There are seven major watersheds Koochiching County, this project will work in five of them: Big Fork, Little Fork, Rapid River, Lower Rainy River, and Rainy River Headwaters watersheds. The local Koochiching County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is positioned to assist in several elements of the Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) process. This includes gap monitoring for water chemistry, sediment work, TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) development, modeling scenarios, and WRAPS development.
The Rainy River Basin WPLMN Sampling Program will focus on watershed load monitoring in the Big Fork River, Little Fork River, Rainy River-Rainy Lake, and Vermilion River watersheds. Four total staff will work on various portions of this agreement. The main objective is for one lead sampler and one backup sampler to collect water chemistry and field parameters for eight (8) sites, annually at various flows, especially peak flows, and utilize that data to determine the amount of pollutant load into each stream system.
This project will provide an important framework for civic and citizen engagement and communication in the International Rainy River-Lake of the Woods Watershed, which will contribute to long-term public participation in surface water protection and restoration activities.
The purpose of the grant is to increase and enhance the understanding of the American Indian Ojibwe language and culture to ensure positive reinformcement of the self image and sense of identity four our American Indian Ojibwe people: To engage American Indian Ojibwe language and culture in our communities.
The purpose of this contract is to establish an international watershed coordinator for the Rainy River- Lake of the Woods (RR-LOW) watershed. The coordinator will assist the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) in facilitating and enhancing civic engagement and public participation activities through collaboration and integration of the efforts of groups working on watershed activities at local, state/provincial, tribal, and bi-national levels.
Ramsey County, the most densely populated county in Minnesota, generates high levels of contaminated runoff from its impervious surfaces, which can have damaging effects on both surface water and groundwater. Concerns arise when these contaminants drain into abandoned and unused wells, threatening the quality of groundwater, especially in drinking water supply areas, wellhead protection areas, or groundwater recharge zones.
The Rapid River Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) project will result in the development of the restoration and protection strategies for the watershed and engage the local stakeholders in the practices of watershed management. This project will also develop Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for impaired waters.
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.
US Geological Survey (USGS) will perform real-time water quality monitoring at its stations located in Fargo and Grand Forks. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency co-sponsors this work along with USGS, North Dakota Dept. of Health, the cities of Fargo, Moorhead, Grand Forks, and East Grand Forks.
Partial funding to reconstruct parking lots, driveways, parking lot lighting, boat ramp improvements and associated storm water improvements at the Hyland-Bush-Anderson Lakes Regional Park Reserve.
Reconstruct the 3,800 SF Cherokee Regional Park Play Area to provide active play opportunities for children between the ages of 2-12. Cherokee Regional Park receives approximately 340,000 visits per year, approximately 10% of which are of Hispanic background
In FY17, MNHS will launch a new records search to make it easier for library patrons to access birth, death, veterans grave and state census records. The new search tool launched in beta in December 2016, and user feedback is being collected. Site enhancements will be made in the second half of the fiscal year.
Continue Recreation and Volunteer Specialist position initiated in 2014 to develop and implement recreation and volunteer programs. Engage 3,300 park visitors through 100 programs provided in the County.
Design, engineer, and construct new recreational amenities at Sheridan Park, including play areas, picnic areas, trails, shoreline improvements, natural habitat enhancements, and visitor services.
The goal of this project is to development a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) study that addresses all of the non-mercury-related impaired reaches along the Red River of the North (RRN). The TMDL study will provide an analytical and strategic foundation for recommending restoration strategies for impaired waters. This phase of the project will also include civic engagement efforts by providing water quality framework and stakeholder activities for civic/citizen engagement and communication.
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 goal of this project is 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 and Grand Forks, ND on the Red River of the North. The data will be published on the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) website.
The goal of this project is to extend, calibrate, and validate the existing Hydrological Simulation Program – FORTRAN (HSPF) watershed models in the Red Lake River, Thief River, Clearwater River and Red Lake watersheds.
This project is planned in the Skunk Creek subwatershed, which empties into the turbidity impaired Nemadji River. The goal of the project will restore the stream and stabilize the bank where a 30 year old sediment retention structure failed, releasing sediment into the Nemadji Watershed. In addition, remaining structures within the watershed will be prioritized and a discussion between land owners and permitting organizations will be initiated. This project will prevent an estimated 80 tons of sediment from annually entering into the Nemadji River.
The purpose of the project is to reduce the amount of sediment entering Burnham Creek, which is a tributary of the Red Lake River within the Red River Basin. The Red Lake River is classified as a source water protection area for the City of East Grand Forks and currently does not meet state water quality standards for sediment. The goal of this project is to install one grade stabilization structure within the channel which outlets into the Burnham Creek channel and two side water inlets with buffers.
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.
We will investigate road salt alternatives and pavement innovations that will reduce or eliminate the flux of chloride from road salt into our lakes, streams and groundwater.
In 2017 and 2018, Redwood-Cottonwood Rivers Control Area (RCRCA) will collect water chemistry samples from the 10 lakes and 24 stream sites identified in the Redwood and Cottonwood River watersheds. Six samples will be collected at 10 lakes from May through September in 2017; five samples will be collected at 5 lakes in 2018 from May through September. Eleven samples will be collected at each of the 24 stream sites following the Basic Regime in 2017. Sixteen samples at each stream site will be collected in 2017 and 2018 following the E.coli monitoring regime.
