Altered Hydrology
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Altered Hydrology RESPONSE LETTERS WATER PLANS REPORTS PUBLIC COMMENTS Draft issue statement: Priority Specific Resource Category Issue Source Resource Issue Issue? Identified Type 2019 05 29 Shell Rock 1W1P DNR Comments.pdf The lake is impacted by drainage but helps normalize those flows as they leave the lake. A DNR WMA encompasses most of the Yes Halls Lake Concern lakeshore and includes a 10-acre designated old growth hardwood forest. 2019 05 29 Shell Rock 1W1P DNR Comments.pdf Winnebago River Watershed - The Winnebago River is entirely altered in MN. Water storage projects in the upland and Yes Winnebago River Concern increasing floodplain connectivity could benefit channel stability because flows rarely leave the channel. BWSR response to notification Shell Rock Winnebago.docx Altered Hydrology/Flooding/Water Quantity – The hydrologic conditions of the watersheds in this planning area have changed Yes Concern over time. In recent decades more precipitation, more runoff, and more runoff per unit of precipitation has been observed as well as more frequent periods of extremely low flow in some watercourses. These hydrologic changes as well as others have contributed to instability of natural and artificial watercourses, degradation of wetland habitats, loss of agricultural productivity, and increased the risk of flood damages. Recognizing altered hydrology as a priority issue in the plan will help ensure that a driving factor behind many related issues is directly addressed. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Priority Concerns Drainage system management: A comprehensive drainage system management effort is needed to address stream hydrology Concern Letter - 6/19/19 issues for the long-term. This involves drainage networks and systems in both rural and urban areas. Shell Rock River Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Draining of Wetlands Concern Report Shell Rock River Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Modification of Natural Stream Courses Concern Report Shell Rock River Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Ditched/Straightened Headwater Streams Concern Shell Rock River Watershed Monitoring and Assessment 16 Reaches or AUIDs > 50 Percent Channelized So Not Assessed Concern Shell Rock River Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Tile Drainage Concern Shell Rock River Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Transport of Ammonia From Fields Through Tile Drainage Concern Shell Rock River Watershed Biotic Stressor Identification Increasing Runoff Concern Winnebago River Watershed Stressor Identification Report Flow Alteration Concern Winnebago River and Upper Wapsipinicon River No Sections of Natural Streams Left Concern Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Report Winnebago River and Upper Wapsipinicon River 42% of Wetlands are in Poor Condition Concern Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Report Winnebago River and Upper Wapsipinicon River Tile Drainage Concern Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Report Winnebago River and Upper Wapsipinicon River Perched Culverts Concern Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Report Winnebago River and Upper Wapsipinicon River Ditches Increasing Contributions of Flow and Pollutants to Streams Concern Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Report Winnebago River and Upper Wapsipinicon River 90.65% of Wetlands Drained/Converted to Non-Wetland Concern Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Report Watershed Context Report: Shell Rock River Hydric vs Wetland Percent Indicates High Amount of Drained Wetlands Concern Watershed Context Report: Shell Rock River High Percentage of Altered, Impounded, and No Definable Channel Concern Watershed Context Report: Winnebago River Hydric vs Wetland Percent Indicates High Amount of Drained Wetlands Concern Watershed Context Report: Winnebago River High Percentage of Altered, Impounded, and No Definable Channel Concern Watershed Report Card: Shell Rock River Very Low Connectivity Health Score of 18 Concern Watershed Report Card: Winnebago River Very Low Connectivity Health Score of 14 Concern Shell Rock River Watershed Total Maximum Daily Load Steep Slopes on Agricultural Land Concern Implementation Plan Shell Rock River Watershed Water Management Plan Loss of upland retention and increases in hydrologic flow. Concern Shell Rock River Watershed Water Management Plan Hydrologic changes such as stream channelization, tile drainage, draining of wetlands and loss of retention increases nutrient Yes Concern loads, hydrologic flow and sediment loads. Shell Rock River Watershed Water Management Plan Hydrologic changes due to cropping practices allow more field erosion to move downstream Yes Concern Shell Rock River Watershed Water Management Plan