The Crow Wing River is a valuable natural resource and forested regions in the watershed are at risk from conversion to cropland and clearing for other uses. In order to maintain the high quality upland that protects the water quality, forestry practices are being encouraged with cost-sharing and education in an effort to manage, protect, and improve existing forest stands.
The Minnesota DNR and the Minnesota Forest Resources Council work with forest landowners, managers and loggers to implement a set of voluntary sustainable forest management guidelines that include water quality best management practices (BMPs) to ensure sustainable habitat, clean water, and productive forest soils, all contributing to healthy watersheds. This project will monitor the implementation of these forest management guidelines and BMPs on forested watersheds in MN.
This leadership workshop series will provide the participants (citizen leaders) with knowledge, skills, processes and tools that can help to strengthen their current efforts and nurture new ones.
This project will build the first comprehensive list of Minnesota moths and butterflies. Information gained through surveys and outreach efforts will inform land managers and inspire public appreciation.
River Watch (RW) enhances watershed understanding and awareness for tomorrow’s decision-makers through direct hands-on, field-based experiential watershed science. High School based teams throughout the Minnesota River Basin participate in a variety of unique and innovative watershed engagement opportunities such as Water Quality Monitoring and Macroinvertebrate surveys that are suited to their school, community, and watershed needs.
BWSR will administer funding to eligible County projects that provide funds and other assistance to low income property owners to upgrade or replace Noncompliant Septic Systems. BWSR will also manage annual reporting completed by each County.
The Crow Wing River Watershed consists of approximately 1,959 square miles in the north to north central portion of the Upper Mississippi River Basin in Central Minnesota. The watershed encompasses all or parts of Becker, Cass, Clearwater, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Morrison, Otter Tail, Todd and Wadena Counties. The dominant land use within the watershed is forested (41%), agriculture (32%), grass, shrub and wetland make up 17%, water (7%) and urban (3%).
The VRWJPO and partners will be completing two activities under this grant. These activities include 1) a stream restoration project at Middle Creek in the City of Lakeville, and 2) an alum treatment feasibility study for Alimagnet Lake in the Cities of Apple Valley and Burnsville. The outcome for the Middle Creek restoration project is an estimated removal of 10.75 tons/year of TSS and 64.5 lbs/year of TP. The outcome for the alum treatment feasibility study is one completed lake alum treatment feasibility study.
The VRWJPO, and its partner, the City of Lakeville, propose the installation of a fish barrier to prevent migration of rough fish between East Lake in Lakeville, MN and the North Creek tributary of the Vermillion River (North Creek). The partners also propose rough fish removals from East Lake. East Lake is a nutrient-impaired water body. Rough fish, specifically common carp and goldfish are both invasive species that have been found to be exacerbating internal nutrient load issues within East Lake.
