Watershed Achievements Report
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wq-cwp8-18
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<strong>Watershed</strong> Minnesota River <strong>Achievements</strong> Basin <strong>Report</strong> 2008<br />
<strong>Watershed</strong> <strong>Achievements</strong> <strong>Report</strong> Statewide 2015<br />
Lower Minnesota River <strong>Watershed</strong><br />
Rush River <strong>Watershed</strong> TMDL<br />
Implementation Project for Fecal<br />
Coliform<br />
The Rush River <strong>Watershed</strong> TMDL Project for Fecal<br />
Coliform was not a complete success. During the course<br />
of the project there were four different coordinators and<br />
the project technician serving as interim coordinator<br />
during coordinator vacancies. This led to a lot of time<br />
being spent getting each new coordinator updated and<br />
other project concerns not getting looked at or finished.<br />
Two of the biggest problems facing the project<br />
concerning BMPs were the downturn of small and<br />
medium animal producers staying in animal agriculture<br />
and the tight parameters of the best management<br />
practices that were offered in the project plan. Larger<br />
animal producers were already following BMPs that<br />
were offered so they could retain their feedlot permits.<br />
Smaller and older producers were getting out of animal<br />
agriculture instead of upgrading. The Rush River<br />
<strong>Watershed</strong> TMDL Project for Fecal Coliform restricted<br />
most of the BMPs that were close and around feedlots<br />
and facilities. When the program was amended to include<br />
manure management in fields additional interest was<br />
shown in the practices. But with our cold, wet spring in<br />
2013 and 2014, not many practices were installed.<br />
Upgrading septic systems was the most successful BMP<br />
offered. Fifty MDA BMP loans were approved while<br />
the project was ongoing. Alternative tile intakes were<br />
another BMP that saw success. Thirty-one rock inlets were<br />
installed and five tile intakes were removed.<br />
The Rush River <strong>Watershed</strong> TMDL Project for Fecal<br />
Coliform sent $105,700.00 back to Minnesota Pollution<br />
Control Agency early, as it was evident that all the funds<br />
would not be spent. Because of the lack of BMPs put on<br />
the ground, $95,700.00 from Objective 1 was returned.<br />
Having four different coordinators during the project,<br />
Objective 5 would have unused funds from the grant so<br />
$10,000.00 was returned.<br />
Rush River watershed<br />
The Rush River <strong>Watershed</strong> (RRW) is a rural watershed that<br />
drains 257,770 acres (403 square miles) in Sibley, Nicollet<br />
and McLeod counties. The RRW comprises 22% of the<br />
total land area of the Lower Minnesota <strong>Watershed</strong>, a<br />
major watershed of the Minnesota River Basin. There are<br />
three branches to the Rush River: the north, middle and<br />
south branches. All three of these branches drain into the<br />
main stem of the river south of Henderson, Minnesota.<br />
The watershed contains a population of just over<br />
9,000 people (47% rural) and has four towns including<br />
Gaylord, Gibbon, Lafayette and Winthrop. The Rush River<br />
<strong>Watershed</strong>’s primary land use is agriculture, with 90% of<br />
the watershed acreage utilized for producing crops such<br />
as corn, soybeans, small grain and forage.<br />
The 2004 Rush River Assessment Project determined the<br />
water quality concerns of the Rush River <strong>Watershed</strong> to<br />
be fecal coliform (FC) bacteria, TSS, TP and NO2+NO3-N.<br />
The study also listed excessive stream flows and flooding<br />
as further water quality concerns for the watershed.<br />
Concurrently with this implementation project, a FC<br />
TMDL study was completed in partnership with the Water<br />
Resources Center at Minnesota State University, Mankato.<br />
The elevated levels of FC bacteria have resulted in the<br />
main stem and south branch of the Rush River being<br />
listed on the 303(d) Impaired Waters list.<br />
Goals<br />
• Make significant progress on achieving the Rush River<br />
TMDL for fecal coliform bacteria with a 30% reduction<br />
in the monthly fecal coliform geometric means from<br />
the FC TMDL Assessment Study.<br />
• Increase the adoption of BMPs that reduce FC bacteria<br />
levels in the Rush River.<br />
• Continue to foster watershed stewardship and<br />
community pride in clean water that achieves a legacy<br />
beyond this implementation grant.<br />
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency www.pca.state.mn.us 75