Long Prairie River One Watershed One Plan Advisory Committee Meeting Report March 5, 2021 Attendees

Tad Erickson (Region 5), Chris Pence (BWSR), Chuck Parins (Morrison County), Todd Holman (The Nature Conservancy), Dan Disrud (MDH), Lance Chisholm (Morrison SWCD), Chris LeClair (Otter Tail County), Amy Kowalzek (Morrison County), Jerome Haggenmiller (Douglas SWCD), Ben Underhill (East Otter Tail and Wadena SWCD), Danielle Anderson (Douglas SWCD), Ken Hovet (Hartford Township), Adam Ossefoort (Todd County), Bonnie Finnerty (MPCA), Lewis Noska (Todd SWCD), Deja Anton (Todd SWCD), Mark Anderson (DNR), Rebecca Sternquist (Douglas County), Ted Gray (Long Prairie City Administrator), Moriya Rufer (Houston Engineering) Meeting Purpose

The purpose of this first Advisory Committee was mainly to get the group aquainted with one another and to share existing priorities from state agencies, counties, and Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs). The presentations given at the meeting are attached at the end of this report. Timeline

This graphic is a simplified version of the overall timeline. The detailed timeline with each committee’s schedule is included as a separate attachment. This timeline is a general guide, and the process can be adapted to fit as we go.

2021 2021 2021 October - January March - May June - September Actions, Issues Goals Administration

2022 2022 2022 April - June February - March July - September Formal Review of Internal Review of Final Plan Draft Plan Draft Plan

Advisory Committee Meeting Report | March 5, 2021 | Page 1 Presentations

Board of Water and Soil Resources Introduction (Chris Pence) The One Watershed One Plan program is a Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) program, but the result is a local comprehensive watershed management plan. BWSR’s role is to keep the process on track and make sure requirements are met. Brad Wozney’s role as Clean Water Specialist is to help with the technical analyses and data in the plan, Chris Pence’s role as the Board Conservationist is to assist with the planning process and administration.

Watch the BWSR videos for more detailed information about the program: https://www.bwsr.state.mn.us/one-watershed-one-plan-videos. One Watershed One Plan Program:

• Voluntary plan, not required • Noncompetitive funding comes as a result of a completed plan (from the Clean Water Fund) • Intended to replace county water plans over time • Timeframe is a 10-year plan • BWSR’s goal is to get all watersheds to have a comprehensive watershed plan by 2025 • This is a local plan that includes state priorities too, many times they align • This plan is not another layer of government and not intended to create a watershed district. Not meant to replace current governing structure (SWCDs and County boards). • Requires Prioritizing, Targeting, and Measuring Morrison County (Lance Chisholm) What do you feel are some of the top issues facing the Morrison County area of the Long Prairie Watershed?

• Addressing water level issues on the general development lakes • Maintaining and enforcing laws, rules and ordinances • Continued ACUB easement contributions? If not easement, SFIA participation. • Possible SSTS inventory on additional lakes in the area? • Forest health including habitat creation, controlled burning, buckthorn and oak wilt management • Aquatic Invasive Species awareness and encouragement of behavior changes to stop the spread • Water quality – Protect high quality, unimpaired lakes • Habitat loss. Conversion of forests to cropland. Keep forests-forests and ag-ag. This watershed is very diverse. For the watershed as a whole, our opinion for the top issues facing the watershed:

• Maintaining and enforcing laws, rules and ordinances • Water quality in general – restoring impaired rivers and lakes, protecting high quality lakes and rivers • Excess nutrients entering waterways and groundwater

Advisory Committee Meeting Report | March 5, 2021 | Page 2 • Excessive chloride entering waterways • Drainage management • Aquatic Invasive Species • Shoreline destruction through development, loss of native aquatic and terrestrial vegetation and grazing pressure • Increase restorative agriculture – cover crops, no till, grazing management, irrigation management • Habitat loss Current project:

• 1,500 acre easement by the Cushing Land Company An additional summary is included at the end of this report.

