PRIORITY CONCERNS SCOPING DOCUMENT Kari S

Shell River Tributary to the Crow Wing River, Northern Wadena County

PRIORITY CONCERNS SCOPING DOCUMENT Kari S. Tomperi Wadena County Local Water Resource Management January 31, 2005

1 I. Introduction A. County Primer 1. County Description Wadena County is located in North Central Minnesota. The City of Wadena is the county seat and is located in the southern tier of townships. Wadena County is within the Upper Mississippi River Basin.

Upper Mississippi

River Basin

Wadena County

Wadena County falls firmly within the transition zone between the Northern Lakes and Rivers Ecoregion and the North Central Hardwood Forests Ecoregion.

2 2. Population The Land Management Information Center 2000 census data indicates Wadena County has a total population of 13,713 residents. The 2000 census information also indicates that population growth for Wadena County as a whole will not be as intense as neighboring counties. However as the below maps indicate, the Crow Wing River Watershed has been experiencing growth and development at a minimum of 0 to 5 % gain and a maximum, around the recreational lakes, at a greater than 25% gain.

Crow Wing River

1990-2000

Redeye (Leaf) River

Long Prairie River

3 2002 U.S. Census Data

Adjusted Total Extra- Census Population polated 2000 2002 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 Wadena County 13268 13674 14110 14490 14860 15220 15552 15856 Aldrich city 53 49 47 44 41 39 37 35 Aldrich township 418 418 415 404 394 384 373 361 Blueberry township 732 730 801 902 993 1086 1175 1260 Bullard township 207 213 233 261 287 313 338 361 Huntersville township 128 129 138 150 161 172 183 193 Leaf River township 515 501 496 482 469 456 441 426 Lyons township 180 184 193 203 213 223 231 238 Meadow township 228 231 239 245 252 258 264 269 Menahga city 1220 1217 1277 1341 1404 1465 1517 1562 Nimrod city 75 75 79 84 88 93 97 100 North Germany 327 315 319 318 317 318 318 317 township Orton township 220 226 233 237 242 247 251 255 Red Eye township 421 431 453 478 501 525 545 562 Rockwood township 388 385 395 401 407 412 418 423 Sebeka city 710 696 717 733 749 765 780 794 Shell River township 276 271 286 304 322 339 354 368 Staples city (part) 642 651 738 858 969 1081 1189 1292 Thomastown township 714 713 700 669 642 616 590 565 Verndale city 575 575 590 599 608 615 624 632 Wadena city (part) 4244 4242 4327 4355 4382 4399 4419 4441 Wadena township 1010 994 1005 997 997 998 995 992 Wing River township 430 428 429 424 421 418 414 409

4 3. Dominant Land Use and Trends

Potlatch Corporation, a forestry industry, currently owns many acres within the county. Potlatch has begun selling property that adjoins the rivers and lakes due to lost revenue because of the shore land alteration setback ordinances and that they must pay Shoreland taxes. As no logging can occur in these areas, many of the acres are sold to absentee landowners for recreational purposes. In the map below, forested acres are most predominant in the Crow Wing River Watershed. This area also hosts a thriving logging industry.

Ecoregion Transition Zone

5 Agriculture continues to be an important economic activity in Wadena County; however, many dairy farms are converting to livestock or crop production. The Level III Feedlot Inventory indicates approximately 310 farms with animal units over 10. The top ones are turkey production. The 2002 Census of Agriculture lists 734 farms in 2002, up 6 % from 694 farms in 1997. Note, it does not appear that these are all full time farms as the 1997 Census information states full time farms decreased 16% from 389 farms in 1992 to 325 farms in 1997. No comparable data is available in the 2002 Census. Acreage or land in farms was down 12 % from 188,331 in 1997 to 165,519 in 2002. The average size of farm was down 17% from 271 acres in 1997 to 226 in 2002. As a side note, the Redeye River Watershed is eligible for the new USDA Conservation Security Program in 2005, which should give local farmers in the area incentives for Agricultural Best Management Practices.

Irrigation is also becoming a more common practice in Wadena County. Most irrigation is occurring in the southern tier of townships but as irrigated acres to the north continue to expand, land is slowly being converted to irrigation as well in the northern tier in the county. Potato production is the predominant crop. RDO has many contract acres within the county. The irrigated acres map below is from 1992 aerial photos and is no longer current even though it does give a general idea of the irrigated acre locations. Most irrigated acres are in coarse soils which are highly sensitive to contamination.

