Protecting the Clearwater River Watershed

Turbidity and E.coli impairments characterize the Clearwater River Watershed and its sub-watersheds. Focused protective efforts in this watershed have helped, but more work is vitally needed to further improve the quality of water. Several recent studies on the Clearwater River watershed and its sub-watersheds, Lost River and Silver Creek will be used to direct the work.
In partnership with Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Red Lake Watershed District, buffers will be installed on strategic riparian sites throughout this watershed. Landowner participation will be supported with incentive payments upon project completion. Along with other prospective sites, an additional 15 total acres of buffer will be established. Annually these buffers will prevent 36 tons of sediment, 97 pounds of phosphorus and 6.0E*14 cfu of e-coli from contaminating the watershed. Working closely with the RLWD, 3 miles of a public drainage ditch (JD 72) in desperate need of buffers and channel and bank stabilization has been identified. These buffers will be protected by perpetual easements where possible, maximizing their long-term benefit. Head-cutting and bank failure jeopardize the safety of a county road and erode field edges. Implementing buffers, protecting right-of-ways and stabilizing this ditch will save 100 tons of sediment and 153 pounds of phosphorous from the Clearwater River.