Buffalo-Red River Watershed-based Implementation 2021-2022

Buffalo-Red River Watershed (BRRW) 1W1P group will implement practices to make progress toward the sediment, total phosphorus, flooding, and soil health goals established in the Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan (plan). Practices are proposed for the Central, Lakes, Mainstem, Northern, Otter Tail, Southern, Upper Red, and Western Planning Regions, targeted for ?high? priority HUC-12s that were prioritized for issues the plan addresses. For purposes of this workplan, the 10-year measurable goals, set at the planning region scale, were summed for all planning regions addressed by this workplan to report progress toward one numeric goal.

Sediment is a priority issue within the BRRW plan. The 10-year sediment reduction goal for the BRRW is 79,704 tons/year, as estimated by PTMApp (using edge of the field loading estimates). Projects targeted by this workplan are estimated to reduce 12,502 tons/year of sediment (16% of 10-year goal). Total phosphorus is also a priority issue in the BRRW plan. The 10-year total phosphorus reduction goal for the BRRW is 12,008 pounds/year, as estimated by PTMApp. Projects targeted by this workplan are estimated to reduce 1,447 pounds/year of total phosphorus (12% of 10-year goal).

Agriculture is the dominant land use in the BRRW, underscoring the importance of healthy soils. The 10-year soil health goal for the BRRW is to cover 17,197 acres of agricultural land in improved soil health management practices, such as cover crops, conservation tillage, and nutrient management. This workplan targets management practices to 7,596 acres in the BRRW, with private incentives funding 6,590 acres of management practices. This accomplishes 44% of the 10-year goal.

Lastly, flooding is a critical issue in the Red River Basin and the BRRW. The 10-year acre-feet storage goal for the BRRW is 42,750 acre-feet. Projects targeted by this workplan are estimated to add 1,100 acre-feet of storage to the watershed (3% of 10-year goal).