1995 Land Use Map

In the Crow Wing River Watershed, and somewhat in the Redeye River Watershed, agriculture acres are slowly converting to absentee landowners who purchase marginal farmland for recreational uses, mainly as hunting lands. Marginal farmlands include the presence of wetlands and sandier, coarse soils. Potlatch is leasing many acres to the public for hunting as well.

Tourism for recreational purposes is strong in the Crow Wing River watershed. 14 campsites are available for public use along the Crow Wing River Canoe Trail and 3 campsites are located in the cities of Menahga, Sebeka and Wadena. Horseback and off road trail riding is becoming more popular as well. Improper off road vehicle use is becoming a concern as the ditches, fields, shorelines and wetlands show signs of abuse.

The intent of the Wadena County Comprehensive Land Use Plan is to promote economic development along the Highway 10 and Highway 71 corridors and minimize development along the Crow Wing River. Highway 10 runs east to west along the southern tier of townships and has Staples, Aldrich, Verndale and Wadena along its path. Highway 71 runs North and South along the western tier and has Wadena, Sebeka and Menahga along its path. Menahga and the surrounding townships are growing in part due to the lakes in the area and as a result of the overflow of growth coming from the Park Rapids lakes area.

All designated JOBZones in the county appear to be located in the medium to high groundwater contamination areas per analysis of aquifer material, recharge potential, soil material and vadose zone material.

8 B Plan info

1. The Wadena County Local Water Resource Management Program was adopted through resolution by the Wadena County Board of Commissioners in 1993 and the Wadena Soil and Water Conservation District was given the responsibility for administration of the program. 2. The first Water Resource Management Task Force meeting was held in 1993 and the first plan was written and approved in 1995. The second update was completed in December 2000. 3. The current plan expires December 31, 2005.

Timeline of Completed Actions August 3rd, 2004 Wadena County Board of Commissioners signed the resolution to update the Comprehensive Local Water Resource Management Plan. October 4, 2004 Water Plan Task Force begins process and Lists Concerns October 15, 2004 Deadline Priority Concerns Input Forms were sent and are due on this date November 16, 18, 23, 2004 Public Input Meetings held November 29, 2004 EQIP Local Work Group Meeting January 3, 2005 Water Plan Task Force Meeting discusses and votes on top three priority concerns. January 4, 2005 Meeting with Deana Skov, Wadena County Planning and Zoning Administrator

II. List of the Priority Concerns

1. Protection of drinking water quality 2. Protection of surface water quality 3. Efficient utilization of water

III. Priority Concern Documentation

Each of the following meetings, feedback and discussions focus on the choosing of the top three priorities in the Wadena Local Water Resource Management Plan. I will explain in further detail how the wording and priorities were established in the final water plan task force meeting.

‹ October 4, 2004 Water Plan Task Force Lists Concerns at quarterly meeting Committee Members in attendance: Orville Meyer, Chairman Wadena County Commissioner Marvin Runyan, Vice Chair Wadena SWCD, Supervisor, Farmer, Irrigator Malinda Dexter, Recorder District Manager, Wadena SWCD Kari Tomperi Water Resource Management Technician, Wadena SWCD Jeff Hrubes MPCA Representative Dave Aldeen NRCS, District Conservationist Karen Nelson Wadena County Public Health Dept. John Finnegan Farm Consultant and Sportsman’s Club Jerry Siegel CSMP Volunteer, City of Sebeka Gerald Breid Farmer, Irrigator Leofwin Lindblom Lake and Stream Monitoring Volunteer

9 It was requested that the committee write down their concerns and post them under one of four headings to begin the thought process towards choosing the top three priorities. Surface Water Quantity Quality Controlling Runoff – through cities Invasive & exotic species – public education Volume – depth level regulation in lakes Contaminated waters for swimming River Flows – rain events, storm sewer runoff Wind & soil erosion Wind & Soil Erosion Runoff from Storm Sewers Drainage - Stream Bank Erosion Lakes, rivers and streams – keep cattle out Create more ponds Curly Leaf Pond Weed Minimize dissolved solids/nutrients/ organic (biodegradable materials) Phosphorus loading from farmland & city Sedimentation – crops, construction Lake Purity – homes & runoff from storm sewers Ground Water Quantity Quality How resources are shared by users Non compliant septic systems Reduce the number of abandoned wells Irrigation management Nitrates in drinking water Poor well head protection Ag Waste Pits Rural drinking water Allow different systems Infiltration of pollutants Coli form contamination of drinking water Be factual of findings

‹ October 15, 2004 Deadline Priority Concerns Input Forms were sent to the following state agencies and the deadline date for information to be returned was set for October 15th.

