DRAFT 2016-2026 Wadena County Local Water Resource Management Plan Wadena County 2016-2026 Local Water Management Plan Leaf River July 2015 Prepared by: Wadena County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Wadena County Water Plan Task Force 1 DRAFT 2016-2026 Wadena County Local Water Resource Management Plan CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY………………………………………………………………...…………6 Plan Purpose ..................................................................................................................................15 Description of Priority Concerns ................................................................................................16 Summary of Goals and Objectives .............................................................................................17 Consistency with Other Plans .....................................................................................................20 ASSESSMENT OF PRIORITY CONCERNS…………………………………………………...21 Priority Concerns Identification .................................................................................................21 Priority Concern – Surface Water ...............................................................................................21 Objective A: Remove the Wadena County impaired waters from the 303(d) list ............................. 21 Objective B: Implement land use practices and best management practices (BMPs) ....................... 26 Objective C: Minimize soil erosion and runoff .................................................................................... 29 Objective D: Protect Wadena County’s important wetland resources ............................................... 30 Objective E: Provide education to increase public awareness of surface water issues ..................... 32 Objective F: Expand data collection and monitoring in Wadena County .......................................... 33 Objective G: Enhance shoreland and lake management ..................................................................... 35 Priority Concern – Groundwater Quality ..................................................................................36 Objective A: Coordinate with the Wadena County Planning and Zoning Department to upgrade failing septic systems ............................................................................................................................. 36 Objective B: Coordinate groundwater monitoring activities with other agencies and individuals 38 Objective C: Seal priority unused or abandoned wells in Wadena County ...................................... 43 Objective D: Assist with implementing wellhead protection (WHP) plans for public water suppliers in Wadena County ................................................................................................................. 44 Objective E: Provide education and technical assistance to producers on implementing best management practices (BMPs) .............................................................................................................. 46 Objective F: Implement feedlot best management practices (BMPs) ................................................. 47 Objective G: Provide high quality information to decision makers, natural resource professionals, and the public ......................................................................................................................................... 49 Objective H: Implement land use practices and best management practices (BMPs) ...................... 50 2 DRAFT 2016-2026 Wadena County Local Water Resource Management Plan Priority Concern – Groundwater Quantity ...............................................................................53 Objective A: Coordinate with other agencies on countywide groundwater monitoring efforts ..... 53 Objective B: Provide high quality information to decision makers, natural resource professionals, and the public ......................................................................................................................................... 55 Objective C: Implement conservation tools and technical assistance for irrigation users ................ 55 Objective D: Maintain adequate groundwater resources for public water suppliers in Wadena County ..................................................................................................................................................... 58 Objective E: Support sustainable development and management of groundwater supplies .......... 60 Priority Concern – Habitat ...........................................................................................................61 Objective A: Provide technical assistance and cost share to increase high quality wildlife habitat 61 Objective B: Provide education opportunities on the management of natural resources ................ 64 Objective C: Protect existing high quality habitat................................................................................ 65 Objective D: Promote riparian and shoreline buffers along all waters in Wadena County ............. 70 Objective E: Provide conservation practices that promote land use decisions compatible with habitat protection ................................................................................................................................... 72 Objective F: Promote the importance of controlling invasive species and protecting endangered species habitat ......................................................................................................................................... 74 IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY………………………………………………………….……76 SURFACE WATER ....................................................................................................................76 GROUNDWATER .....................................................................................................................79 HABITAT ...................................................................................................................................83 IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY TABLE……………………………………………………..92 APPENDICES A – PRIORITY CONCERNS SCOPING DOCUMENT B – INDIVIDUAL MINOR WATERSHED MAPS 3 DRAFT 2016-2026 Wadena County Local Water Resource Management Plan LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Political Boundaries of Wadena County and Municipalities ...................................... 6 Figure 2. Watershed Boundaries and Water Features in Wadena County ................................ 8 Figure 3. Outstanding Water Resources in Wadena County .....................................................10 Figure 4. Ecoregions of Central Minnesota .................................................................................11 Figure 5. Land Cover in Wadena County ....................................................................................12 Figure 6. Soil Drainage Classes in Wadena County ...................................................................13 Figure 7. Soil Types and Aquifers in Wadena County ...............................................................14 Figure 8. Summary of Goals and Objectives ...............................................................................17 Figure 9. Impaired Waters in Wadena County ...........................................................................23 Figure 10. E. coli and Nutrient Impairments with Animal Units in Wadena County .............25 Figure 11. Disturbed Land in Wadena County ...........................................................................28 Figure 12. Wetland Abundance in Wadena County ...................................................................31 Figure 13. Rain Gardens at the Wadena County Fairgrounds ...................................................32 Figure 14. Water Quality Monitoring Stations in Wadena County ...........................................34 Figure 15. Groundwater Sensitive Minor Watersheds in Wadena County ..............................37 Figure 16. Groundwater Nitrate Values in Wadena County .....................................................40 Figure 17. Aquifer Vulnerability in Wadena County .................................................................42 Figure 18. Photos of Priority Abandoned Wells .........................................................................43 Figure 19. WHP and DWSMA for the City of Wadena ..............................................................45 Figure 20. Guided Basal Stalk Sampling ......................................................................................47 Figure 21. Animal Units by Minor Watershed in Wadena County ...........................................48 Figure 22. Education Opportunities in Wadena County ............................................................49 Figure 23. Private Forest Conversion Risk in Wadena County .................................................52 Figure 24. DNR Observation Wells in Wadena County .............................................................54 Figure 25. Permitted Water Use in 2014 in Wadena County .....................................................57 Figure 26. Drinking Water Managed Areas in Wadena County ...............................................59 Figure 27. Terrestrial Habitat Quality by Minor Watershed in Wadena County ....................63 Figure 28. Youth Education in Wadena County .........................................................................65 Figure 29: Percent Protected Land of Minor Watersheds in Wadena County .........................67 4 DRAFT