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Watershed Achievements Report

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Minnesota Upper Mississippi River Basin River Basin <strong>Watershed</strong> <strong>Achievements</strong> <strong>Report</strong> 2008 2015<br />

will provide county staff, as well as lake residents,<br />

with critical information needed to further address the<br />

issues related to improper septic system maintenance.<br />

Education activities will increase awareness of and<br />

concern about consequences of landuse practices that<br />

have environmental impacts. Water quality data will<br />

be collected on nine lake sites within the Big Sandy<br />

<strong>Watershed</strong>.<br />

Mississippi River – St. Cloud<br />

Clearwater River Restoration & Protection Phase II – 2015<br />

Sponsor: Clearwater River <strong>Watershed</strong> District<br />

Funding: Clean Water Partnership (Grant) $72,000<br />

Purpose: District staff will update an existing bacteria and<br />

TSS source inventory through a desktop survey and field<br />

reconnaissance to identify and prioritize project locations<br />

to reduce sediment and bacteria loading to the River.<br />

Projects will be prioritized for preliminary design based<br />

on their potential for load reduction to the Clearwater<br />

River. The district will finalize design and permitting for<br />

projects with signed agreements and high cost benefit in<br />

terms of bacteria and TSS load reductions. Construction<br />

will be complete by spring of 2018. The District will use<br />

the projects as demonstrations to promote participation<br />

in agricultural programs and projects<br />

Kingston Wetland Feasibility Study and Restoration –<br />

2011<br />

Sponsor: Clearwater River <strong>Watershed</strong> District<br />

Funding: Section 319 (Grant) $404,300<br />

Purpose: The Kingston Wetland Complex is a riparian<br />

wetland of the Clearwater River Chain of Lakes. The MPCA<br />

found that the Clearwater River between Clear Lake and<br />

Lake Betsy is impaired and does not meet Minnesota<br />

water quality standards for DO. This reach was placed<br />

on the 303(d) list in 2004 because monitoring data have<br />

revealed that DO concentrations sometimes fall below<br />

the state standard of 5 milligrams per liter, which can<br />

impair aquatic habitat. The TMDL study completed for<br />

this reach (January 2009) showed that the sediment<br />

oxygen demand (SOD) and altered wetland hydrology<br />

in the Kingston Wetland were contributing to the DO<br />

impairment. The study further showed that a reduction<br />

in the Kingston Wetland SOD, and possibly a change<br />

in hydrology would be necessary to meet the state<br />

standard.<br />

The project will be considered successful if the following<br />

specific targeted outcomes are achieved:<br />

• Sixty percent reduction in wetland SOD.<br />

• Annual nutrient loads to the lakes downstream are<br />

reduced by 20%. Wetland and riverine habitat is<br />

restored to support a wider range of wildlife.<br />

• Recreational opportunities in the Clearwater River<br />

are enhanced by the restoration, providing a corridor<br />

to connect the upper agricultural watershed with<br />

the lower recreational lakes watershed. Kiosks are<br />

installed to mark the project and educate users about<br />

the impacts of ditching on water quality and habitat,<br />

and specifically the evolution of the Kingston Wetland<br />

through the various stages and its role in protecting<br />

downstream water quality.<br />

Local partners are engaged to cooperate in the project,<br />

measured by attendance at project meetings and<br />

educational curriculum developed in coordination with<br />

local school district for use at local schools.<br />

NE St. Cloud Mississippi River Protection Project – 2015<br />

Sponsor: City of St. Cloud<br />

Funding: Clean Water Partnership (Grant) $200,000<br />

Purpose: The proposed project will increase pervious<br />

surfaces, create disconnection of impervious areas prior<br />

to entering the storm sewer system (i.e. Mississippi);<br />

implement alternative “green” landscaping, and<br />

bioretention facilities. Alternative landscaping<br />

techniques/BMPs will be implemented throughout the<br />

drainage area where site characteristics make sense. This<br />

may include, but is not limited to; incorporating trees<br />

into landscaped areas, tree boxes, pervious pavement,<br />

grass swales, vegetated filter strips, etc. Targeted<br />

areas include: areas where the City plans to re-stabilize<br />

pervious surfaces; areas where the City plans to install<br />

bioretention or other volume reduction BMPs; areas<br />

adjacent to reconstructed catch basins and/or retrofit<br />

sump catch basins (tree boxes); areas where the City<br />

plans to landscape existing paved and/or gravel areas.<br />

The education of property owners and citizens will also<br />

be an important aspect of the project to ensure long<br />

term function of the BMPs and future participation<br />

by other property owners. Projects implemented as<br />

part of this grant will be promoted and highlighted to<br />

educate and encourage participation in future projects<br />

for this area. Furthermore, the projects will improve the<br />

aesthetics of the old rundown industrial/commercial area<br />

bringing additional attention and educational efforts.<br />

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency www.pca.state.mn.us 114

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