The goal of the project is to create a complete Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) report for the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District for inclusion into an updated Watershed Management Plan, including completion of a watershed-wide Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) report sufficient for EPA approval.
Increasingly many youth are disconnected from the outdoors and the natural world and many of these same youth, nearly 50% in Minnesota, are also not proficient in science. Yet such experiences and knowledge are necessary components for this next generation to understand and participate in solving the complex environmental challenges facing our world.
The overall goal of this project is to perform water quality monitoring and load calculation duties to accomplish Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Watershed Pollutant Load Monitoring Network (WPLMN) monitoring efforts at the seven sites within the Redwood and Cottonwood River watersheds as well as the Minnesota River site near Morton. To accomplish this goal the requested funds will provide for technician’s time, mileage, lab costs, supplies, as well as equipment calibration and upkeep.
The objectives of this project are to collect real-time parameter data for specific conductance, water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity and stream flow at the United States Geological Survey (USGS) gaging stations located at Fargo, ND and Grand Forks, ND on the Red River of the North. Data will be published on the USGS Nation Water Information System (NWIS) website and in the USGS Annual Report.
Agency staff and local partners will gain an improved understanding of the nature of the chemical and physical attributes of the Red River of the North.
Renovate Rice Creek Maintenance Shop and campground support facility to improve maintenance and operations efficiencies and improve visitor experience in park.
Impaired waters in the Red Lake River 1W1P are categorized into management classes to target impaired waters that are closest to meeting water quality standards and to protect unimpaired waters close to becoming impaired. Management areas targeted in 2018 and 2019 include the Little Black River, Black River, County Ditch 96, the Red Lake River between Thief River and Crookston, Burnham Creek, and Grand Marais Creek.
This project is for Minnesota Legislative Clean Water Fund funding to engage citizens in local watershed monitoring, to work with regional partners to promote understanding and protection of watersheds, and to organize and facilitate gathering of scientific data all for the benefit of water quality in the Red River Basin.
The International Water Institute (IWI) will monitor 42 sites (3 basin, 12 major watershed, and 27 subwatershed) in the Red River and Upper Mississippi River Basins intensively during the contract period. There will also be 5 sites in the Red River Basin where mercury samples will be collected and sent to Minnesota Department of Health for analysis. The IWI will collect water samples across the range of flow conditions targeting sample collection at times of moderate to high flow.
The Red Lake Watershed District will create an inspection database for 103E ditches under their drainage authority. The district will acquire a database software solution to conduct field inspections and to track ditch maintenance projects and use the software to facilitate compliance with state statutes. The project will also develop a process for completing the annual inspection and reporting requirements under Statue 103E.
To complete a critical .52 mile segment of recreational trail along the Mississippi Riverfront that will connect Levee Park in Red Wing's Historic Downtown to the local and regional trail system
The goal of this project is to engage citizens in local watershed monitoring, work with regional partners to promote understanding and protection of watersheds, and organize and facilitate gathering of scientific data for the benefit of water quality in the Red River Basin.
Supplement design and construction cost for the redevelopment of the existing playground in the Upper Afton section of Battle Creek Regional Park consisting of demolition, grading, utilities, trails, lighting, construction, landscaping, site amenities, signage, new playground container and playground equipment, and safety surfacing The plan is to improve accessibility and play value.
Many lakes in Minnesota are classified as “impaired” for aquatic recreation and aquatic life as the result of nonpoint source pollution. These impairments can be addressed by the citizens that live by and have a vested interest in these water bodies, but there is often a lack of knowledge and resources to take effective action. The Freshwater Society is using this appropriation to train citizen groups in lake ecology and management in order to guide them in implementing water quality improvement projects for their local water bodies.
The Aitkin County Soil and Water Conservation District will partner with local lake associations and other eligible community partners to reduce the impacts of storm water runoff and retain water on the land. We will implement a mini-grant program that will install rain gardens and native vegetation buffers along shorelines using deep-rooted native vegetation that will filter runoff, promote infiltration, and control stormwater runoff and soil erosion.
The Redwood River watershed is one of the last remaining watersheds to complete Cycle I of the Watershed Restoration & Protections Strategies (WRAPS) process. The scope of this project upon completion is have two reports developed; a Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies report and a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for the entire watershed.
The goal of this project is to continue best management implementation according to the Redwood River Phase II Implementation Plan (1999) and install phosphorus and total suspended solids (TSS) reducing conservation practices that will help achieve the Lower Minnesota River dissolved oxygen Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), and the Minnesota River Turbidity TMDL. The proposed implementation of conservation practices include: water and sediment control basins, grassed waterways, grade stabilizations and streambank stabilizations.
Design, engineer, & construct rehabilitation projects associated with existing trails, bridges, habitat enhancement, stormwater management and water quality infrastructure, and signage. Exact project extents and tasks will be refined during project scoping and included in the project's grant agreement.
To hire qualified professionals to repair the North Star Blankets sign on the North Star Woolen Mill, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
To hire a qualified consultant to prepare planning documents that will help preserve the Howard Lake City Hall, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Partner Organizations: Winona County Historical Society and Theatre du Mississippiona
Winona County Historical Society and Theatre du Mississippi will partner to produce a new interpretive program for the Historic William Bunnell House in 2015. They will conduct research to produce an hour-long script based on the lives of families who lived in the house and the period they lived there. This new program will create a purpose for a house museum which has been languishing.
The Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) Wetlands Partnership Phase VI protected and restored 1,391 acres of previously drained wetlands and adjacent grasslands on 15 conservation easements.
Bald Eagle-Otter Lakes Regional Park preliminary design development plans for trail development to connect Tamarack Nature Center to the Otter Lake boat launch at Bald Eagle-Otter Lakes Regional Park.
