Rock Soil and Water Conservation District will collect water quality and chemistry parameters on eleven Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) approved stream sites within the Missouri Basin during the 2022-2023 sampling seasons. The sites will be monitored according to MCPA’s Intensive Watershed Monitoring Approach Standard Operating Procedures. The goal of this project will be to accurately gather water quality samples and data as part of an organized multi county effort. Complied sample results will determine surface water quality conditions within the Missouri Basin.
To restore Rock County Fair's Floral Hall. Built in 1911 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Rock County Fair will restore its interior. Funding will not only preserve this historic building, but also create an enhanced space to showcase regional artwork.
To provide an outdoor performance and demonstration space in the highest traffic area of the fairgrounds, which is located between the 4-H Exhibit, Open Class Exhibit, and the Rock County Historical Society Exhibits buildings. The fair plans to hold Dutch Oven cooking demonstrations, Buffalo Days celebrations, and dance performances in this area.
The Rock River Watershed encompasses runoff from the four counties of Rock, Pipestone, Murray and Nobles. The Rock River Watershed, along with the adjacent Elm Creek are listed as impaired by turbidity and fecal coliform. With limited funds available for restoration projects, targeting tools to pinpoint locations where projects stand to have the highest effectiveness are increasingly important.
This project is a partnership with farmers, livestock, commodity and conservation organizations and agencies to install, demonstrate and expand water drainage conservation within the Rock River Watershed. Up to four sites will be chosen based upon local selection criteria, installed and demonstrated to the public in 2013 and 2014.
Numerous studies have shown that stream bank erosion can be a significant contributor to the decline of water quality in the Rock River. The Clean Water dollars provided for this project assisted in three stream bank projects that address the turbidity (muddiness) impairment of the Rock River and bring the river closer to the level of water quality required for the EPA Clean Water Act.The $25,000.00 of Clean Water dollars were successful in leveraging $30,000 of US Fish and Wildlife funding as well as $20,000 of landowner and SWCD investment.
The Rock River is classified as impaired for bacteria and turbidity by the EPA. Local citizens and farmers assisted in writing an Implementation plan that lists stream bank stabilization and city storm water management as priority implementation strategies to address these impairments of the Rock River.The Clean Water Fund grant provides $46,598 for these projects but also leverage over $19,000 of US Fish and Wildlife dollars along with over $13,000 of local match from the landowners.
Sandhill cranes have expanded their range in Minnesota and elsewhere and as populations have expanded several states, including Minnesota, have initiated sandhill crane hunting seasons and other states are considering doing the same. Partially this is in response to increasing complaints of crop degradation by sandhill cranes.
This project will focus on monitoring & assessment, stressor ID assistance, problem investigation, watershed prioritization and targeting, Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) report development, Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) report updates and continuing civic engagement for the Sauk River Watershed.
The goal of this project is to compile the observed flow and water quality data and update the Sauk River Watershed HSPF model calibration through 2019. The Sauk River Watershed HSPF model simulates hydrology, sediment (sand, silt, and clay), temperature, phosphorus, nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, and chlorophyll a.
This program will permanently protect, restore and enhance critical habitat within the Sauk River Watershed, which has experienced considerable habitat loss and is at high risk for more land conversion. Using conservation easements and fee land acquisition, we will protect approximately 660 acres of priority habitat in Minnesota's Prairie and Forest-Prairie Transition Area. We will restore/enhance approximately 224 acres of wetlands and accompanying uplands to create habitat for waterfowl and populations of Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN).
The Sauk River's CWMP identifies altered hydrology and excessive sediment & nutrients as the top priority resource concerns to be addressed. Goals for each priority resource concern are found on pages 4-6 and 4-21 of the CWMP. To achieve these goals, The CWMP contains multiple prioritization schemes, on both a watershed-wide and watershed management unit basis, to achieve these goals - refer to pages 4-8 through 4-11 and 4-22 through 4-31 of the CWMP.
The Sauk River Watershed District (SRWD) shall conduct water quality sampling for the Sauk River and tributary sites, as well as several lakes, for Cycle 2 of the Intensive Watershed Monitoring (IWM) during 2018 and 2019. Field monitoring will be completed at 14 stream locations and 9 lakes designated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Data management will also be completed by the SRWD, including entering and submitting all data to Canvas and compiling all photos, calibration logs and other documents as requested.
This work order will extend all of the timeseries in the Sauk River Watershed Hydrological Simulation Program FORTRAN (HSPF) model through 2019. The Sauk River Watershed HSPF model simulates hydrology, sediment (sand, silt, and clay), temperature, phosphorus, nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, and chlorophyll a.
This project will complete an assessment of watershed lakes and streams. The assessment will include biological and stressor id analysis, which will support a summary report on lake conditions and protection strategies for lakes included in this watershed study.
The Sauk River Stormwater Runoff Reduction and Riparian Restoration Project is a watershed-wide effort to reduce the amount of nutrients delivered by stormwater and bank erosion to area surface waters. Funds will be used to assist local schools and municipalities with their restoration project design, installation, and financing.
Per the CWMP (pgs. 3-5 through 3-6), the issues Altered Hydrology and Excessive Nutrients and Sediment are top priority issues/concerns to be addressed. During development of this work plan, the Implementation Team added the issue/concern High Water Quality Lakes as a secondary priority for this work plan (13 lakes - CWMP figure 4-9), noting it is closely related, often overlaps, there are multiple benefits to be gained, and there is strong local desire to protect these lakes.
This program permanently protects, restores, and enhances critical habitat within the Sauk River Watershed, which has experienced considerable habitat loss and is at high risk for more land use conversion. Using conservation easements and fee land acquisition, we will protect approximately 500 acres of high priority habitat in Minnesota's Prairie and Forest-Prairie Transition Area. We will restore/enhance approximately 74 acres of wetlands and accompanying uplands, creating vital habitat for waterfowl and populations of Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN).
