Watershed Achievements Report

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Minnesota River Basin Watershed Achievements Report 2015 U of M Research Team at Prior Lake street sweeping, Fall 2012 Minnesota Pollution Control Agency www.pca.state.mn.us 74
Watershed Minnesota River Achievements Basin Report 2008 Watershed Achievements Report Statewide 2015 Lower Minnesota River Watershed Rush River Watershed TMDL Implementation Project for Fecal Coliform The Rush River Watershed TMDL Project for Fecal Coliform was not a complete success. During the course of the project there were four different coordinators and the project technician serving as interim coordinator during coordinator vacancies. This led to a lot of time being spent getting each new coordinator updated and other project concerns not getting looked at or finished. Two of the biggest problems facing the project concerning BMPs were the downturn of small and medium animal producers staying in animal agriculture and the tight parameters of the best management practices that were offered in the project plan. Larger animal producers were already following BMPs that were offered so they could retain their feedlot permits. Smaller and older producers were getting out of animal agriculture instead of upgrading. The Rush River Watershed TMDL Project for Fecal Coliform restricted most of the BMPs that were close and around feedlots and facilities. When the program was amended to include manure management in fields additional interest was shown in the practices. But with our cold, wet spring in 2013 and 2014, not many practices were installed. Upgrading septic systems was the most successful BMP offered. Fifty MDA BMP loans were approved while the project was ongoing. Alternative tile intakes were another BMP that saw success. Thirty-one rock inlets were installed and five tile intakes were removed. The Rush River Watershed TMDL Project for Fecal Coliform sent $105,700.00 back to Minnesota Pollution Control Agency early, as it was evident that all the funds would not be spent. Because of the lack of BMPs put on the ground, $95,700.00 from Objective 1 was returned. Having four different coordinators during the project, Objective 5 would have unused funds from the grant so $10,000.00 was returned. Rush River watershed The Rush River Watershed (RRW) is a rural watershed that drains 257,770 acres (403 square miles) in Sibley, Nicollet and McLeod counties. The RRW comprises 22% of the total land area of the Lower Minnesota Watershed, a major watershed of the Minnesota River Basin. There are three branches to the Rush River: the north, middle and south branches. All three of these branches drain into the main stem of the river south of Henderson, Minnesota. The watershed contains a population of just over 9,000 people (47% rural) and has four towns including Gaylord, Gibbon, Lafayette and Winthrop. The Rush River Watershed’s primary land use is agriculture, with 90% of the watershed acreage utilized for producing crops such as corn, soybeans, small grain and forage. The 2004 Rush River Assessment Project determined the water quality concerns of the Rush River Watershed to be fecal coliform (FC) bacteria, TSS, TP and NO2+NO3-N. The study also listed excessive stream flows and flooding as further water quality concerns for the watershed. Concurrently with this implementation project, a FC TMDL study was completed in partnership with the Water Resources Center at Minnesota State University, Mankato. The elevated levels of FC bacteria have resulted in the main stem and south branch of the Rush River being listed on the 303(d) Impaired Waters list. Goals • Make significant progress on achieving the Rush River TMDL for fecal coliform bacteria with a 30% reduction in the monthly fecal coliform geometric means from the FC TMDL Assessment Study. • Increase the adoption of BMPs that reduce FC bacteria levels in the Rush River. • Continue to foster watershed stewardship and community pride in clean water that achieves a legacy beyond this implementation grant. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency www.pca.state.mn.us 75
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a Success Story . . . Lake Shaokata
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Cedar River Watershed and Shell Roc
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Introduction Watershed Achievements
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Watershed Achievements Report

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