Heron Lake Watershed District Annual Report 2013
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HERON LAKE WATERSHED DISTRICT ANNUAL REPORT 2013 WAATERSHEDTERSHED ASSSISTANCESISTANCE THHROUGHROUGH EDDUCATIONUCATION & REESOURCESSOURCES HERON LAKE WATERSHED DISTRICT 1008 3rd Ave., P. O. Box 345 Heron Lake, MN 56137 507-793-2462 or 1-888-878-4345 Fax 507-793-2253 Email address: [email protected] Web address: www.hlwdonline.org Meeting: 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. September through April; 8:00 p.m. May through August Table of Contents SECTION I: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................4 SECTION II: MISSION STATEMENT............................................................................................................................4 SECTION III: BOARD OF MANAGERS ........................................................................................................................4 SECTION IV: STAFF ..................................................................................................................................................4 SECTION V: CITIZENS’ ADVISORY COMMITTEE ..........................................................................................................5 SECTION VI: BMP IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM ........................................................................................................6 GENERAL OPERATING LEVY PROJECTS ...............................................................................................................6 CWP LOAN PROGRAM: HERON LAKE PHOSPHORUS REDUCTION PROJECT ............................................................6 EPA 319 GRANT: JACK AND OKABENA CREEK SEDIMENT REDUCTION PROJECT ....................................................6 CONSERVATION PARTNERS LEGACY GRANT: HLWD AQUATIC-UPLAND PRAIRIE RESTORATION..............................7 DNR AQUATIC HABITAT PROGRAM: HERON LAKE WATERSHED SHORELINE RESTORATION PROJECTS ...................7 LCCMR: HERON LAKE SEDIMENT AND PHOSPHORUS REDUCTION IMPLEMENTATION PROJECTS ...........................7 THIRD CROP PHOSPHORUS REDUCTION EFFORT ................................................................................................8 SUMMER INTERNS .............................................................................................................................................8 MINNESOTA ASSOCIATION OF WATERSHED DISTRICT’S PROJECT OF THE YEAR AWARD ....................................10 GRANT APPLICATIONS ..................................................................................................................................... 11 SECTION VII: SURFACE WATER MONITORING ......................................................................................................... 11 SECTION VIII: IMPAIRED WATERS AND TMDL ......................................................................................................... 12 EPA 319 GRANT: WFDMR TMDL IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT .............................................................................12 SECTION IX: REGULATORY AND PERMITS ............................................................................................................... 14 RULES AND REGULATIONS ...............................................................................................................................14 WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN .................................................................................................................... 14 SECTION X: FLOOD DAMAGE REDUCTION PROGRAM ............................................................................................... 14 CWP CONTINUATION GRANT: ALTERNATIVE TILE INTAKE COST-SHARE PROGRAM ............................................. 14 HERON MEADOWS .......................................................................................................................................... 14 SECTION XI: PUBLIC DRAINAGE SYSTEM MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ..........................................................................15 JACKSON COUNTY JUDICIAL DITCH (JD) #31 ................................................................................................... 15 JACKSON COUNTY JUDICIAL DITCH (JD) #30 ................................................................................................... 16 SECTION XII: CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS .................................................................................................... 16 2 SECTION XIII: EDUCATION ..................................................................................................................................... 17 EPA 319 GRANT: HERON LAKE SEDIMENT REDUCTION DEMONSTRATION PROJECT ............................................17 EPA 319 GRANT: FULDA PHOSPHORUS REDUCTION INITIATIVE ........................................................................ 18 NORTH CENTRAL REGION – SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION (SARE) GRANT: COVER CROP DEMONSTRATION PROJECT ............................................................................................................................. 20 CORN SYSTEMS COORDINATED AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM................................................................................ 21 NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION COVER CROP CHAMPIONS ...........................................................................21 WEBSITE ........................................................................................................................................................ 27 AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES PUBLIC EDUCATION MEETING .............................................................................. 27 EARTH DAY ..................................................................................................................................................... 28 5TH GRADE CONSERVATION DAY ..................................................................................................................... 28 NEWSPAPER ARTICLES .................................................................................................................................... 29 SOUTHWEST CIVIC ENGAGEMENT COHORT ON WATER QUALITY ...................................................................... 29 WATERSHED PROFESSIONALS NETWORK ......................................................................................................... 29 FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY NEWSLETTER ...................................................................................................... 29 MAJOR WATERSHED PROJECT.......................................................................................................................... 29 CITIZENS’ ADVISORY COMMITTEE ................................................................................................................... 30 OTHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES ............................................................................................................... 30 SECTION XIV: EVALUATION .................................................................................................................................... 33 EDUCATION .................................................................................................................................................... 32 SURFACE WATER MONITORING ........................................................................................................................ 33 BMP IMPLEMENTATION .................................................................................................................................... 34 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS .................................................................................................................. 35 FLOOD DAMAGE REDUCTION PROGRAM ........................................................................................................... 35 PERMITS AND NOTIFICATIONS ........................................................................................................................ 35 PUBLIC DRAINAGE SYSTEM MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ....................................................................................... 35 IMPAIRED WATERS AND TMDL ......................................................................................................................... 36 SECTION XV: 2014 FOCUS ...................................................................................................................................... 36 SECTION XVI: ACCOUNT BALANCES REPORT ........................................................................................................... 36 3 SECTION I: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SECTION III: BOARD OF MANAGERS Heron Lake and its watershed encompass many of the President Mike McCarvel has served on the board of man- same problems seen in other rural, agricultural areas in agers since 2000 and was appointed by the Nobles County Minnesota. Point and non-point source pollution, intensive Commissioners. His term ends February 24, 2015. Mike can tillage, non-compliant septic systems, feedlots, and urban be contacted at 35974 160th St., Brewster, MN 56119 or stormwater runoff are all problems that must be addressed. 507-842-5460. To work toward achieving the goals set in the Heron Lake Vice President Gary Ewert has served on the board of Watershed District (HLWD) Watershed Management Plan managers since 1995 and was appointed by the Nobles (WMP), a watershed approach was used to implement, County Commissioners. His term ends February 24, 2016. educate, monitor, and plan in 2013. This