Watershed Achievements Report
wq-cwp8-18
wq-cwp8-18
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Des Moines and Missouri River Basins <strong>Watershed</strong> <strong>Achievements</strong> <strong>Report</strong> 2015<br />
Des Moines and Missouri River Basins<br />
Active projects<br />
Section 319 projects awarded in 2014<br />
Des Moines River Basin<br />
Des Moines River – Headwaters<br />
Fulda Phosphorus Reduction Initiative – 2011<br />
Sponsor: Heron Lake <strong>Watershed</strong> District<br />
Funding: Section 319 (Grant) $12,600<br />
Purpose: Through this effort, project sponsors will<br />
conduct a rain garden demonstration project to work<br />
with the community to address pollution concerns. This<br />
will be done by providing educational opportunities<br />
for students and the community to learn about native<br />
vegetation, water quality improvement, pollution<br />
reduction, and environmentally-friendly landscaping. This<br />
project will provide opportunities for students to learn<br />
about the importance of water quality improvement and<br />
how they can play a part in pollution reduction efforts.<br />
The community is concerned about their lake system and<br />
has requested assistance from the HLWD. The majority<br />
of landowners and operators in this sub-watershed are<br />
concerned about soil health and water quality. These<br />
residents have been involved in a redetermination of<br />
benefits of filter strip installation, and other conservation<br />
efforts. Landowners are receptive to conservation<br />
practices along the ditch system. This effort will provide<br />
landowners with funding for conservation tillage<br />
incentives and shoreline restoration demonstration<br />
projects.<br />
Fulda Lakes 1 and 2 were placed on the impaired list<br />
in 2008 for nutrient and eutrophication biological<br />
indicators. Stormwater runoff contributes to these<br />
impairments.<br />
The City of Fulda residents were invited to participate in<br />
a Social Indicators Pilot Project in 2009 by completing<br />
a survey. This was an effort to gauge public opinion<br />
regarding water quality efforts conducted in the Fulda<br />
Lakes’ project area.<br />
Heron Lake TMDL Phosphorus Reduction Project –<br />
2012<br />
Sponsor: Heron Lake <strong>Watershed</strong> District<br />
Funding: CWP (Loan) $450,000<br />
Purpose: This project will promote and install 45<br />
Subsurface Septic Treatment Systems (SSTS) and other<br />
agricultural BMPs in the Heron Lake watershed.<br />
Heron Lake Third Crop Phosphorus Reduction Effort<br />
– 2013<br />
Sponsor: Heron Lake <strong>Watershed</strong> District<br />
Funding: Section 319 (Grant) $33,120<br />
Purpose: Provide incentives to establish 200 acres of<br />
cover crops on an annual basis during the three-year<br />
grant period. This will be done by aerially seeding a third<br />
crop, or cover crop, of cereal rye, purple top turnip, and<br />
tillage radish. Cover crops reduce erosion, decrease<br />
soil compaction, increase water infiltration to prevent<br />
runoff, bring leached nitrogen back to the root zone<br />
for the following year’s crop, increase organic matter,<br />
and provide habitat cover. The HLWD also proposes to<br />
conduct civic engagement through the development of<br />
a steering committee. Processes taught at the Southwest<br />
Civic Engagement Cohort will be employed with the<br />
committee to brainstorm about the needs, wants, and<br />
perceptions of watershed landowners as they relate to<br />
water quality improvement, focusing on cover crops.<br />
They will also be asked to assist in identifying barriers<br />
to making changes and develop strategies for behavior<br />
change.<br />
Jack and Okabena Creek Sediment Reduction Project<br />
– 2012<br />
Sponsor: Heron Lake <strong>Watershed</strong> District<br />
Funding: Section 319 (Grant) $20,600<br />
Purpose: This project will install 2 J-hook weirs on<br />
Jack and Okabena Creeks; monitor sites and collect<br />
documentation; publicize project through Heron Lake<br />
<strong>Watershed</strong> district website, newsletters, local newspapers<br />
and landowner mailings; and complete all project<br />
reporting requirements.<br />
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency www.pca.state.mn.us 52