MN Department of Agriculture Becky Balk St. Paul MN Environmental Quality Board John R. Wells St. Paul MN Department of Health Art Persons Rochester MN Department of Natural Resources Paul Swenson Bemidji MN Pollution Control Agency David L. Johnson St. Paul MN Board of Water and Soil Resources Ron G. Shelito Brainerd

10 In addition, priority concerns input forms were sent to the 15 townships and 7 incorporated cities of the county as well as the 4 lake associations, the county feedlot officer and the Menahga Conservation Club which has adopted the Shell River within Wadena County. The surrounding counties, Todd, Cass, Hubbard, Becker and Ottertail had input requests sent to their Planning and Zoning departments and Local Water Resource Management Technicians.

Replies and the attached list of priorities were received from

MDH 1 Protect groundwater-based drinking water sources 2 Sealing unused, unsealed wells 3 Develop a local ground-water quality data base Beth Kluthe MN Department of Health DNR 1 Storm water management 2 Drainage –inventory existing ditches to enable better management 3 Groundwater quantity/quality Tim Crocker MN Department of Natural Resources- Division of Waters BWSR 1 Ground water quality 2 Development in Riparian areas 3 Conversion of marginal Agricultural land (i.e. promote forestry) Dan Steward Board of Water and Soil Resources EQB 1 Groundwater contamination susceptibility and JOBZone locations 2 TMDL-Impaired waters and JOBZone locations 3 Groundwater availability and significant water using developments 4 MCD population extrapolations for Wadena County Sara Bertelson MN Environmental Quality Board MPCA 1 Impaired Waters/Total Maximum Daily Loads 2 Manure Management 3 Closing Abandoned Lagoons 4 Erosion and Sedimentation Control in Rivers 5 Water Quality Monitoring of Lakes and Rivers Lisa Thorvig, Assistant Commissioner, MN Pollution Control Agency

Wadena County Delegated Feedlot Officer 1 Small Farm Losses 2 Stockpiling and spreading of manure Ivan Reinke Wadena SWCD, Feedlot Officer

City of Staples 1 Improper management of public drainage ditches 2 Orderly development/ISTS 3 Non-point sources of contamination/phosphorus

11 Blueberry Township 1 Lake water quality problems due to curly leaf pondweed 2 Development and growth affecting water quality 3 Development and growth affecting water quantity Menahga Conservation Club 1 Nitrates in Groundwater, aerial spraying/chemicals 2 Curly Leaf Pondweed/exotic weeds (non-native) 3 Development/Land Use affecting lakes and rivers

‹ EQIP Local Work Group Meeting November 29, 2004 Although this meeting was not advertised as a water plan input meeting, water quality, quantity and protection were discussed as a component of many of the priority concerns for agriculture and the Federal USDA Environmental Quality Incentive Program. Attending were Tom Schulz, Wadena SWCD District Supervisor and landowner in North Germany Township; Dave Aldeen, District Conservationist with NRCS; Ivan Reinke, Soil Conservation Technician with NRCS; Mel Wiens, Thomastown Township Supervisor, Fair Board Member, WHELP Member, Farmer; Rob Naplin, DNR Wildlife, Park Rapids office; Ken Berg, Wadena SWCD Supervisor, Farmer, Irrigator; Marvin Runyan, Wadena SWCD Supervisor, Farmer, Irrigator; Orville Meyer, Wadena County Commissioner, Retired DNR Conservation Officer, landowner in Thomastown Township; David Mattila, Wadena County Commissioner, Farmer, landowner in Red Eye Township; Lonnie Lilly, DNR Forestry Nimrod Station, Kari Tomperi, Wadena SWCD Water Resource Management Technician, Blueberry Township Clerk, Twin Lakes Association Member; and Malinda Dexter, Wadena SWCD District Manager, Wadena County Ag Inspector and landowner in Meadow and North Germany Townships.

