Red River of the North Watershed Runoff Reduction
This project is a partnership with Kittson County, the Joe River Watershed District and the Two Rivers Watershed District to install vegetative filters, buffers and erosion control practices along the Red River of the North and several major tributaries within the county.
This project will reduce runoff and decrease movement of sediment, nutrients and bacteria to the Red River by targeting, prioritizing and installing up to 150 acres of vegetative filters and buffers. In addition installing Side Water Inlets at gully erosion sites along the river and selected tributaries will be considered. The river and County Ditches 12 and 26 in the Two Rivers Watershed District and County Ditches 12, 28 and 29 in the Joe River Watershed District will be targeted for implementation.
The vegetative practices funded through the project will slow stormwater allowing up to 85% of the sediment load to be deposited in the grass filter strip rather than in surface waters. Side Water Inlets will be engineered and installed to retain water on the land for 24 to 48 hours. Side Water Inlets will also benefit water quality, with the aid of grass filter strips, by allowing sediment to settle in the field before it enters the river.
The 20-member BWSR board consists of representatives of local and state government agencies and citizens. Members are appointed by the governor of the state of Minnesota consistent with Minnesota Statutes 103B.101. Board members at the time the grant was made were: County Commissioner Appointees: Quentin Fairbanks; Tom Loveall; Brian Napstad; Soil and Water Conservation District Appointees: Paul Langseth, Louise Smallidge and Bob Burandt; Watershed District or Watershed Management Organization Appointees: Gene Tiedemann, LuAnn Tolliver and Todd Foster; Citizen Appointees: Paul Brutlag ; Gerald Van Amburg; John Meyer; Cities & Townships: Sandy Hooker -Township; Christy Jo Fogarty -Metro City; Keith Mykleseth -Non-Metro City; Agency: Chris Elvrum - Minnesota Department of Health; Rebecca Flood - Pollution Control Agency; Tom Landwehr - Department of Natural Resources; Matt Wohlman - Minnesota Department of Agriculture; Faye Sleeper - Minnesota Extension Service;
Wayne Zellmer -BWSR Grants Coordinator; Matt Drewitz -BWSR South Region Clean Water Specialist; Art Persons -MDH Planning Supervisor Drinking Water Protection; Jeff Hrubes -BWSR North Region Clean Water Specialist; Marcey Westrick -BWSR Metro Clean Water Specialist; Julie Westerlund -DNR Clean Water Coordinator; Robert L. Sip -MDA Environmental Policy Specialist; Anna Kerr -MPCA -Stormwater / TMDL Coordinator; Nick Proulx -DNR Central Region Clean Water Legacy Specialist; Karen Evens - MPCA -Watershed Projects Manager; Joshua Stamper -MDA Research Scientist, Pesticide & Fertilizer Management; Norman R. Mofjeld -MDA Hydrologist P.G. Well Management Section;
Nicole Clapp
(a) $13,750,000 the first year and $13,750,000 the second year are for pollution reduction and restoration grants to local government units and joint powers organizations of local government units to protect 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 (SSTS) projects and stream bank, stream channel, and shoreline restoration projects. The projects must be of long-lasting public benefit, include a match, and be consistent with TMDL implementation plans or local water management plans.
The project element description is to install 150 acres of riparian buffers/grass filter strips, along with Side Water Inlets (SWI) in targeted areas County Ditch 12, 26, 28, 29 and the Red River of the North as part of the Overall Plan of the Two Rivers Watershed District, the Kittson County Comprehensive Local Water Plan and the Overall Plan of the Joe River Watershed District. Kittson SWCD will contact landowners to inform them of Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CCRP) and Clean Water Funds. Applications will be taken Spring of 2012. Applications will be ranked by a screening committee consisting of possibly; Kittson SWCD, Two River Watershed District, Joe River Watershed District, NRCS, and the Kittson County Drainage Authority. Applications will be notified if accepted or not. Approved applicants will need to establish cover by Spring of 2014 with Clean Water Funds payment being made in in summer 2014. Status Reviews will take place at the end of Year 1, 2, 5 and 9. - Red River of the North and upland tributaries County Ditch 12, 26, 28 and 29.Proposed Reductions: 7,234 Phosphorus lbs/year and Filter Strip Treatment of Upland Runoff = 5,085 tons/year, Soil Loss Reduction From Filter Strip Area = 600 tons/year
This project resulted in estimated reductions of 6,070 lb. of phosphorus per year, 2.4 tons of sediment per year, and 256 tons of soil loss
The source of additional funds varies from project to project, but generally consists of federal, local and non-public sources.