Douglas County (Danielle Anderson) Issues and Resources:

• Long Prairie River starts from Lake Carlos • Winona, Agnes, Henry – are impaired and are connected to the chain of lakes • Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) issues – zebra mussels, Eurasian watermilfoil. Douglas County is working with Lake Associations on those. • Douglas County Water Plan 4 priority concerns: 1. Development pressures and land use, first and second tier, subdivisions 2. Natural habitat destruction 3. Waste and stormwater management (all stormwater from Alexandria goes into Le Homme Dieu) 4. Water quality Otter Tail County (Chris LeClair) Otter Tail County has 10 watersheds, 62 townships, bigger than the state of Rhode Island, population (58,000) triples in summer, 1,049 lakes, 8% of the lakes in MN Lakes and groundwater focus 18 lakes in Long Prairie Watershed, 3 of those are impaired for nutrients (Nelson, Twin, Fish). Todd County (Deja Anton) Very active SWCD, good relationships with landowners. The Long Prairie Watershed makes up most of Todd County, there are not many lakes like Douglas and Morrison counties, but mostly agricultural land and rivers. Current projects:

• Large wetland restoration by Latimer Lake (SWCD, NRCS, USFWS, landowners) • Livestock exclusion fencing going up near Long Prairie River • Support of irrigation scheduler program • Always many projects going on

Advisory Committee Meeting Report | March 5, 2021 | Page 3 Impairments summary:

• E.coli in Moran and Eagle Creeks • Phosphorus in Latimer Lake • Long Prairie River – Dissolved Oxygen, Fish-IBI, Mercury • Fish-IBI in Harris and Venewitz Creeks Todd County Water Plan Priority Concerns

1. Sedimentation of the Long Prairie River 2. Groundwater recharge and DWSMA Protection 3. Chemical (and Nutrient) Pollution Control Conservation ethic is growing in the county, with more landowners interested in projects.

Additional Summary included at the end of this report. Other Issues and Priorities for the watershed An issue in Otter Tail County (around Parkers Prairie) is nitrates in groundwater. It had a higher occurance of nitrates during the township testing program. About half the township is in the Long Prairie watershed. Public surveys (Deja Anton) There are 256 survey responses so far and we’re aiming for 300 total. We’re keeping it open through the Public Kick-off meeting, then Deja will send out the final version to everyone. Douglas and Morrison – lakes are largest concern

Todd – groundwater and rivers are largest concern Landscape Stewardship Plan (Chris Pence) This effort will begin for the Long Prairie Watershed this spring. It is planning for forest resources on the major watershed level.

• Helps with prioritizing where to put protection activities in the watershed. • Helps target reforestation – where to add forest to the landscape. • Forest management, BMPs, private lands forest management. We’re currently identifying who will be on the local technical team. Meetings will likely be in April and May, and a plan by July. The Todd SWCD will be the lead for this plan. Other Updates

There is a current BWSR LCCMR Grant for central and northeast Minnesota Watersheds to incorporate climate resiliency and carbon sequestration into Forest Management. If funded, this could assist the Long Prairie Watershed in implementing forest management.

Advisory Committee Meeting Report | March 5, 2021 | Page 4 Visioning

The group was asked to brainstorm ideas to include in a shared watershed vision statement. They were asked to offer responses to the following questions:

“What is special or unique about the Long Prairie Watershed”

“What do you envision for the future of the Long Prairie Watershed” Responses Together we are going to create a comprehensive plan to include: restoration, protection and preservation of our watershed that is prioritized, targeted and measurable

Equitable to all stakeholders

Abundant water for safety, health and recreation. Western Headwaters of the Mississippi

On a major watershed boundary instead of traditional county boundaries. Provide the Long Prairie Watershed with the framework, policy and tools, developed in concert with stakeholders, to manage, secure and protect a reliable, long term statewide water supply while balancing conservation with economic growth.

Balancing conservation and different types of land use Clean, abundant water for recreation, and habitat In the framing perhaps a nod to the natural/geologic and cultural history and richness connecting people to the river over time and into the future Clean healthy water Preserve equal access to water resources Groundwater protection More green – particularly on the shores and riparian areas Value the economic base Don’t out pace what the community/culture is comfortable with Emphasis on the people is what I heard from them (Policy Committee) Safe, accessible, and cost-effective.

Might consider a comment regarding using a "science-based approach" Common sense approach- has to be realistic

Advisory Committee Meeting Report | March 5, 2021 | Page 5 MEETING REPORT ATTACHMENTS Long Prairie Watershed in Morrison County Watershed Basics:

• In Morrison County, there are six (6) major watersheds. The Long Prairie major watershed is located in the northwest portion of the County and encompasses 43,000 acres. In Morrison County, there are no significant tributaries to the Long Prairie River.

• The watershed lies within the hills of the St. Croix Moraine of the Superior Lobe. Along this stretch the Turtle, Moran, and Fish Trap Creek sub-watersheds join the Long Prairie River main stem from the east. Here, the St. Croix moraine creates a rolling to rugged landscape covered with lakes and forests. Many hills in this corner rise steeply from nearby lakes.

• City of Motley is the only municipality in the watershed. City population was 671 according to the 2010 census. The City has a wellhead protection plan approved by the Minnesota Department of Health.

