Watershed Achievements Report

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Statewide Watershed Achievements Report 2015 Strategy to Increase Vegetative Cover on Agricultural Landscapes Minnesota is working to develop a multi-organizational plan to move the state from its current level of vegetative cover into a long term plan of increased vegetative cover that will enable water quality goals to be met. Vast acreages of cover crops and vegetative cover increases are needed to meet the State’s nutrient and sediment reduction goals. This project identified short- and long-term strategies that can be used to increase vegetative cover on agricultural lands in Minnesota, in order to address water quality and other environmental and agricultural concerns. It was developed based on interviews and conversations with thirty experts and leaders in the agricultural community over a four-month period. These experts included University of Minnesota researchers and administrators, and personnel from state and federal agencies, state commodity groups, farm organizations, agricultural industry, and non-profit organizations. The interviews started with a look at the “big picture” opportunities and challenges in agriculture today, and gradually focused on ways to increase vegetative cover on the landscape along with the associated barriers, gaps/needs, and resources to making this increase happen. It also included discussion of what activities are happening already related to vegetative cover. Additionally, a literature review was conducted to further identify technical gaps and needs associated with advancing vegetative cover adoption in Minnesota. The information was then compiled, and a set of nine strategies were identified. The successful advancement of vegetative cover BMPs on agricultural lands hinges on a common vision and approach that is understood and supported among all key agencies, academia and private industry. Results that count • Opinions were obtained from 30 experts and leaders • Nine strategies were identified, along with associated gaps, opportunities, and partners • A literature review further identified options for cover crops and technical challenges which we will need to overcome A cover crop sample plot in southwest Minnesota supervised by U of M researchers Financial information Funding type: Section 319 Grant amount: $49,687 Final in-kind: $27,035 Contact information Donald Wyse, Professor, Dept. of Agronomy & Plant Gen University of Minnesota 411 Borlaug Hall 1991 Buford Circle St. Paul, State: MN 55108 612-625-7064 wysex001@umn.edu MPCA Project Manager: David Wall Goals • Develop a multi-faceted strategy to substantially increase vegetative cover on Minnesota agricultural landscapes Minnesota Pollution Control Agency www.pca.state.mn.us 40
Statewide Watershed Achievements Report 2015 Turf and Winter Maintenance Training – FFY 2010 Amendment Nutrients and chloride are immediate issues of concern for Minnesota and many other states due to their negative impacts on the environment, including impaired waters. Currently 329 Minnesota streams and lakes are on the 2008 TMDL list for nutrient/eutrophication. Thirty percent of sampled groundwater wells in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area (TCMA) exceed the federal drinking water standard for chloride, and Minnesota has seven streams already on the impaired list for chlorides. Goals This amendment and funding were added to expand the number of trainings. As with Fortin Consulting Inc. (FCI)’s other 319 work, the emphasis is on teaching BMP’s of winter snow and ice control with rock salt, and with chemicals such as phosphorus and nitrogen used in turfgrass maintenance. Results that count This grant funded training of an extra 415 maintenance professionals, public and private, who engage in winter and summer activities which lead to the introduction of nutrients/phosphorus and chloride into the environment. We also offered an MPCA-approved test for voluntary certification. Sixteen workshops and two short presentations were held under this grant, with a total of 215 participants. A sampling shows a minimum reduction of 20% in chlorides and 35% reduction of phosphorus sent through stormwater runoff due to this educational outreach and the subsequent changed practices. The training material was also refined and improved throughout the course of the grant funding. With a portion of this funding, FCI also evaluated the interest for having a field demonstration as part of the turfgrass class. The demonstration consisted of seven stations. Participants rotated through the stations at half hour increments. We had a strong turnout with 81 participants. One hundred percent of the respondents rated the Field Demo good or excellent. Ninety six percent would recommend it to a colleague. Participants found the event valuable and felt the field demo should be held every year (52%) or every two years (30%). Lessons learned Training for governmental and private maintenance must include information addressing potential cost concerns. We were fortunate in that we were able to provide information that showed that adoption of the BMPs could also save money. As we continued to gain actual results from those using the practices, we added these actual numbers to our training. The thing we struggled most with is getting the attendance of the private contractors. They are not paid to attend training, and are not earning money while attending, so it is difficult to get them to come to workshops, even with the training being free or low cost. Some ideas were discussed which we believe would help, but none were tried by the local partners. FCI recommends that counties and cities be supported in requiring certification of maintenance staff doing work within their borders. Liability is a big barrier for many of the contractors and government staff. Many were concerned that if they reduced the amount of deicers used they would open themselves up for future legal problems. The training promotes reduction of material while maintaining safety. However, we believe liability will continue to be a barrier to chloride reduction unless there is an effort through legal means to give individuals more responsibility for their driving and walking under winter conditions. From the start we planned on including two types of instructors, one knowledgeable in water resources and training, and another that has the experience and knowledge in conducting winter and turfgrass maintenance. We found that this worked very well and helped give the training credibility with the winter maintenance professionals. We were able to provide environmental information, technical information on the products, equipment and methods, and practical information on using the practices. We recommend this model for similar training. One thing we recommend for this priority area is a media campaign for the general public. Plow drivers continue to frequently comment that they are using a lot of salt or lawn chemicals because of public demand and that the public must reduce its demands for perfectly clear roads and perfect turfgrass. A public media campaign could be used to help the public understand that there are environmental ramifications to using salt and sand on our roads and excess chemicals on turfgrass. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency www.pca.state.mn.us 41
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Page 3 and 4: a Success Story . . . Lake Shaokata
Page 5 and 6: Cedar River Watershed and Shell Roc
Page 7 and 8: Introduction Watershed Achievements
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Minnesota Watershed Red River Basin
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Upper Minnesota Watershed Red St. C
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Watershed Achievements Report

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