The aquifer used by the wells in the Verdi Well Field consists of a sand and gravel horizon about 30' thick which overlies clay-rich till. The geological sensitivity in all five of the Verdi wells is classified as "high".The Verdi Well Field supplies water to ten community water suppliers, 34 large rural users, and 1,126 rural hookups. Total population served by this water supply is about 7,500.
The purpose of this project is to complete subwatershed analysis for Cannon River and Vermillion River sub-watersheds to prioritize and target Best Management Practices based on cost-effectiveness with regard to pollutant reduction. This process is intended to proactively assist local water management and partner agencies in maximizing the value of each dollar spent to improve water quality in the respective rivers.
The Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization (VRWJPO), in partnership with the City of Farmington and Dakota County, are working to systematically address Total Suspended Solids (TSS) sources contributing to the Vermillion River through use of a prioritized, targeted, and measurable sub watershed assessment approach to identify and implement the most cost-effective and feasible projects to address the Vermillion River's TSS, fish, and macroinvertebrate TMDLs.
The Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization (VRWJPO), in partnership with the City of Hastings and Dakota County, are working to systematically address Total Suspended Solids (TSS) sources contributing to the Vermillion River through use of a prioritized, targeted, and measurable subwatershed assessment approach to identify and implement the most cost- effective and feasible projects to address the Vermillion River's turbidity impairments and TMDL's.
This proposal seeks to prevent nitrate contamination in and around vulnerable Non-Community (Transient and Non-Transient) Public Water Supplies within the sandy outwash plains of the Mississippi River in Central Minnesota. Within the work area we have identified 221 public (non-municipal) water supplies in this area which include places of worship, restaurants, office spaces, bars, daycares and campgrounds within the Morrison and Benton County work area.
Planned improvements to the Downtown area will include installation of underground storage, use of a water tower retired from potable service, and a new irrigation system to utilize stormwater runoff in lieu of potable water for irrigation of several green areas.
Ramsey County is the smallest, most densely populated county in the state of Minnesota consisting of primarily urbanized land use. Ramsey County's water resources provide the industrial base, drinking water, and recreational opportunities for over one-half million people on a daily basis. The major environmental problems that Ramsey County lakes and streams face can be traced to the effects that urbanized land use has on these natural resources.
Lake of the Woods is a world-class fishery and an important economic driver for Roseau County. The proposed project will investigate and quantify sources of sediment to the lower portion of the Warroad River near its confluence with Lake of the Woods. Sedimentation at the mouth of the Warroad River is a concern for several reasons including fisheries habitat, water quality and the drinking water supply for the city of Warroad.
Lake of the Woods (LOW) is a resource with local, regional, state, and international significance and is the second largest lake in Minnesota. Over the past three decades the Warroad River Harbor in LOW has experienced severe sedimentation problems. The sedimentation has led to frequent dredging to remove excess sediment and protect this vital resource. However, it is unsustainable to continue dredging the harbor without also addressing the sources of upstream sediment within the Warroad River watershed.
Washington County Department of Public Health and Environment seeks to continue a 100% cost share assistance well sealing program. County residents rely on groundwater for 100% of their drinking water. Sealing unused wells has long been a priority for the county, as they are a potential threat to health, safety, and the environment. The presence of several groundwater contamination areas only highlights the need to seal off these unused wells.
Brown's Creek Watershed District, City of Stillwater and Oak Glen Golf Course will work together to harvest and reuse stormwater for golf course irrigation, reducing thermal loading to Brown?s Creek, a designated trout stream listed as impaired due to high thermal and total suspended solids loading, and reduce phosphorous loading to Lake St. Croix, impaired for excess nutrients. The primary goals are to reduce phosphorous loading to Brown?s Creek and the St. Croix River/Lake St Croix by 67-124 pounds per year and thermal loading to Brown?s Creek by 0.4 degrees Celsius.
The Red River is impaired for turbidity. The level of turbidity is a significant factor in the cost of treatment of drinking water by the City of Moorhead. This water quality improvement project involves the retrofit of Clay County Ditches 9, 32, and 33 just south of the city. The project involves the installation of an estimated 87 side inlet sediment controls and 35 acres of buffer strips. All three of these ditch systems with over 16 miles of County Ditch will be treated for sediment and erosion control with the installation of conservation practices.
The Big Sandy Area Lakes Watershed Management Project has developed innovative projects to protect and improve water quality, wildlife, and the fishery resources in the Big Sandy Lake Watershed since 1991. Projects have focused on the main ecological problems and sources of nutrient loading to Big Sandy and other watershed lakes. A Clean Water Fund Grant provided funding for nine demonstration projects that continue this work. Projects planned for this area focus on controlling shoreline erosion and overland runoff that carries soil and nutrients to the lakes.
This project targets one of Chisago County's few remaining large dairy operations. It is situated on the top of the St. Croix River escarpment and drains over the bluff to the St. Croix River. This project includes installation of several practices in the feedlot area, including critical area planting to help stabilize a gully formed through the feedlot. There are also two other gullies located at the edge of fields or pasture areas that will be stabilized using water and sediment control structures, grade stabilization practices, or diversions.
In 2009, residents from the Stradford Addition and the Avon Area Lakes Association (AALA) contacted the Stearns County SWCD with concerns of direct stormwater entering Middle Spunk Lake. The Stearns County SWCD met with representatives on site to assess the stormwater problems. Many areas of untreated stormwater that directly discharged into Middle Spunk Lake were identified. It was determined that the watershed areas within the Stradford addition should be retrofitted with best management practices capable of conveying and treating stormwater.
This project builds capacity in soil water conservation districts and Mille Lacs Band with BWSR and DNR to accelerate tree planting for water quality and carbon sequestration by private landowners.
As Best Management Practices (BMPs) such as rain gardens and infiltration swales begin to be implemented in Chisago County, most people don't understand what they are and what their purpose is. With the dual goals of treating stormwater runoff and educating the public, the SWCD applied for and received a Clean Water Fund grant to implement several pre-designed BMPs at
This project will construct a stormwater treatment facility to treat runoff from 6,500 acre urban and agricultural drainage area in and around the City of Watkins, MN. The result is an annual phosphorus reduction of 796 pounds to Lake Betsy, the Clearwater River, and the Clearwater River Chain of Lakes.
The Watonwan Watershed Technician will provide highly focused targeting of conservation programs and practices. The technician will enhance current staff capabilities in the Watonwan watershed by collecting landowner contact information from previous studies and GIS methods, produce mass mailings about funding opportunities, and meet one-on-one with landowners to discuss their conservation concerns. The technician will implement 45 projects/practices over a three year period.
The Watonwan Watershed Resource Specialist has been funding with Clean Water funds since 2012. Since that time, the Watonwan Watershed Resource Specialist has been a crucial connector between landowners and natural resource professionals in the Watonwan Watershed. As the technical ability and responsibilities of the WWRS expands, the need and urgency to secure extended funding becomes a priority. This project will fund half of the Watonwan Watershed Research Specialist position through year 2020.
With the completion of LiDAR data in southern Minnesota, it is imperative to use this data as effectively as possible. In order to do so, the Greater Blue Earth River Basin Alliance (GBERBA) will contract with a vendor to complete a Geographic Information System (GIS) terrain analysis in subsheds of the Watonwan River watershed. This inventory will utilize the State of Minnesota LiDAR elevation datasets to create many GIS datasets by spatially analyzing the elevation data.
