How can you improve local waters?

Middle Main Stem Subwatershed

Strategies for a healthy subwatershed

Middle Main Stem Subwatershed The land area around the Vermillion ’s middle main stem (and smaller that run into it) make up the Middle Main Stem Subwatershed. The Middle Main Stem Subwatershed (shown in red on map, left) is part of the Vermillion River Watershed (shown in blue). Land and water in this area drain to the middle main stem of the Vermillion River.

The Middle Main Stem Subwatershed is primarily rural and agricultural, with the exception of the residential and commercial areas in the City of Farmington. Over many years of agricultural production, landowners have altered the land to expand, improve crop yields, and drain soggy fields. Farmington’s developed areas Includes: have roads, pavement, and parking lots that move water rapidly  Most of Empire Township, off the land surface.  Northeastern corner of Castle Rock Township,  Southeastern Farmington, These land uses alter the natural flow of water, allowing rain  Western Vermillion Township, water to move more quickly from where it falls. Increased runoff  City of Vermillion, and carries pollutants such as , nitrate, phosphorus, and E.  Vermillion River and all of its minor coli bacteria to lakes, , and streams. also between Hwy. 3 and Hwy. 52. carries heat, a threat to healthy streams, especially those that contain sensitive species like trout. FACT Practices that slow down and soak up the rain SHEET can improve water quality – in residential areas, on farms, and in commercial zones. 1

Healthy land and water resources depend on everyone. DECEMBER 2008 Find out more about what you can do to improve the Middle Main Stem Subwatershed’s water resources.

Project Can brown trout adapt to higher Highlight Best Management Practices (BMPs) for the temperatures? Maryland Study shows DNR Aquatic decline in brook trout Management Middle Main Stem Subwatershed Thermal tolerance among trout is a genetically determined trait, so trout due to temperature and Area populations can change over time to land cover changes Restoration What are the water-quality issues? adapt to higher temperatures. Most The Minnesota  E.coli bacteria in streams researchers think that wild fish A study by Maryland Department of  Excess sediment in streams populations (with varying genetic Department of Natural Natural  Concerns about agricultural irrigation impacts on makeup) can better adapt over time Resources biologists Resources stream flow. than domestically raised fish (who may highlights the detrimental (DNR), Trout VERMILLION RIVER WATERSHED be genetically very similar to one impact of development, loss Unlimited, and JOINT POWERS BOARD What are we (and partners) doing? another). of forest, and temperature the VRWJPO  to re-shape the river’s natural changes on brook trout, restored a Commissioner Mike Slavik, Chair curves, stabilize stream banks, vegetate banks to filter Maryland’s only native trout straightened (Dakota County) Do trout move to avoid pollutants, prevent flooding, and provide habitat. species. reach of the temperature increases?

Vermillion River Commissioner Tom Wolf,  Cost-sharing conservation buffers through federal and Investigators found that brown trout in “Over the last 30 years brook by re-shaping its Vice-Chair (Scott County) state programs. the Vermillion River move when trout numbers have declined natural curves  Piloting an irrigation scheduling program to provide temperatures exceed 20 degrees C. drastically in many Maryland and bends. The Commissioner Mary Liz Holberg, landowners with services of a University of Minnesota They move to areas where banks are streams and disappeared Otting site of Secretary/Treasurer Extension irrigation specialist to find optimal irrigation undercut and vegetation overhangs the completely from several the Vermillion (Dakota County) effectiveness. water, pools where cool groundwater streams in the rapidly River Aquatic seepage maintains the temperature,  Supporting partners’ stormwater management developing Baltimore Management and deep pools that stay cool despite projects at White Tail Woods County Park and metropolitan area,” said lead Area restoration surface temperature increases. Metropolitan Council Environmental Services Empire author Scott Stranko, a stabilized Wastewater Treatment Plant. biologist with Maryland DNR. stream banks There are several circumstances that and can prevent brown trout from escaping incorporated What can you do on the farm? high water temperatures, including: The study analyzed brook root wads and Vermillion River Watershed  Install a grassed waterway, a vegetated trout distribution and lunker Joint Powers Organization designed to move across farmland  Low water levels and restricted abundance data collect by structures for in- 14955 Galaxie Avenue without causing soil . water flow. If the trout is isolated the DNR’s Fisheries Service stream trout in a pond area within the stream Apple , MN 55124  Install water and sediment control basins to collect over the last three decades habitat. because of dry conditions or www.dakotacounty.us sediment and hold water until it seeps into the ground. against stream temperatures 952-891-7000  Keep livestock out of streams and properly manage barriers that prevent movement, it can’t move to cooler water. and land cover. For every manure to reduce bacteria loads.  Surges of heated stormwater from one percent increase in  Protect or restore wetlands to improve stormwater The Vermillion River Watershed large rainstorms falling on hot impervious land cover storage, pollutant removal, and resilience. encompasses an area of asphalt, concrete, or bare soil and (parking lots, roadways,  Use cover crops on cropland when the soil would approximately 335 square miles, running into the stream. The heat rooftops, etc.) in a stream’s including portions of two counties otherwise be bare to reduce erosion and runoff pulse may also come from a large watershed, the odds of and all or portions of 20 cities, pollutants. Common cover crops in Minnesota include storm spilling heated water from a brook trout survival towns, and townships. The main rye and other small grains. rate control pond into the stream. stem of the river begins in  Follow University of Minnesota Extension’s best  Chronic temperature stress. If the decreased by nearly 60 southeastern Scott County in New management practices for nitrogen use. trout has encountered increased percent. Market Township flowing east temperatures over a period of through central Dakota County, time, it may not have sufficient passing over a in the City Visit our website for more information: energy to move to a cooler spot. of Hastings, and then discharging www.vermillionriverwatershed.org to the both through a northerly flowing outlet near the City of Hastings as well as through a southerly flowing outlet near the City of Red Wing, Minnesota. 8/2016