This is a joint project between the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), North Dakota, and Manitoba. The project is a basin-wide, up-to-date water quality trend analysis using the "QWTrend" program for approximately 40 bi-national river sites to review nutrients, total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, sulfate and chloride from 1980 - 2015.
The Bois De Sioux Watershed District (BdSWD) is partnering with the Wilkin County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), Wilkin County, and landowners to reduce sediment load by 450 tons/year and phosphorus load by 90 lbs/yr to the Bois de Sioux River. This project is estimated to meet 10% of the Bois de Sioux-Mustinka short-term reduction goals for sediment and 28% of the short-term goal for phosphorus reduction in the planning region. Wilkin County Ditch #1 (WCD #1) outlets to the Bois de Sioux River, which is impaired for turbidity, dissolved oxygen, total phosphorus, and e. coli.
Phase 6 of the Wetland Habitat Protection and Restoration Program will result in the protection of 1,213 acres of high priority wetland habitat complexes in Minnesota's Prairie and Forest-Prairie Transition areas by securing permanent conservation easements within scientifically prioritized habitat complexes. The Minnesota Land Trust will use its innovative market-based landowner bid model to maximize conservation benefit and financial leverage in protection project selection.
The Whiskey Creek project involves a coordinated and comprehensive approach to watershed management. This project consists of installing conservation practices that reduce sediment loading to Whiskey Creek while also providing flood reduction benefits to downstream landowners.
The Wilkin Soil and Water Conservation District will partner with the Buffalo Red River Watershed District, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and landowners to install 59 side inlets to stabilize high priority gullies that are contributing sediment to Whiskey Creek. When these 59 gullies are stabilized, sediment loading to Whiskey Creek will be reduced by an estimated 1,006 tons per year and total phosphorus reduced by 794 pounds per year.
The Whiskey Creek Watershed is the largest subwatershed in the Upper Red River of the North drainage, encompassing 165.63 square miles in Otter Tail and Wilkin Counties. This watershed contains the headwaters of the Red River of the North, which begins in far west central Wilkin County, an area of mixed residential and agricultural land use. The cities of Breckenridge, Minnesota and Wahpeton, North Dakota, as well as the small town of Kent are within the watershed.
This program acquired priority lands and developed them as Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) - six parcels protected totaling over 600 acres, Scientific and Natural Areas (SNA) - one parcel of 900 acres (287 acres credited to this funding ), and Native Prairie Bank (NPB) easements - two parcels totaling almost 200 acres. These lands protect habitat and some provide public hunting, trapping and compatible outdoor uses.
A total of 62 grade stabilization structures and 13.5 miles of continuous berms will be constructed and become a permanent part of County Ditches 9 and 10. An additional 100 acres of buffers will be seeded beyond those required by law. Together these practices will reduce peak flows into the county ditches, provide better erosion control, reduce sediment, improve water quality and reduce future drainage system maintenance costs. The project will reduce 595 tons of sediment per year from the CD 9 & 10 watersheds to the Rabbit River. This is 18 percent of the Rabbit River TMDL goal.
To upgrade the fair’s stage lighting and provide arts and cultural performances and demonstrations. The Wilkin County Fair will enhance their lighting system on the Free Stage. The fair’s plan is to make the stage a major part of the fair and offers dance, polka, jazz, bluegrass, folk swing choir performances, along with educational demonstrations, such as spinning llama wool.
Over the next six years, the Buffalo-Red River Watershed District (BRRWD), in partnership with landowners, federal, state, and local agencies, intends to implement a long-term comprehensive plan to restore the Wolverton Creek and its riparian corridor. This comprehensive project will turn 20 channelized stream miles to 26.2 miles of restored natural prairie stream channel. It will also protect, enhance, and restore over 740 acres (357 acres in Phase 1) of floodplain wetland and grassland habitat along the Wolverton Creek.
Wolverton Creek is a 25 mile long tributary to the Red River of the North. Its watershed drains approximately 105 square miles located in Wilkin and western Clay Counties. Wolverton Creek is the outlet for numerous ditch systems and natural drainage in the area and is a significant contributor of sediment to the Red River. The City of Moorhead and other downstream communities obtain drinking water from the Red River. Since 85% of Moorhead's drinking water comes from the Red River, high turbidity results in
higher treatment costs for their drinking water system.
Adoption of renewable energy technologies and energy conservation practices can contribute in a variety of ways to the environmental and economic health of rural Minnesota communities through costs savings and emissions reductions. Engaging and coaching students as the leaders in the process of implementing such practices provides the added benefit of increasing knowledge, teaching about potential career paths, and developing leadership experience.
