Soil & Water Conservation District Guidebook 2008 - Minnesota ...

Pictured: Tile being installed as part of a sediment basin project.
A shoreline stabilization project was completed
in 2007 at the Sunnyside Care Center, where the ever
rising water level of Boyer Lake has been causing shoreline
erosion. In the summer of 2006, staff from the Becker SWCD,
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the West
Central Minnesota Joint Powers Board engineering technician
viewed the site to determine what could be done to repair and
prevent further erosion. A combination of rip rap on the higher
steeper portion and a buffer of native vegetation on the lower
portion was determined to be the most effective solution. The
total construction cost was $38,950 with $27,400 of cost-share
being provided from the Becker SWCD, Buffalo-Red Watershed
District and the DNR Shoreland Habitat Program.
60 abandoned wells have been sealed
recently by the SWCD in the city of Ogema (population
127). In 2005 and 2006 the city was awarded grants and
loans to install a city water system. A problem unique to the
city is the high number of fl owing wells that had previously
been used by residents. Upon installation of the water system
the Becker County Commissioners awarded $12,720 to the
SWCD to assist the city to properly seal these wells.
About 25 permit applications in shoreland
areas within the Pelican River Watershed District (PRWD)
are reviewed each year by the SWCD. Due to limited staff,
the PRWD contracts with the Becker SWCD to provide
permit application review for persons proposing shoreline
alterations, such as ice ridge repair, ice jacking damage, sand
blanket, rip rap, etc. By working together the PRWD is better
able to serve its clients in a timely manner on permit issues.
The SWCD has been providing this service since 2004.
Top 5 Natural Resource Concerns
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Becker Soil & Water Conservation District
3 water retention dams were repaired
in 2007 through efforts of the SWCD and the NRCS.
Funding was provided through the State Cost-Share program
and the Buffalo-Red Watershed District.
Surface Water Quality
Stormwater Management
Ground Water Quality: Current water quality data
refl ects that the quality of the ground water in
Becker County is generally good. However with two
signifi cant sand plain areas in the county along with
the large number of lakes and ISTS systems groundwater
quality will continue to be a resource concern.
Soil erosion
Development Pressures: Traditional agricultural areas
have experienced an increase in the development
of nonfarm housing, along with increased development
pressures being placed on many of the county’s
small remote lakes. For these reasons development
concerns have been identifi ed as a resource concern.
Future Projects
Restoration of Rice Lake: The SWCD is a co-sponsor
with the Pelican River Watershed District, the City
of Detroit Lakes and NRCS to restore the Rice Lake
Wetland complex and land treatment along Campbell
Creek in Becker County. Implementation of the plan
would reduce the amount of down stream sedimentation
in several lakes as well as restore the hydrology to
the drained areas and is expected to reduce the amount
of phosphorus loading to the lakes downstream. It is
hoped that implementation will begin in 2008.
Feedlot Runoff Control: Install a total feedlot runoff
and manure management plan for a 1,000 animal feedlot
in Becker County. Plans have been completed with
construction expected in 2008.
Sediment and Erosion Control: Sediment and erosion
control continue to be a high priority with the SWCD
and NRCS. Seventeen sediment and erosion control
basins are currently scheduled to be installed in 2008
through the EQIP and State Cost-share Programs.
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