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

Pictured: This CREP easement near Mountain Lake features a
trail and rain garden to increase environmental awareness.
An MPCA Clean Water Partnership
Project was completed by the Cottonwood SWCD, the city
of Mountain Lake and the Lake Commission. Mountain Lake
is the largest body of water in Cottonwood County. About 30
acres of critical area fi lter strip seeding was completed, and
conservation easements were established through CREP on
72 acres of highly erodible land immediately upstream and
adjacent to Mountain Lake. A storm sewer sediment removal
plunge pool was added for the Mountain Lake municipal
storm sewer. A 5.2-mile trail was built around the lake to
increase environmental awareness, and a rain garden was
constructed adjacent to the lake and trail.
103 easements totaling 3,317 acres of
environmentally sensitive land were successfully enrolled
in the Minnesota River Conservation Reserve Enhancement
Program. These projects include: wetland restorations, fi lter
and riparian buffer strips. All projects are now complete with
a conservation cover of native trees, grasses and restored
wetlands.
Over 34,000 trees have been planted
per year over the last fi ve years through the SWCD’s Tree
Program. The Cottonwood SWCD has planted these trees to
establish fi eld windbreaks, farmstead windbreaks, wildlife
plantings, riparian buffers and living snow fences.
Top 5 Natural Resource Concerns
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Cottonwood Soil & Water Conservation District
Wellhead Protection Plans for drinking
water supply wells have been completed with the SWCD’s
participation in the development of the Red Rock Rural
Water System, City of Jeffers and the City of Windom.
Water quality concerns throughout Cottonwood
County with a focus on the Des Moines
River and Watonwan River Watersheds
Residue Management
Feedlot runoff and manure application
Groundwater concerns as defi ned by the
Drinking Water Supply Management Areas in
Cottonwood County
Soil loss countywide through sheet, rill and
wind erosion
Future Projects
As of June 2006 the Cottonwood Soil and Water
Conservation District has contracted with the Greater
Blue Earth River Basin Alliance (GERBA) to allow
Kay Clark and David Bucklin to assume the roles of
Administrative Coordinator and Technical Coordinator
for the Alliance. These positions will give the
Cottonwood SWCD the opportunity to work closely
with the SWCD and county staff in eight participating
counties located in the basin.
During 2007 GBERBA was awarded through the
Clean Water Legacy $317,000 in loans and cost-share
and $510,000 for technical assistance. Through this
funding a Nutrient Management Specialist, Urban
Outreach Specialist and a Conservation Agronomist
were hired to work in areas of the watershed. Also,
$379,000 was secured through the MPCA 319 grant
process to hire a technician for the Big Cobb River
Watershed and supply funding for cost-share and
drainage system management.
Work has continued with the completion of the Greater
Blue Earth River Watershed Fecal Coliform TMDL
Implementation Plan for submission to MPCA.
37