Rice Creek WD proposes completion of three projects during this WBIF cycle: 1) Clearwater Creek Stabilization Scoping: The portion of the Main Trunk of Anoka Washington Judicial Ditch 3 (AWJD3, also known as Clearwater Creek) downstream of I-35E has a steep grade with heavily scoured and sloughing banks due to high peak flows and channel velocities and unstable sandy soils.
The Cannon River and its subwatersheds are priority resources in multiple local and regional plans including the NCRWMO Watershed Plan, Cannon River Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan and the Dakota County Groundwater Plan. Agricultural BMPs, both structural and non-structural, are targeted based upon cost/benefit. The outreach, planning, and feasibility activities will further the goals of the Plans listed above.
We will carry out activities selected by the Rum River metro watershed convene group including the Upper and Lower Rum River Watershed Management Organizations, Anoka Conservation District, and a city representative.
The proposed project will provide cost share funding and technical assistance for landowners to design and implement medium-sized water quality BMPs. The installation of these projects will have measurable outcomes that will benefit water quality. BMPs could include gully stabilizations, infiltration basins, bioretention basins, hydrodynamic separators, other stormwater runoff controls and streambank and shoreline protections.
The Vermillion River and its subwatersheds are priority resources in local and regional plans including the Vermillion River Watershed Management Plan and the Dakota County Groundwater Plan. Prioritized agricultural BMPs and nitrate reduction BMPs, a subwatershed analysis, and project development of irrigation and groundwater protection practices will further the goals of the plans above.
Implementation of Vadnais Lake Area WMO (VLAWMO)'s existing Landscape Level 2 Grant Program to install at least 1 BMP project between 2023-2025 to make progress on water quality impairments within four priority subwatersheds: Lambert Creek, Goose, Birch, and Gilfillan-Tamarack-Black-Wilkinson-Amelia. Eligible BMPs include project types identified in the Board-approved Landscape Level 2 Grant Policy. The anticipated outcome is a reduction in phosphorus by at least 0.3 pounds annually. This activity will also result in strengthened partnerships with Vadnais Lake Area WPA communities.
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.
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.
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.
Installation of approximately 8 curb-cut rain gardens in St. Paul right-of-way to reduce phosphorus loads by approximately 1.2 pounds annually. Adjacent property owners will be engaged throughout the process and will be responsible for long-term maintenance. Ramsey County Soil and Water Conservation Division will be completing designs which will be approved by City of St. Paul. Approximately six of these gardens will be installed in high priority areas as defined in CRWD's 2021-2030 Watershed Management Plan.
The Lower St. Croix (LSC) Partnership will implement projects and practices in order to achieve a cumulative phosphorus reduction of 381 lb/yr to priority waterbodies identified in Table 5-2 and Table 5-3 of the LSC Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan (CWMP). It will also implement practices in order to protect groundwater, particularly in areas identified in CWMP Figure 5-1 Vulnerable Groundwater in Agricultural Areas. Projects and practices will include structural agricultural BMPs, structural urban BMPs, non-structural ag and urban BMPs, and wetland restorations.
