Heron Lake Watershed District 10-Year Watershed Management Plan Cooperating organizations: Heron Lake Watershed District Houston Engineering, Inc. Effective January 1, 2012 – December 31, 2021 Table of Contents 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................... 8 1.1. The Watershed Act ....................................................................................................... 8 1.2. Summary of Watershed Management Plan Content ..................................................... 8 1.3. Description of the Planning Process ............................................................................. 9 1.4. Public and Agency Input Process and Issues .............................................................. 10 1.5. Consistency with Other Planning Documents ............................................................ 12 2. History of the Heron Lake Watershed District ........................................................... 13 2.1. Previous Planning Efforts ........................................................................................... 13 2.2. Heron Lake Watershed District Evolution since Establishment ................................. 13 2.3. Success of the 2001 Watershed Management Plan..................................................... 14 2.4. Review and Assessment of Existing Objectives ......................................................... 15 2.5. Mission Statement ....................................................................................................... 15 3. Watershed Setting ....................................................................................................... 17 3.1. Location, Size, and Subwatersheds ............................................................................. 17 3.1.1. Location and Setting ............................................................................................... 17 3.1.2. Size .......................................................................................................................... 19 3.1.3. Subwatersheds......................................................................................................... 19 3.2. Local Stakeholders ...................................................................................................... 21 3.3. Population ................................................................................................................... 21 3.4. Economy ..................................................................................................................... 22 3.4.1. Overview ................................................................................................................. 22 3.4.2. Agriculture .............................................................................................................. 22 3.4.3. Government............................................................................................................. 22 3.4.4. Services ................................................................................................................... 23 3.4.5. Transportation ......................................................................................................... 23 3.5. Physical Characteristics .............................................................................................. 23 3.6. Climate ........................................................................................................................ 24 3.7. Physiography............................................................................................................... 24 3.8. Geology and Geomorphology ..................................................................................... 25 3.9. Land Slope .................................................................................................................. 27 3.10. Soils............................................................................................................................. 27 3.11. Land Use and Cover Types ......................................................................................... 30 Heron Lake Watershed District Watershed Management Plan January 2012 - December 2021 Page 1 3.12. Land Ownership .......................................................................................................... 35 3.13. Natural Resources ....................................................................................................... 35 3.13.1 Important Wildlife Habitats ....................................................................................... 35 3.13.2 Fisheries ..................................................................................................................... 37 3.13.3 Rare and Threatened Resources ................................................................................. 38 4. Assessment of Existing Water and Water-Related Issues .......................................... 40 4.1. Range of Resource Issues ........................................................................................... 40 4.2. Priority Resource Issues .............................................................................................. 40 4.2.1. Water Quality .......................................................................................................... 40 4.2.2. Water Quantity and Flooding.................................................................................. 44 4.2.3. Drainage Systems and Natural Waterways ............................................................. 47 4.2.4. Biotic Habitat .......................................................................................................... 49 4.2.5. Wetlands ................................................................................................................. 49 4.2.6. Education ................................................................................................................ 51 4.2.7. Funding ................................................................................................................... 51 4.3. Financing District Operations ..................................................................................... 51 4.4. Priority Resource Issues Lead by Others .................................................................... 52 5. Goals, Objectives, and Actions ................................................................................... 53 5.1. Water Quality .............................................................................................................. 54 5.2. Water Quantity and Flooding...................................................................................... 55 5.3. Drainage Systems and Natural Waterways ................................................................. 56 5.4. Biotic Habitat .............................................................................................................. 58 5.5. Wetlands ..................................................................................................................... 58 5.6. Education .................................................................................................................... 59 5.7. Funding ....................................................................................................................... 60 6. Implementation Program ............................................................................................ 61 6.1. Overview ..................................................................................................................... 61 6.2. Work Plans .................................................................................................................. 62 6.2.1. Long-Range Work Plan .............................................................................................. 62 6.2.2. Annual and Short-Range Work Plans ......................................................................... 62 6.3. Implementation Program ............................................................................................ 63 6.3.1. General Operations ..................................................................................................... 63 6.3.2. Programs ..................................................................................................................... 64 6.3.2.1. Education Program...................................................................................................... 65 Heron Lake Watershed District Watershed Management Plan January 2012 - December 2021 Page 2 6.3.2.2. Water Quality Improvement Program ........................................................................ 68 6.3.2.2.1. Surface Water Monitoring ................................................................................... 68 6.3.2.2.2. Best Management Practices Implementation ...................................................... 69 6.3.2.2.3. Impaired Waters and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) ........................... 73 6.3.2.3. Regulatory and Permit Program .................................................................................. 74 6.3.2.3.1. Rules and Regulations of the Heron Lake Watershed District ............................ 74 6.3.2.3.2. Permits and Notification...................................................................................... 74 6.3.2.4. Flood Damage Reduction Program ............................................................................