Best Management Practices
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To accomplish the District’s mission of protecting and preserving water quality in the watershed, assistance is provided to landowners and municipalities for the installation of best management practices (BMPs). These BMPs are ways to improve water quality, control erosion, and improve land productivity. To encourage property owners to implement BMPs, the District provides educational opportunities in addition to technical and financial assistance. Examples of eligible projects include: shoreland and stream restorations, raingardens, wetland restorations, buffer strips, animal exclusion, and more.
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One way to understand the cumulative impact of BMPs installed by the District is to quantify their effect on water quality. Across the entire Middle Fork Crow River Watershed, 50 BMPs have been installed. These BMPs decrease the amount of phosphorus entering the watershed by more than 208 pounds per year and sediment by nearly 300 tons per year. One pound of phosphorus can support up to 500 pounds of algae. This reduction of phosphorus prevented 103,930 pounds of algae from growing in the watershed. The 50 BMPs include four agricultural BMPs, seven raingardens, 25 shoreland restorations, six stream restorations, eight stormwater BMPs, and 108 rain barrels.
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BMPs that the District have implemented can be seen below. If you have any questions or would like more information, contact the MFCRWD staff.
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Take a look at some of our current and completed BMPs:
Agricultural BMPs
Cattle Crossings
Cattle crossing can cause erosion on the banks of the river and in the river channel. The Watershed District provided cost-share funding to install fencing and a bridge to keep the cattle out of the river while allowing the landowner to have access to both sides of their pasture.
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Woodchip Bioreactors
Woodchip bioreactors are an extremely effective practice to reduce nitrate loading to receiving waters. Tile drainage is directed into a covered trench filled with woodchips. As the woodchips become saturated, aerobic bacteria begin to digest soluble nitrate and convert it to nitrogen gas. To read more about this exciting project in the Diamond Lake subwatershed, click below.
Conservation Drainage
Activity/Project Description:
On June 30, 2010, the Middle Fork Crow River Watershed District entered into a Conservation Drainage grant agreement with the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR). Funding for the grant comes from the 3/8 percent sales tax increase amendment that was passed in 2008.
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The grant is to carry out a pilot project focusing on drainage water management through the installation of controlled drainage systems. Such systems can significantly reduce water volumes, total phosphorus, and nitrate exports via tile lines to receiving water bodies while improving crop yield. This pilot project will compare the discharge (flow) and water quality in two tile lines draining a field near Atwater, MN. The long term goal of this project is to increase the acceptance of such practices in the region.
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Financial information:
Construction (water control structure installation): $14,656
Monitoring (technical): $4,460
Education & outreach: $1,040
Administration: $972
Total grant: $21,128
Grant funds: $15,602
Local match: $5,526
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Outputs:
The primary output of this pilot project will be the installation of water flow equipment in two tile lines and the installation of a water control structure in one of the lines. A data set of flow and water quality information will be produced for comparison purposes. If the pilot project results warrant, the District will host a presentation for area land owners and producers to share the findings about this conservation practice.
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Outcomes:
Based on the conservation drainage research conducted by University of Minnesota, pollutant reductions are estimated to be nearly 40 pounds of nitrogen and 2 pounds of phosphorus.
Prairie Restoration
Minnesota is a very unique state, it has four naturally occurring biomes. Prairies are an important part of Minnesota’s cluster of biomes. Prairies offer a grassy habitat for numerous plants and animals. Fortunately the Middle Fork Crow River Watershed District was able to help find funding for a prairie restoration. This project entails removing invasive trees and shrubs and planting natural prairie plants and grasses. The goal is to have the project returned back to the prairies of an older Minnesota.
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This project was cost-shared with the land owner on the agreement that the owner would need to maintain the restoration for a minimum of ten years so that the prairie can become self-sustaining. There is also an agreement made that the land owner will not make any alterations or additions unless it is approved. Projects like this one are an important piece in keeping Minnesota beautiful and full of naturally occurring ecosystems.
Riverbank Revetments
Revetments are used to hold the river in desired alignment by stabilizing the riverbanks. The type of revetment here is often referred to as a “Log Toe” or “Geotextile” revetment, meaning the riverbank was reinforced with a natural buffer and anchored directly to the bank.
Other buffers might include “spiling” – where a weaved fence made of natural willow trees would be driven into the riverbank, thus blocking strong currents from eroding the bank. “Mattressing” would be composed of an entire layer of rock laid onto the riverbank, holding the soil in place.
Shoreline Restorations
With saturated soils from heavy rainfalls and earthen springs, the MFCRWD was called to action to prevent a large mudslide from reaching Green Lake. This shoreline stabilization project is estimated to prevent 4.2 tons of soil and sediment from entering Green Lake per year.
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This shoreline on Nest Lake was a bluff with a failing retaining wall on the top of the slope. The bottom of the slope was also failing due to wave action and a tile line that outlet in the middle of the bluff. The MFCRWD teamed up with the Crow River Organization of Water (CROW) and the Kandiyohi County SWCD to fund and design the project.
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The result of this project is a stable shoreline. The new slope will have long term stability because of the native vegetation that was planted on the bluff. Over time the site will blend in with the neighboring properties.
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The City of New London was dealing with erosion issues at Neer Park which was a result of high boat traffic and a non-native plant community. The City of New London contacted the District to assist them in solving this problem in a ecologically friendly way. The District worked with the U of M Extension and joined a research project they were working on about bio-engineering. This project has been a great success in preventing erosion and providing habitat.
Hubbard, Schultz, Wheeler Chain of Lakes Project
The approved Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)* study for Diamond Lake recommended a project to improve the water quality in the Hubbard, Schultz, and Wheeler Lake chain. An estimated 74% and 83% of the total phosphorus entering Diamond Lake from surface runoff in 2008 and 2009, respectively, came from the chain of lakes.
