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Watershed Achievements Report

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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

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