Buffalo River Grade Stabilization Project
The Clay Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) will partner with the Buffalo Red River Watershed District (BRRWD), the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and landowners to install 30 grade stabilization structures (side inlets) or similar conservation practices to stabilize high priority gullies that are contributing sediment to the Buffalo River. When these 30 gullies are stabilized, sediment loading to the Buffalo River will be reduced by 621 tons/yr. and total phosphorus reduced by 330 lbs./yr. The total sediment reduction associated with this project is about 3 percent of the 18,000 tons/yr. goal set by the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for the Buffalo River.
This project, the "Buffalo River Grade Stabilization Project" is an outcome from a 2016 Clean Water Fund, Accelerated Implementation Grant (AIG) received by the BRRWD. The 2016 AIG was used to complete Prioritize, Target, Measure App (PTMApp) within the BRRWD. The PTMApp results were then filtered further to identify the top 100+ locations for grade stabilization practices. 30 of these locations will be targeted for implementation by this grant. Side inlet structures are a locally-preferred Best Management Practice (BMP) that can be used to stabilize gullies and to ensure that future erosion does not occur. Other grade stabilization will be used onsite if determined to be more cost effective after field review. Each gully was also ranked from most sediment contributing to the least and grouped into High, Medium and Low categories. Ranking each gully identifies where side inlets would be most effective in reducing sediment and nutrient loadings.
Marcey Westrick
[Projects and Practices 2020] (b) $16,000,000 the first year and $16,000,000 the second year are for grants to local government units to protect and restore surface water and drinking water; to keep water on the land; to protect, enhance, and restore water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams; and to protect groundwater and drinking water, including feedlot water quality and subsurface sewage treatment system projects and stream bank, stream channel, shoreline restoration, and ravine stabilization projects. The projects must use practices demonstrated to be effective, be of long-lasting public benefit, include a match, and be consistent with total maximum daily load (TMDL) implementation plans, watershed restoration and protection strategies (WRAPS), or local water management plans or their equivalents. A portion of this money may be used to seek administrative efficiencies through shared resources by multiple local governmental units. Up to 20 percent of this appropriation is available for land-treatment projects and practices that benefit drinking water.
The proposed 30 grade stabilization structures reduce sediment by 621 tons/year and total phosphorus by 330 lbs./yr. This is approximately 3% of the TMDL sediment goal of 18,000 tons/yr.
LOCAL LEVERAGED FUNDS