Watershed Achievements Report
wq-cwp8-18
wq-cwp8-18
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Minnesota <strong>Watershed</strong> Red St. Croix River River Basin River <strong>Achievements</strong> Basin Basin <strong>Report</strong> 2008<br />
<strong>Watershed</strong> <strong>Achievements</strong> <strong>Report</strong> Statewide<br />
2015<br />
Lower St. Croix River <strong>Watershed</strong><br />
North Branch Sunrise River Fecal<br />
Coliform Reduction Project<br />
The overall project goal is to reduce fecal coliform loading<br />
in the North Branch of the Sunrise River by 52%. The<br />
three primary sources are runoff from livestock, Imminent<br />
Health Threat (IHT) Septic Systems and pet waste. This<br />
319 grant with the accompanying Clean Water Legacy<br />
grant are the two primary funding sources being used to<br />
achieve this goal.<br />
SWCD staff from Chisago County contacted livestock<br />
landowners in both Chisago and Isanti Counties,<br />
explained the project, with permission visited farms, in<br />
consultation with landowners determined necessary<br />
modifications in practices (i.e. waste storage facilities,<br />
clean water diversions, vegetated filter strips, rotational<br />
grazing, livestock exclusions and nutrient management<br />
plans), offered available incentives, and monitor progress.<br />
Under this funding source no agricultural landowners<br />
installed practices to reduce fecal coliform loading.<br />
SWCD staff from Chisago County contacted citizens who<br />
live in urban areas and municipalities in the North Branch<br />
of the Sunrise River watershed. With permission, they<br />
visited citizens and city property to determine possible<br />
practices on their properties. Urban practices which were<br />
promoted are ones that increase water infiltration to<br />
reduce the peak flows in the North<br />
Branch of the Sunrise River, thus<br />
reducing high bacteria levels at large<br />
events. Eight rain gardens installed<br />
within the City of North Branch<br />
reduced TP by 4.8 pounds per year,<br />
TSS by 2,068.7 pounds per year, and<br />
volume by 4.22 acre feet per year<br />
from land areas that had limited to<br />
no treatment previously. The ability<br />
to account for bacteria reductions is<br />
not easily calculated, but based on<br />
available information if we reduced<br />
the total volume and TSS we should<br />
start to see some reductions in the<br />
watershed.<br />
Through Chisago County’s SSTS<br />
Pilot Program, both Chisago County<br />
and City of North Branch staff<br />
have inspected all SSTS within the<br />
Chisago County portion of the North Branch Sunrise<br />
River (NBSR) watershed. When IHT septic systems were<br />
identified, county or city staff worked with homeowners<br />
on the process required to bring their systems into<br />
compliance with the septic ordinance. The program was<br />
expanded into Isanti County to inspect all SSTS within the<br />
shoreland district and upgraded those systems identified<br />
as IHT.<br />
Pet waste receptacles were installed within North Branch<br />
city parks.<br />
Goals<br />
• Reduce Fecal Coliform from livestock<br />
• Reduce Fecal Coliform from IHT Septic Systems<br />
• Reduce peak flow from the City of North Branch<br />
Results that count<br />
• Under this funding source no agricultural landowners<br />
installed practices to reduce fecal coliform loading.<br />
• Three IHT septic systems were upgraded<br />
• Eight rain gardens were established in the City of North<br />
Branch<br />
Primary challenges<br />
1. Low landowner interest. A major challenge was<br />
the apparent lack of interest by landowners in<br />
implementing BMPs on their properties. This may<br />
have been a result of the worldwide recession. In<br />
Cattle exclusion fencing on the North Branch of the Sunrise River<br />
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency www.pca.state.mn.us 101