Minnesota Trout Unlimited, the Minnesota Land Trust, The Nature Conservancy, and Trust for Public Land will combine their expertise in six targeted watersheds to increase the resilience of remnant populations of brook trout unique to Southeast Minnesota. We will protect and enhance habitat in floodplains, along gullies, above steep slopes, and on bluffs to slow runoff, increase infiltration, and keep aquatic habitat productive.
This program is a part of a comprehensive clean water strategy to prevent sediment and nutrients from entering our lakes, rivers, and streams; enhance fish and wildlife habitat; protect groundwater and wetlands. Specifically the Riparian Buffer Easement Program targets creating buffers on riparian lands adjacent to public waters, except wetlands. Through the Reinvest in Minnesota Program (RIM) and in partnership with Soil and Water Conservation Districts and private landowners, permanent conservation easements are purchased and buffers established.
We propose identifying hot spots of groundwater chloride pollution of surface waters due to excessive road salt use, which is a long term source increasing chloride impairment of surface waters.
The Root (HUC 07040008) and Upper Iowa/Mississippi River – Reno (HUC 07060002 and 07060001) watershed Hydrologic Simulation Program – FORTRAN (HSPF) models currently simulate hydrologic and water quality processes through 2015. In order to support work to update the existing WRAPS report, the two HSPF models will be extended through 2021.
The contractor will use the Scenario Application Manager (SAM) tool to build water quality restoration scenarios for the Root River watershed using the Hydrologic Simulation Program FORTRAN (HSPF) model. The SAM tool simulates total suspended solids (TSS) and nitrogen reductions based on implementation of various best management practices.
This grant will fund about 80 project in six sub-watersheds (Headwaters of the Middle & South Branch, Money Creek, Headwaters of Upper Iowa River, Mill Creek, south Fork Root River, and Carey Creek). Projects to include grassed waterways, water and sediment control basins, grade stabilization structures, livestock waste projects, streambank projects and cover crops. Funding will also support staff time for project development and technical assistance for the cost-share projects.
This grant will fund an expected 44 projects in 4 subwatersheds (South Fork Root River, Crooked Creek, Rush-Pine and portions of the headwaters of the Middle and South Branch Root) and 2 DWSMAS (Chatfield and Utica). Projects include grassed waterways, WASCOBs, grade stabilization structures and cover crops, plus field walkovers, project development, and technical assistance. The anticipated sediment reduction from this work will be 2,285.5 tons, or 2.2% of the 10-year goal for the entire planning area.
The purpose of this project is to assess the amount of land in the Root River watershed that is treated by structural best management practices (BMPs); more specifically, Water and Sediment Control Basins. The 2016 Root River Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) report recommended reducing sediment loss from upland areas and reducing nitrate loading to streams from runoff. Understanding the location and density of these BMPs will is important for targeting future watershed protection and restoration efforts.
TMDL project in the Root River Watershed that will support surface water assessment, analysis of data, interpretation of southeast Minnesota's karst landscape, stressor identification, TMDL computation, source assessment, and implementation planning.
The goal of this project is to complete the construction, calibration, and validation of an Hydrological Simulation Program FORTRAN (HSPF) watershed model for the Minnesota portions of three watersheds: Root River, Upper Iowa, and Mississippi River-Reno.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is currently working with the United States Environmental Protection Agency and private consultants as part of the Great Lakes Area of Concern (AOC) program to identify and remediate bed sediments contaminated with polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (dioxins) in reservoirs in the St. Louis River watershed of the Lake Superior Basin. Two reservoirs in the St. Louis River watershed where dioxins in bed sediments are a concern are Thomson and Scanlon Reservoirs near Cloquet, Minnesota.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) began work in 2019 within the St. Louis River Watershed (Watershed) as part of the Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies (WRAPS) update. Components of the WRAPS include monitoring and collecting data to fill data gaps, along with engaging citizens on pertinent water quality issues in the Watershed. With a focus on local needs, this project will provide an avenue for the Carlton County Soil and Water Conservation District to assist MPCA in accomplishing this work and in achieving overall water quality goals.
The North Saint Louis Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) will support the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency in developing a Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) for the Saint Louis River watershed. Work will include monitoring, data collection to fill data gaps, and engaging citizens on pertinent water quality issues.
This project is for Bay West to perform tree clearing oversight activities at the Thomson Reservoir, which is a sediment contamination site, located in the St. Louis River (SLR) Area of Concern (AOC) in Cloquet Minnesota at the request of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). The goal for the is to provide subcontractor coordination and oversight for tree clearing activities necessary to prepare the Site for future remediation activities.