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*TMDL is a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a waterbody can received and still meet water quality standards.
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In 2011, Ducks Unlimited partnered with the Middle Fork Crow River Watershed District and the Diamond Lake Area Recreational Association to investigate the feasibility of actively managing water levels on the Hubbard, Schultz, and Wheeler chain of lakes to enhance their condition. Much of this feasibility work was completed with funding from Minnesota’s Outdoor Heritage Fund as recommended by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.
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The Ducks Unlimited 2012 Feasibility Report details the viability of a Management Plan for the combined purposes of improving wildlife habitat and water quality. The project is envisioned as a cooperative action of the MFCRWD, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and Ducks Unlimited for the construction, operation and maintenance of water control structures to allow for temporary drawdown of the lake chain. Through temporary water level draw-downs, basin sediments are exposed, consolidated, and aerated to allow rooted aquatic plants to germinate from natural seed banks that absorb nutrients and help anchor bottom sediments. Through active water level management, shallow lakes can be managed to persist in a clear water healthy condition, whereas deteriorated, turbid water conditions provides little benefit. Just as fire maintains the health of prairies, we know through science that shallow lakes and wetlands require periods of low water or droughts to stay healthy, productive, and beneficial for waterfowl, wildlife species, and humans as well. High stable water levels, excessive nutrient inflows, invasive fish, and the lack of natural fish winterkill have led to the loss of aquatic vegetation and invertebrate populations, both of which are key elements to a healthy shallow lake system. Essential to improving the overall health of these lakes is our ability to actively manage water levels.
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Moving forward Ducks Unlimited and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will continue working with the Middle Fork Crow River Watershed District, the Diamond Lake Area Recreational Association, and other partners to develop a comprehensive management plan for the entire lake system.
Stormwater BMPs
Runoff from streets is the most polluted form of runoff in the US. Channel stabilization was implemented in the City of Spicer to keep the pollutants in runoff from entering water bodies. This channel has a series of riffles and pools to help reduce the amount of sediment that eventually reaches Green Lake.
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This picture shows the channel stabilization project in Spicer during a rain event. Monitoring after the project was completed has shown a 85.9% reduction in sediment. During general maintenance of the site over the last three years, District staff has removed about 3,000 pounds of sediment by hand. BMP projects like this one, put in over the last six years, that have helped make a difference in protecting lakes for generations to come.
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The District is always trying to stress personal responsibility with landowners; everyone can do their part to help protect water quality. To assist landowners in doing activities that can make a difference, the District sponsored a rain barrel program. Rain barrels are a simple way for people to reduce the amount of runoff from their house and in turn use that water in more productive means.
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Grit chambers are buried systems that receive stormwater from the catch basins along a curb and gutter road. The stormwater enters the diversion chamber where the weir guides the flow into the unit’s separation chamber. This chamber is where heavy pollutants drop out, removing themselves from the flow. 100% of floatables and neutrally buoyant debris (larger than the chamber’s screen) also become trapped The treated stormwater continues out of the system while the sediment remains. The Grit chamber’s sediment is vacuumed out regularly.
MFCRWD BMP Policy Approved Revision
BMP Monitoring and Landowner Responsibility
Watershed District staff will monitor all BMPs at an interval of 2, 5, and 9 years from project completion. The meetings will be documented in the following ways.
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Project tracking forms will be used at every site visit to document the site visit and observations. This form should also be used to document all follow up conversations and maintenance.
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Project will have pictures taken at each site visit.
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The landowner needs to be contacted after site visits either by:
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Mailing Project Tracking form to landowner
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Phone call with documentation on project tracking form
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Face to face meeting
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In the event of needed project maintenance determined by review of project design:
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A face to face meeting will be requested to ensure the landowner understands what is being requested of them.
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District staff will prepare a check list of items needed to bring project into as built standards.
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A copy of the check list will be left with the landowner and a maintenance completion date will be decided upon. A copy of check list will also be filed in project folder.
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Follow up will be performed based on maintenance completion date, and project practice performance.
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In the event that project maintenance is not being completed and project continues in a failing state:
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A letter will be sent to inform the landowner that if no action is taken the District will request the cost-share funds to be returned.
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Up to 150% of project cost can be ordered to be returned to the district to cover total project cost. This is the state cost-share contract requirement.
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No additional funds will be given to landowners whose project is failing due to lack of maintenance.
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Maintenance Plan
To ensure that landowners understand the purpose of the cost-share funds from the Watershed District the following steps will be taken:
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District staff will go over the contract with the landowner
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Landowners will be requested to attend the board meeting when their contract will be approved.
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If landowner is not available to attend the meeting, a letter or email from the landowner is sufficient to ensure they understand the contract.
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A project maintenance plan will be sent to landowner to ensure project function and clarity on expectations of cost-share projects. See individual project Maintenance Plan.
Project failure due to design flaws
If the project fails due to issues with the project design, it will be handled in the following manner:
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Designer will be consulted about issue on the site.
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Designer will be responsible for cost to correct the failure
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Landowner will not be responsible for cost to correct the failure
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When there is a lack of funds available from designer, the District will use grant dollars, when available, to pay for correction when appropriate
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New contracts with the landowner will not extend the 10-year time period of the original contract
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In-Kind Labor
In-kind Labor is often an important part of project completion and can add a degree of ownership to projects that is favorable to the life and function of any given practice. In the event that in-kind labor will be used in project completion the following will be required:
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Land owners will be required to maintain an in-kind labor log see Appendix A.
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Any time involving equipment should be documented using equipment hours in order to sufficiently account for use of equipment and in-kind rates associated with that activity.
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Any landowner project costs need to be well documented with supporting documentation including but not limited to receipts, pictures, invoices, returns, miles etc.