Concerns Votes Water Quality 7 Ag Waste Mgmt Systems 7 Erosion Control 5 Forestry Management 5 Grazing Systems 3 Wildlife Habitat 2 Irrigation Management 2 Pest Management 2 Recreation Land Conversion Resource Local Prioritized Concerns Prioirty Weight Priority 1. Water Quality 10 2 20 2. Ag Waste Management Systems 10 2 20 3. Erosion Control 8 2 16 4. Forestry Management 8 5 40 5. Grazing Systems 7 4 28 6. Wildlife Habitat 4 6 24 7. Irrigation Management 4 4 16

12 8. Pest Management 4 1 4 9. Recreation 1 1 1 10. Land Conversion 1 1 1

‹ Public Meetings and Survey Results Public meetings for citizen input were posted in the local papers and advertised on the radio. Meetings were held in the evenings in three locations. 7:00 p.m. Tuesday November 16th at the Senior Citizen Center in Menahga, 7:00 p.m. Thursday November 18th at the Todd-Wadena Electric Lower Level meeting room in Wadena and 7:00 p.m. Tuesday November 23rd at the R&R Bar and Grill in Nimrod. A half hour presentation was given about Local Water Resource Management, a written survey was passed around for people to write their thoughts and concerns after which citizens were asked to share what they had written for public discussion and to vote which they thought as a group were the top priorities. The following lists are in order of priority.

Menahga November 16, 2004 (6 citizens were in attendance)

Groundwater contamination Abandoned wells Abandoned Ag waste systems Failing septic systems Contamination to surface and groundwater from agricultural irrigation Sound application of fertilizer when without irrigation (timing, amount, plant need) Nutrient Management – fertilizer vs manure Concentrated livestock operations Impervious surfaces Large tracts of land being sold along streams Land divided up for development Development along surface water Lakes need protection for recreation and tourism Atmospheric conditions- acid rain, mercury Monitoring groundwater for effects from irrigation

Wadena November 18th, 2004 (8 citizens were in attendance)

Drinking water for public health Groundwater quality Efficient management of water usage Education of local studies Better information for better decision making and enforcement Abandoned ag waste pits High nitrates (is it a true indicator?) Population increases in areas of concerns – cause of high nitrates or … Failing septic systems Conservative use of water-recycle Efficient management of water useage

13 Surface water Impervious surfaces- roads, parking lots, buildings Agriculture run off control Wind and water erosion Lake water quality Prevention and spread of exotic & invasive species Agriculture affects on surface waters Better management of recreation areas- rv parks, atv’s, Coordination of data over time and different sources

Nimrod November 16, 2004 (7 citizens were in attendance)

Groundwater Drinking water source Ag waste ISTS Abandoned wells Clean and bacteria free water Financial means to reach good water Easier access financially & economically to reach good water Regulation concerns if well has problems BMP’s for agriculture Gravel pits dug to groundwater Fertilizer storage on farms- large farms larger bulk orders need to store Specific comprehensive land use especially Shoreland Habitat studies Streams and rivers Need more info New populations along Crow Wing Different water quality within 20 miles yet all treated the same Continuing education Land-use practices

The written survey passed out at the meetings was a streamlined version of the Priority Concerns Input Document. Copies are available for review. An informal ranking for which of the following resources is most threatened, groundwater, wetlands, lakes, streams/rivers was also on the survey. Ranking is summarized below with each number indicating a single vote.

Ranked 1-4 with 1 being the most threatened

Groundwater 1111 22 333 44 Wetlands 1 22 33 44444 Lakes 111 22 333 44 Streams/Rivers 1111 2222 33 4

‹ January 3, 2005 Water Plan Task Force Meeting discusses and votes on top three priority concerns.

IV. Priority Concern Selection Water Plan Task Force Committee members in attendance: Orville Meyer, Chairman Wadena County Commissioner Marvin Runyan, Vice-Chair Wadena SWCD, Farmer, Irrigator Anne Oldakowski, recorder (fill-in) Wadena SWCD, Education/Forestry Tech. Kari Tomperi Wadena SWCD, Water Resource Mgmt Tech. Gary Peters City of Wadena Light & Water Leofwin Lindblom Lake and Stream Monitoring Volunteer Melvin Kinnunen Wadena SWCD, Farmer, Township official Mel Wiens Farmer, CCA Dan Steward BWSR Representative John Finnegan Farmer, Knob Hill Sportsmen‘s Club Gerald Breid Farmer, Irrigator Don Sirucek MDA Deana Skov Planning and Zoning

Water Plan Expires December 2005: Kari talked about the timeline. Public input meetings were held in November at locations throughout the county. Next is to develop priority concerns that the water plan will focus on. Key focus areas will be addressed through: administration/coordination, education/information, inventory/mapping, monitoring/data collection, regulations/ordinances/planning, and land/water treatment. A discussion then followed regarding priority concerns and the group voted the following as the top three priority focus concerns in order:

Protection of drinking water quality Protection of surface water quality Efficient utilization of water

‹ January 4, 2005 Meeting with Deana Skov, Planning and Zoning Administrator A one on one meeting was held with the Wadena County Planning and Zoning Administrator to discuss the priorities that were chosen and to see how well they fit within the Wadena County Comprehensive Land Use Plan. The Land Use plan has been discussed as needing improvements but will not be updated soon. One area where Planning and Zoning could work with the Local Water Plan was the possibility of stronger education in highly sensitive groundwater areas. Education included topics regarding home placement, well placement or Individual Septic Treatment System ISTS placement.