• The mouth of the Long Prairie River is located just southeast of the City of Motley where it empties into the Crow Wing River.

• There are four General Development Lakes located in this portion of the watershed; Shamineau, Fish Trap, Alexander and Crookneck. These lakes have significant development and provide quality recreational opportunities. Over the past 50 or so years, shoreland in this area has been extensively developed into small lots and tracts for year-around and seasonal recreational uses. o All four lakes have Lake Associations and Lake Improvement Districts established and are very active. o Lake Shamineau is the County’s largest lake that has no outlet. o Issues and concerns from lakeshore property owners relating to lake levels. The lakes receiving the most numerous concerns included Alexander, Shamineau, Fish Trap and Crookneck. Based on the discussions with MN DNR staff and a review of the literature, precipitation is a major cause for lake level fluctuations in this area. In particular, Lake Shamineau has experienced considerable high-water levels with extensive flooding of lake shore properties.

Photo: Lincoln Lakes Area - Fish Trap Lake with its many bays and islands.

Photo: Lake Shamineau high water issues.

• The hills and lowlands of the St. Croix moraine landform that form the northwestern part of the County represent another important ecological setting. The mesic oak and aspen-birch forest canopies include red oak, paper birch, basswood, big-tooth aspen, and trembling aspen, punctuated by widely scattered white and red pines. This area includes a portion of Camp Ripley, the Lake Alexander Preserve (TNC), Lake Alexander Woods (SNA), other State lands and State of MN held conservation easement. These features support a diverse range of wildlife and is characterized by unfragmented forests. o Camp Ripley o Lake Alexander Preserve (TNC) o Lake Alexander Woods (SNA) o Other State Lands o Conservation Easements

Photo: Rolling hills where forests meet the lakes. Photo: Camp Ripley – Release of Golden Eagle

Photo: Lake Alexander Woods (SNA)

Protected Lands Within the Watershed:

• Camp Ripley 5850 • Compatible Lands (State & TNC) 4415 • Easement 4130 • SFIA 820 • Total: 15,215

EFFORTS IN THE WATERSHED

• Aquatic Invasive Species Planning.

• The Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) Easement Program.

• Lake Improvement Districting & Lake Association Establishment. High Water Levels on Lakes.

• BMPs for sealing abandoned wells and shoreline restorations.

• SSTS Inventory of Fish Trap Lake.

• Drainage Management Project (LCCMR) and Buffer Law.

• Wellhead Protection Plans for City of Motley.

• Shoreland ordinances and a comprehensive planning initiative to coordinate the Comprehensive Land Use Plan with the Local Water Plan to make sure land use decisions led to the protection and enhancement of natural resources.

• Geologic Atlas.

• Nitrate Testing of Well Water.

• 6th Grade Water Festival (Education).

• Lake and River Day (Education).

Photo: Shoreland Restoration Near Motley Lake Shore Nisswa

Lower Gull River

East Gull Lake

Crow Wing River - Motley to Mississippi

Baxter Brainerd

Motley

Pillager

Lincoln Lakes - Long Prairie River

Lower Nokasippi River

Camp Ripley

Fort Ripley

Harding

Randall Little Elk River

Mississippi River - Brainerd to Little Falls

Middle Platte River

Lastrup

Pierz

Little Falls

Flensburg

Headwaters Little Rock Creek

Sentinel Landscape Boundary ACUB Action Complete * Sentinel Landscape Boundary extended (section lines) Interested Landowner

Watershed Management Zones Not Ready to Action

Royalton ACUB Priority Area Other Protected/Compatible Lands

Camp Ripley Crane Meadows NWR (approved acquisition boundary)

County Boundary

0 1 2 3 4 5 10 NGMN-CRE SEPT 2019 Miles $ Long Prairie Watershed Summary of Concerns– February 18, 2021 MPCA Impairments from the 2016 Todd County Water Plan

Surface water listed under a Restore Classification: Lake Latimer Venewitz Creek Harris Creek Long Prairie River Surface waters listed as Protection Areas: Lake Charlotte Horseshoe Lake Dower Lake Turtle Lake

Priority Concern 1: Sedimentation of the Long Prairie River Encourage landowners and cities to adopt Best Management Practices (BMPs) of installing riparian buffers, erosion control and storm water control measures. Encourage practices such as contour cropping, grassed waterways, con- servation tillage and sediment basins to discourage further sedimentation. Limit sediment and nutrients in contrib- uting ditch water through installing upland practices. Discourage further channelization of ditches and waterways within the benefited area of the Long Prairie River. Work to develop a wetland inventory within the watershed to help identify, prioritize and restore wetland areas to help mitigate excess nutrient and water issues.

