Rice County Water Resources Division will complete a Surface Water Assessment for six lakes located in the Cannon River Watershed. The lakes chosen include: Sprague Lake (66-0045-00), Mud Lake (66-0054-00), Hatch Lake (66-0063-00), Pooles Lake (66-0046-00), Logue Lake (66-0057-00), and Phelps Lake (66-0062-00). Each lake chosen is currently unassessed, and both Sprague and Mud lake are priority lakes for testing. Sampling will include testing dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, Secchi, Total phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a. The samples will be taken by volunteers and paid staff.
Swift Soil and Water Conservation District plans on monitoring seven stream sites of the Chippewa River Watershed within Swift county. Through this process we hope to assist the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) in identifying sites in this study area that are either improving or degrading in water quality.
The goal of this project is to reduce the number of vulnerable unused wells located within sensitive areas and to prevent potential groundwater contamination. This project will provide cost-share well sealing funds to target sealing of unused wells located in highly vulnerable areas within both the City of Faribault, and the City of Northfield's Drinking Water Supply Management Areas (DWSMA), and other vulnerable areas of Rice County.
With the proposed project, the Pomme de Terre River Association will target catchments delivering the highest 25% of sediment from agricultural land and identified priority management zones for storm water runoff (identified in the Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy). Implementation is estimate to reduce sediment runoff to prioritized water bodies by 14,690 tons per year and phosphorous by 12,270 pounds per year.
To do preservation work at the Thorstein Veblen Farmstead National Historic Landmark, located near Nerstrand, in Rice County, Minnesota, that will provide urgently needed stabilization and preservation of three out-buildings at the farmstead, including the original small barn, the large hay barn, and the granary.
Turtle Island Skywatchers - Innovative Research and Data Visualization project works to protect Minnesota water, wildlife, and natural resources while empowering Indigenous youth as leaders and all citizens as researchers.
We will reconstruct historical lake conditions to identify factors linked to successful walleye fisheries and guide effective management in the face of warming temperatures, invasive species, and nutrient loading.
Minnesotans increasingly value native fishes. For example, >95% of bowfished species in MN are native, yet all are poorly understood. Foundational natural resource data is absolutely necessary for all stakeholders.
Our goals are to engage 100,000 underserved youth statewide in environmental education, engaging them in the conservation and preservation of Minnesota wilderness through the experiences in the outdoors.
The Cannon River is a designated Wild and Scenic River that originates in Rice County and joins the Mississippi River 120 miles downstream near Red Wing. The Upper Cannon, which encompasses 29% of the entire watershed, has been identified as a priority subwatershed.
The project included documenting all existing interpretive panels and markers of the U.S. - Dakota War in the MN River Valley and researching potential sites for new interpretive panels or markers. The end result is a written document with an inventory of existing marked U.S. - Dakota War sites in the MN River Valley, research of unmarked sites and an overall strategy of which sites could be marked to better tell the story. The report will provides guidance in telling a more complete story of the U.S. - Dakota War of 1862 through interpretive markers.
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.
Use mobile AI-assisted technologies to survey lake visitors. Assess perceptions of water quality and perceived threats. Combine survey data with water quality data and trend monitoring to inform lake management.
Minnesota Sea Grant seeks to create a science-policy fellowship program to train Minnesota's science-policy workforce and advance Minnesota's water resource policy, emulating Sea Grants successful federal-level fellowship program.
We propose robotics-based educational activities for middle-school youth on water quality in Minnesota. Youth will gain skills for measuring water quality and communicating results through group study and hands-on projects.
Tetra Tech will work to support the science needed when planning in Minnesota for water storage practice implementation. The goal is to provide practical water storage recommendations that can be incorporated into smaller scale planning within major watersheds (HUC 8), as well as larger scale planning for the Sediment Reduction Strategy for the Minnesota River and South Metro Mississippi River.
This proposal will fund technical assistance for nutrient management planning to accelerate water quality improvements with the 12-county West Central Technical Service Area (WCTSA). A needs assessment identified an estimated 156 certified nutrient management plans that will be needed over a 3 year period. Of the 71 SWCD employees in the WCTSA, only 1 SWCD staff member is dedicated to nutrient management planning. To meet technical assistance needs, this grant will fund a Regional Planning Specialist (RPS) to address local resource concerns.
The West Central Technical Service Area (WCTSA) serves 12 Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) in west central Minnesota and has been experiencing increased workload due to greater requests from member SWCDs. This funding will sustain a limited-term technician and purchase related support equipment to assist landowners in implementing targeted, high priority practices that result in the greatest water quality outcomes.
This project will educate and assist landowners to seal unused wells by providing cost-share funds of 50% up to $1,000 per well located in highly vulnerable groundwater areas in 10 southeast Minnesota counties. Groundwater is the primary source of drinking water and due to the karst geology in SE MN groundwater is more vulnerable to contamination.
Scott Le Sueur Waterfowlers (SLW) is seeking to bring additional funding for wetland enhancement on 43 acres in Rice County. These basins will be enhanced by constructing durable, long-lasting water control structures, embankments, and/or removing sediments and invasive vegetation. The structures will allow water level management on degraded wetlands The other activities will enhance wetland habitats on small isolated wetlands that are ideal for breeding waterfowl and keep water on the landscape.
Phase 8 of the Wetland Habitat Protection and Restoration Program will result in the protection of 745 acres of high priority wetland habitat complexes in Minnesota's Prairie, Forest-Prairie Transition and Northern Forest 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 Wetland Habitat Protection and Restoration Program implements conservation of high priority wetland habitat complexes within Minnesota's Prairie, Forest-Prairie Transition and Northern Forest areas. Phase 9 of the Wetlands Program will focus on restoration and enhancement of 983 acres of high priority wetlands and associated prairies to benefit important waterfowl and SGCN populations. Restoration and enhancement work will be managed by the Minnesota Land Trust, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) requires the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to carry out the Total Maximum Daily Load Program (TMDL) in the state of Minnesota. Minnesota has an abundance of lakes and river reaches, many of which will require a TMDL study. In an effort to expedite the completion of TMDL projects, the MPCA has decided to construct watershed models. These models have the potential to support the simultaneous development of TMDL studies for multiple listings within a cataloging unit or 8-digit Hydrologic Unit Code watershed.
