Le Sueur River Watershed WRAPS Report (Wq-Ws4-10A)
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` Watershed conditions and restoration and protection strategies Le Sueur River WRAPS Report Circa 1913 Circa 2013 August 2015 wq-ws4-10a Credits Author: Joanne Boettcher, Project Manager: Paul Davis Editing and comment: MPCA Staff- Eileen Campbell, Pat Baskfield, Scott MacLean, Lee Ganske BWSR Staff- Matt Drewitz, Chris Hughes MDNR Staff- Brooke Hacker, Jon Lore, Brady Swanson MDA Staff – Bill VanRyswyk, Scott Matteson, Heidi Peterson GIS maps and analysis: Ashley Ignatius, Joanne Boettcher, Breeanna Bateman HSPF model assistance and data management: Chuck Regan, Ben Rousch Strategies Development Workshop Planning/Facilitation: John Knisley (Brown County), Mark Schaetzke (Freeborne County SWCD), Joanne Boettcher Strategies Development Team (and report comment): · Mark Schaetzke, Freeborn County SWCD · Michelle Stindtman, Faribault County/SWCD · Dick Hoffman, Freeborn County · Merissa Lore, Faribault County/SWCD · Mark Lieferman, Waseca County · Joe Mutschler, Faribault County/SWCD · Julie Conrad, Blue Earth County · Ryan Braulick, NRCS - Mankato · Paul Zimmer, City of Mankato · Eileen Campbell, MPCA - Mankato · Brooke Hacker, DNR - Mankato · Bryan Spindler, MPCA - Mankato · Chris Hughes, BWSR - Mankato · Paul Davis, MPCA - Mankato · Bill VanRyswyk, MDA - Mankato Additional strategies and report comment: Jerad Bach and Christina Stueber, Blue Earth County SWCD Final strategies synthesis, calculations, and editing: Joanne Boettcher Spatial Targeting Workshop Planning/Facilitation: Rick Moore, Ashley Ignatius, Joanne Boettcher Spatial Targeting Workshop Attendance: · Christina Stueber, Blue Earth SWCD · Joe Mutschler, Faribault County/SWCD · Jonathan Graves, Waseca County · Brandee Douglas, Faribault County/SWCD · Brooke Hacker, DNR - Mankato · Becky Alexander, Cottonwood SWCD · Dan Girolamo, DNR - Waterville · Ashley Brenke, Martin SWCD · Chris Hughes, BWSR - Mankato · Bridgett Winkels, Watonwan County · Paul Davis, MPCA - Mankato Cover pictures: http://mankatotimes.com/2013/08/12/caring-for-the-red-jacket-bridge/ http://www.lakesnwoods.com/images/Mankat6.jpg ii 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................1 2.Table Watershed of Contents Description & Background ............................................................................................2 3. Watershed Conditions ...................................................................................................................4 3.1 Programs to Monitor Conditions ..................................................................................................... 4 3.2 Conditions across the State ............................................................................................................. 4 3.3 Conditions in the Watershed ........................................................................................................... 6 Lake Conditions and Trends ....................................................................................................... 7 Stream Conditions and Trends ................................................................................................... 8 3.4 HSPF Modeled Conditions ............................................................................................................. 10 4. Pollutant Sources & Reductions ................................................................................................... 11 4.1 Source Identification ..................................................................................................................... 11 Altered Hydrology .................................................................................................................... 11 Sediment .................................................................................................................................. 15 Nitrogen ................................................................................................................................... 17 Phosphorus .............................................................................................................................. 18 E. coli /Fecal Coliform .............................................................................................................. 19 Dissolved Oxygen ..................................................................................................................... 20 Habitat ..................................................................................................................................... 21 Connectivity ............................................................................................................................. 21 4.2 Water Quality Goals ...................................................................................................................... 21 5. Restoration & Protection ............................................................................................................. 23 5.1 Civically-Supported Strategies to Restore and Protect Waters .................................................... 23 Le Sueur River Watershed Network ......................................................................................... 23 Lakes Focus Group ................................................................................................................... 23 Resident & Farmer Interviews ................................................................................................. 24 Staff-Identified Priorities & Challenges .................................................................................... 24 5.2 Scientifically-Supported Strategies to Restore and Protect Waters ............................................. 25 Agricultural BMPs .................................................................................................................... 25 Stormwater Management BMPs ............................................................................................. 25 Lake Watershed Strategies ...................................................................................................... 25 Computer Model Results ......................................................................................................... 25 5.3 Selected Strategies to Restore and Protect Waters ...................................................................... 26 Protection Considerations ....................................................................................................... 26 Prioritizing and Targeting ......................................................................................................... 27 6. Appendix ....................................................................................................................................31 6.1 Agricultural BMP Summary Table ................................................................................................................. 31 6.2 Computer Model Summaries ....................................................................................................................... 32 6.3 Available GIS Targeting Tools/Data Layers ................................................................................................... 33 6.4 Usefulness of GIS Data Layers/Tools ............................................................................................................ 35 6.5 Lake Restoration and Protection Strategies ................................................................................................. 39 6.6 Water Quality Goal Information ................................................................................................................... 36 6.7 Individual Lake Phosphorus Reductions ....................................................................................................... 37 6.8 Flow Target Calculation ................................................................................................................................ 38 6.9 Discovery Farm Information ......................................................................................................................... 39 6.10 ET Rate Data & Calculation ........................................................................................................................... 41 6.11 Point Source Data Summary ......................................................................................................................... 42 6.12 NPDES Permit Holders in the Le Sueur River Watershed ............................................................................. 43 6.13 GIS Hydrologic Alteration Analysis ............................................................................................................... 45 6.14 References .................................................................................................................................................... 46 6.15 Glossary ........................................................................................................................................................ 51 iii Legislative Requirements There are specific legislative definitions and requirements associated with Clean Water Legacy legislation on WRAPS (ROS 2013). Although the intent of this report is to be more comprehensive and usable than just merely meeting legislative requirements, this table is provided to help reviewers ensure those requirements are adequately addressed. However,