 There are 253 miles of county/ jurisdictional drainage ditches in the watershed.

 Agricultural Drainage is a significant concern under this priority, and since 2016, higher water flows in ditches due to precipitation and increased tiling projects have been anecdotally noted as a concern. Two of the largest de- mands on the Todd County wetland specialist position is ditch clean outs, improvements, and tiling reviews. In the development of the 2016 Water Plan, the committee stated that runoff from ag fields was a key focus area and that drainage should not be impacting downstream neighbors and landowners. In 2019, the committee sug- gested a focus on funding alternative designs for farmers needing drainage.

MORAN

EAGLE

HARRIS

VENEWITZ  In the 2015 Water Plan Survey, more than half of the respondents cited maintaining healthy soils was critically important to the economic base of Todd County. Healthy soils play a huge part in water quality. There are mass acres along the Long Prairie River particularly up through Hartford and Ward Townships where soil loss due to wind erosion is evident every year. Cover crops have increased over the years in these areas but much more needs to be done to prevent sedimentation of the Long Prairie River and to protect the soil base in Todd County. There has ben evidence of less marginal land being pulled out of cultivation in areas across Todd Coun- ty once the 2012 spike in commodity prices leveled out. To what extent, at this point is unknown.

 In 2019, the Water Plan Committee cited tree removal and manicured lawns was a huge problem not ad- dressed in riparian and shoreland areas.

 Todd County buffer compliance is now at 99% Priority Concern 2: Groundwater recharge and DWSMA Protection Work with cities to develop and maintain Drinking Water Supply Management Areas (DWSMAs). Work with land- owners within Wellhead Protection Areas to adopt BMPs for nutrient management and chemical applications, seal abandoned wells, close abandoned manure pits and upgrade failing septic systems. ^ In the 2019 Water Plan update, the closure of manure pits, many unpermitted and potentially dug to water table level, is a key BMP particularly in riparian areas. In 2020, there was a riparian pit closure in the watershed in which it was discovered was built into the water table back in the 1970’s.

 There are four DWSMAs in the watershed in Todd County– all with moderate to high sensitivities (Eagle Bend, Clarissa, Browerville, and Long Prairie).

 Sealing wells, particularly in DWSMA areas have become a primary focus for the Long Prairie and other well- head protection plans as well as Todd SWCD.

 Mining and gravel pits were brought up as a concern in the 2019 Water Plan Meeting.

 Lake Charlotte feeds at least two of the three main wells for the City of Long Prairie. Lake Charlotte is under a restore status for specific water quality standards. The Wellhead Protection Plan includes monitoring the city wells, Lake Charlotte, and the wetland near well #9 for nitrites and nitrates, ammonia, chloride, bromide, sul- fate, etc.. Volatile organic compounds (i.e. petroleum) will be sampled for wells 3B and 6.

 Irrigation wells need to be GPS-ed

 The Long Prairie Watershed holds the highest number of permitted irrigation wells in the County (156) drawing 94,530 gallons per minute for crop irrigation, city drinking water, industrial uses, food processing, and wastewater containment. Priority Concern 3: Chemical (and Nutrient) Pollution Control Encourage nitrogen and phosphorus reductions by adhering to nutrient and manure management BMPs. Encour- age landowners and cities to adopt BMPs of installing riparian buffers, erosion control and storm water control measures. Encourage contour cropping, grassed waterways, conservation tillage and sediment basins to discourage further sedimentation. Work with the cities of Carlos, Long Prairie, Browerville, Clarissa and Eagle Bend and indus- trial producers along waterways in controlling stormwater and/or retention pond overflows. Work with the City of Long Prairie to resolve contaminated sites within the city. Educate the public on the detrimental effects of degrad- ing wetlands and the role they serve. Educate the public on the use of tiling and effluents from them. Educate the public on the risks associated with chemical pollution particularly endocrine disrupting chemicals.  A Nutrient Management Planner has been hired for the region with an office at Todd SWCD.

 Salvage yard clean up was brought up as a concern under this category in the 2019 Water Plan Meting.

 It is likely the MDA will conduct further studies in the impact to wells within the Long Prairie Wellhead Protec- tion area by pesticides, particularly Atrazine and Cytosine.

 The City of Long Prairie will be conducting education on proper containment regarding underground storage tanks and spill response. In the past there was a big concern for leaks coming from a laundromat into the base- ments of nearly homes. It is also important to note that there is a Superfund site within the City of Long Prairie and treatments to groundwater occurs and is dumped in the Long Prairie River.

