Watershed Achievements Report
wq-cwp8-18
wq-cwp8-18
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Minnesota St. Croix River River Basin Basin <strong>Watershed</strong> <strong>Achievements</strong> <strong>Report</strong> 2008 2015<br />
Lower St. Croix River <strong>Watershed</strong><br />
Groundhouse Fecal Coliform and Biota<br />
Implementation Project<br />
Project Background Information:<br />
The Groundhouse River watershed has a drainage area<br />
of approximately 139 square miles (88,998 acres) and<br />
includes both the main branch and the south fork.<br />
The purpose of the Project is to: reduce the pollutant<br />
loading rates to the Groundhouse River by the following<br />
amounts – sediment loading by 210 tons/yr, P loading<br />
by 392 lbs/yr, N by 686 lbs/yr; and work to achieve fecal<br />
coliform reductions to 200 org/100 ml.<br />
In order to accomplish this goal we:<br />
1) Increased awareness concerning the water quality<br />
impairments found in the Groundhouse River<br />
watershed through workshops and demonstrations<br />
on no till, strip till, cover crops, nutrient management<br />
on croplands, and pasture management and forest<br />
stewardship planning. Educational materials were<br />
provided at workshops to participants, landowners,<br />
and stakeholders.<br />
2) Conducted conservation planning and discussions<br />
with landowners which led to the adoption of BMP’s<br />
by landowners to reduce sediment, nutrients and<br />
fecal coliform loading to surface waters.<br />
Goals<br />
• Install 16 Project BMP’s that target sediment and fecal<br />
coliform loading reductions and improve the biotic<br />
environment in the stream.<br />
• Reduce sediment loading by 210 tons/yr, reduce P by<br />
392 lbs/yr, N by 686 lbs/yr and reduce fecal coliform<br />
towards the goal of<br />
< 200 organisms/100 ml, or E. coli standards of < 160<br />
organisms/100 ml.<br />
• Hold stakeholder meetings, sponsor tours and<br />
informational workshops, educate landowners and<br />
stakeholders about the water quality concerns in the<br />
watershed.<br />
Results that count<br />
• Installed BMP’s on 11 sites to improve water quality<br />
and target reductions in sediment, fecal coliform<br />
and improve the stream aquatic environment. These<br />
BMP’s included: sediment basin, filter strip, heavy use<br />
stream crossing for cattle, five no till / strip tillage on<br />
Timmer Implement Inc. of Pease, MN in Mille Lacs County,<br />
provided a tractor for this strip tillage demonstration.<br />
Environmental Tillage Systems of Faribault, MN provided the<br />
strip tillage equipment for local farmers, resource professionals<br />
and others interested.<br />
croplands, two cover crops and agricultural waste<br />
storage structure.<br />
• Estimated reductions are as follows: 409 tons/yr of<br />
sediment, 3,836 lbs/yr of P and 4,593 lbs/yr of N.<br />
• An initial stakeholder meeting was held in Kanabec<br />
County, to inform landowners of the project and the<br />
water quality concerns and goals. We partnered on five<br />
workshops focusing on strip till/no till practices, cover<br />
crops, pasture management and private forestland<br />
stewardship and planning.<br />
Lessons learned<br />
Concentrate more on outreach and education activities<br />
that help the public to better understand the water<br />
quality concerns and impairments. Seek more public /<br />
citizen input during the process. Spend more one - on -<br />
one time with landowners and citizens, to gain a better<br />
understanding and trust level.<br />
Financial information<br />
Funding type: 319<br />
Grant amount: $98,565<br />
Final in-kind: $19,467<br />
Matching funds: $280,116<br />
Contact information<br />
Kelly Osterdyk, District Manager<br />
Kanabec SWCD<br />
2008 Mahogany Street, Suite 3<br />
Mora, MN 55051<br />
320-679-3982<br />
kelly.osterdyk@mn.nacdnet.net<br />
MPCA Project Manager: Christopher Klucas<br />
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency www.pca.state.mn.us 100