PRIORITY CONCERNS SCOPING DOCUMENT Kari S
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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 6 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. 7 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.