 Road salts and urban stormwater drainage was brought up as a concern in 2019 as well as industry permitted uses allowing discharge to the River. Long Prairie stormwater run-off drains to a grassed area along the Long Prairie River and Venewitz Creek.

 Todd County has roughly 1500 registered feedlots from small backyard chickens to large swine, poultry and cattle operations. The 2016 water Plan cites that there were 55,000 animal units within the Long Prairie water- shed alone with many of these being concentrated into six minor watersheds. Long Prairie 1W1P

Mark Anderson| Area Hydrologist

Water Quality

• WRAPS: Implement strategies identified in the existing WRAPS focusing on the high priority areas and high priority resources

• Forest management: Strengthen the watershed’s existing robust and successful partnership among all levels of government to promote forest stewardship. Promote the DNR Forest Stewardship Program, which helps woodland owners through advice, cost share programs and stewardship plans. Encourage use of the Voluntary Site Level Management Guidelines on state and private lands to further the 1W1P water quality goals.

• Agricultural BMPs: The watershed has extensive areas of highly erodible soil exacerbating sedimentation issues. Promote the establishment of cover crops in these areas. Additionally there are many acres of hybrid poplar plantings in the watershed. As these were planted on marginal soils, the soil protection will be lost after the stands are harvested, unless replaced with other cover crops. Shoreland and Riparian Zones

• Minnesota Buffer Law: The riparian buffers required by the law help filter out phosphorus, nitrogen and sediment. Continue to support county and SWCD staff in monitoring compliance with the buffer law and positive engagement with landowners. Look for additional opportunities to provide buffer incentives to private landowners on working lands through the RIM, CREP and CRP programs.

• Land use standards: Beyond enforcement of existing local shoreland and floodplain ordinances, consider adopting low-impact development standards and higher shoreland standards than the minimum in MN Rule 6120. DNR’s land use staff have resources describing higher standards and their benefits, such as the Innovative Shoreland Standards Showcase. Encourage a watershed wide septic inspection program to identify failing systems that are impacting water quality.

• Limit riprap to areas of excessive erosion: Promote natural shorelines using native plants for stabilization. When riprap is needed, promote native plantings interspersed in the riprap to protect riparian and shoreland habitat.

• Invasive species: Continue partnering with local organizations, LGUs and state and federal agencies to prevent the spread of invasive species. Flood Damage Reduction

• Floodplain connectivity at road-waterway crossings: The high density of road-waterway crossings in the watersheds calls for more attention to floodplain connectivity in designing and installing crossings. Specifically:

• When replacing culverts or other existing crossings, seek partnerships with state agencies to help maintain or increase connectivity. Encourage best practices recommended in DNR and DOT guidance, such as properly sized floodplain culverts.

• A recently completed DNR Evaluation of Hydrologic Change for the watershed highlights historical changes in hydrology, taking into account for example changes in land use (row crop vs. small grain) and precipitation trends. Increasing precipitation should be considered when designing crossings. Using DNR guidance and tools can help improve resilience to increasing precipitation.

• Complete culvert inventories throughout the watershed and consider utilizing MN DNR Culvert Inventory applications to help collect and store the data. Crossings & Connectivity

Ecological and Water Resource Division:

Crossings and connectivity

Altered watercourses

Water storage on the landscape Flood Damage Reduction

• Wetland restoration and protection: Encourage wetland restoration projects to provide storage and retention of flood waters. Preserving existing wetlands through continued enforcement of the Wetland Conservation Act is also paramount.

• Forest management: Implement forest management plans and projects to restore, enhance, or protect forested systems to catch large precipitation events by slowing runoff. Habitat and Outdoor Recreation

• Protecting, restoring, and enhancing habitat: Encourage the protection of the watershed’s native, rare and game species. Through education and informational signage, promote public recreation opportunities in and around lakes, streams, wetlands, riparian zones, and uplands in ways that enhance water quality and prevent invasive species.

• Lake Carlos State Park: This is a valuable environmental and economic resource for the watershed and all Minnesotans. Continue to protect and enhance this resource by focusing on land cover conservation practices in the surrounding areas. The Lake Carlos dam is in the process of being replaced, which will improve aquatic habitat connectivity.

• Long Prairie River Trail: Promote the water trail to help support local economies by pairing water recreation opportunities with access to local amenities. Expand opportunities for public water access, campsites and rest areas along the river, where feasible. Look for small acquisitions and partnerships to establish access and campsites along the route, designed to withstand visitor use without detrimental impacts to shorelines and water quality. Conduct a feasibility study for a new water access site near Motley. As public use increases, monitor sites for impacts. Thank You!

Mark Anderson [email protected] 320-232-1078