Watershed Achievements Report
wq-cwp8-18
wq-cwp8-18
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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