Hydrologic changes lead to more prevalent streambank erosion, increasing downstream sediment transport. Yes Concern Albert Lea Lake Watershed Management Plan DRAFT Drain tile and drainage ditches Concern Kickoff Dams Concern Altered Hydrology 1 of 1 Drainage System Management RESPONSE LETTERS WATER PLANS REPORTS PUBLIC COMMENTS Draft issue statement: Priority Specific Resource Category Issue Source Resource Issue Issue? Identified Type Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Priority Concerns Letter - Hydrology management. Southern Minnesota is known for its productive soils and resulting intensive agricultural land use. Agricultural Concern 6/19/19 drainage (tiling and drainage ditches) is a common occurrence in the Shell Rock 1W1P area. Shell Rock River Watershed Water Management Plan Loss of upland retention and increases in hydrologic flow. Concern Shell Rock River Watershed Water Management Plan Channelization and loss of attenuation characteristics of floodplain. Concern Shell Rock River Watershed Water Management Plan Ditching and tiling create drainage in areas where infiltration used to occur. Concern Freeborn County Comprehensive Water Plan Amendment to Goal #1 - Maintain drainage systems while improving agricultural productivity Yes Value Implementation 2016-2021 Survey Runoff, farm chemicals, carp and additional drainage. Concern Kickoff Putting debris in sewers Concern Kickoff Ag drainage expansion Concern Albert Lea Lake Watershed Management Plan DRAFT Stormwater system maintenance Yes Strategy BWSR response to notification Shell Rock Winnebago.docx Drainage - The drainage authorities within the planning area should be included as stakeholders in the plan development process. This Yes Strategy inclusion should ensure that the Chapter 103E processes and proceedings as well as the extent and the limitations of drainage authority responsibility are adequately included in the final plan. Additionally, the planning partners are strongly encouraged to include projects and activities consistent with multipurpose drainage criteria outlined in Minnesota Statutes §103E.011, Subd. 1a and §103E.015, Subd. 1. Refer to the attached document “Chapter 103E Drainage System Consideration for 1W1P” for additional information on 103E Drainage Authority responsibility, authority and opportunity for participating in the planning of conservation practices involving public drainage systems. BWSR response to notification Shell Rock Winnebago.docx Local Controls - Gaps or inconsistencies in local ordinances, policies, or enforcement could affect the success of your plan’s Yes Strategy implementation. Redetermination of benefits on drainage systems, SSTS compliance inspection requirements (property transfer, variance, etc.), level 3 feedlot inventories, and shoreland regulations are some examples that should be explored during plan development. Drainage System Management 1 of 1 Erosion & Sediment Control RESPONSE LETTERS WATER PLANS REPORTS PUBLIC COMMENTS Draft issue statement: Priority Specific Resource Issue Source Resource Issue Issue? Identified Category Type Freeborn County Comprehensive Water Plan Amendment Yes Value to Implementation 2016-2021 Goal #2 - Control soil erosion Shell Rock River Watershed Water Management Plan The MPCA listed Shoff Creek, which flows from Mud Lake to Fountain Lake, as impaired for aquatic life Schoff Creek Concern due to high levels of sediment creating turbidity. Current monitoring still supports this assessment and listing. Shell Rock River Watershed Water Management Plan Hydrologic changes due to cropping practices allow more field erosion to move downstream Yes Concern Shell Rock River Watershed Water Management Plan Hydrologic changes lead to more prevalent streambank erosion, increasing downstream sediment Yes Concern transport. Shell Rock River Watershed Water Management Plan Increased sediment transport and decay of organic matter creates turbidity which creates conditions Yes Concern inhospitable for aquatic life. Albert Lea Lake Watershed Management Plan DRAFT Drain tile and drainage ditches Concern Albert Lea Lake Watershed Management Plan DRAFT Soil erosion along Freeborn County roadways Concern Albert Lea Lake Watershed Management Plan DRAFT Erosion from drainage ditches and creeks Concern Albert Lea Lake Watershed Management Plan DRAFT Erosion control and topsoil preservation Yes Concern 2019 05 29 Shell Rock 1W1P DNR Comments.pdf Impaired. Watershed produces high flows and bounce water levels, aggravating the shoreline. This lake Yes Bear Lake Concern benefits from the existing significant undeveloped shoreline. Bear Lake has outstanding biological Survey Sedimentation and phosphorus Concern Survey Runoff, farm chemicals, carp and additional drainage. Concern Kickoff Excessive soil erosion and nutrients making it to streams Concern Kickoff Shoreline Concern Kickoff Completing dredging Fountain and Albert