15 Following is a summary of the discussions and intents of the Wadena County Local Water Resource Management Task Force regarding the Priority Concerns Selection process at the task force meeting.

1. Protection of drinking water quality Protection of drinking water quality was chosen as the number one focus of the Wadena County Local Water Resource Management Plan. After discussion and clarification of each word, it was voted to broaden the number one priority in a way to ensure that every citizen in the county has the opportunity for safe drinking water. Many suggested priorities will be included in the working portion of the plan but the priority focus, safe drinking water quality is the ultimate goal whether for a rural or city resident or whether it’s origin is from ground or surface water.

Special attention will be given to the highly sensitive areas indicated by the Public Health Nitrate/Nitrite Probability map, Public Health Source Water Assessment sites, the marginal portion of Wadena County shown in the Ottertail Regional Assessment Sensitive Areas Geological Atlas, the DNR Sensitivity site maps and as Wadena County is included in the Anoka Sand Plain, the known coarse, sandy soils and high water tables which are sensitive to contamination. In addition, where highly sensitive soils may not be located, there are wetlands. The existence of a strong interaction between surface and ground water in these areas has been shown. Also as more, deep wells are dug, the underlying aquifers, especially in the southern portion of the county also need protection. In summary, very few acres exist in Wadena County that are not a drinking water source concern.

Wadena County Borders

16 2. Protection of surface water quality Protection of surface water quality is the second most important focus of the Wadena County Local Water Resource Management Plan. Wadena County is very fortunate to have waters assumed to be pristine and worth protecting. Data collection and information gathering as well as the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) process will be an important task or component towards protection or restoration but as in drinking water protection every citizen in the county has the right to enjoy, without safety concerns, the surface waters of the county. Enjoyment can be defined as fishing, swimming, canoeing, boating or however the individual chooses.

On the MPCA Impaired Waters List, Wadena County has waters listed for mercury. This is a larger problem than the county or even the state can readily address. The only other impaired water listed is a small stream for Impaired Biota. More information is needed about surface water quality. No lakes are listed for eutrophication but recent Blueberry Lake data raises some concerns and needs further follow up. It is important to note that all of the water that flows into and from Wadena County eventually flows into the Mississippi River, which is the major surface water supply source for the metro area.

17 3. Efficient utilization of water Efficient utilization of water is the third priority focus of the Wadena County Local Water Resource Management Plan. With the increasing unpredictability of the climate, the increase in irrigation withdrawals from groundwater and the slow but steady increase in population and the ever increasing water consumption by citizens, industry and energy production, the task force felt that water quantity must be taken into consideration for the future and to begin thoughtful tasks to insure an adequate supply for the long term.

Permitted Acres Reported by Year

70000

60000

50000

40000

2002 Permits 30000 2003 Permits 2004 Permits

20000

10000

Pope Swift Dakota Ottertail Todd Stearns Benton Becker Wadena Morrison Hubbard Stevens Meeker Sherburne

Kandiyohi

MN DNR Irrigation Pumping Records Jerry Wright U of M Extension 2004

V. Priority concerns not addressed by the plan

Many ideas were suggested as priority concerns. Most all were actual tasks or action items that would ultimately result in addressing the three priority focus areas that were chosen. It is clear the working portion of the plan can include many of the “to do” items. All the priorities need more information to make better decisions, all need actual land and water treatment and all need an education component. Some areas that are unknown and may not be addressed in the current plan because data is still being collected are the affects of endrocrine disrupters on humans, the affect of atrazine on the amphibian population and potential contamination from illegal drug production such as methamphetamines. Before an action item is listed in the plan, the question will be asked “does it aid in water protection for drinking water quality, does it help with protection or restoration of surface waters or will this ensure water supplies well into the future?” If it can address one of these questions, with drinking water quality as the number one focus, it will become an action item in the Wadena County Local Water Resource Management Plan.