New WRAPS Cycle: Clean Water Council Update

Minnesota Clean Water Council sent this bulletin at 08/24/2023 07:00 AM CDT

New WRAPS Cycle Begins

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has begun an ongoing review of water quality work done over the last decade for each watershed in the state.

The MPCA and its partners systematically evaluate waters in each major watershed in Minnesota every 10 years. This process begins with comprehensive lake and stream water quality and biological monitoring. Once completed, the MPCA and its partners assess the monitoring data to determine if the water bodies meet state water quality standards.

The first round of watershed monitoring and assessment is complete, providing a baseline for determining where waters need protection and restoration. The Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) document uses the monitoring and modeling data, along with information from TMDL studies in the watershed, and develops ideas for local strategies needed on the ground to protect and restore waters. This informs local water planning and a One Watershed One Plan (1W1P) to target local implementation activities in order to see improvement in water quality. The MPCA is returning to watersheds to complete the second round of watershed-based lake and stream monitoring, which includes biological, fish contaminant, water quality, and pollutant load sampling. This monitoring is essential to measure progress in restoring and protecting lakes and streams.

The MPCA then produces a revised WRAPS, and the map above shows their progress. Updates have now been approved for the North Fork Crow River and Sauk River Watersheds.

Upcoming Meetings & Project Updates

Upcoming Meetings

Full Council: The next meeting is Monday, September 18th (Topics: Clean Water Fund use in the metro, followed by field tour on Tuesday, September 19th. The packet from the August 21st meeting (topics: strategic planning) has been posted at our web site.

Policy Committee: The next meeting is Friday, August 25th via Webex only. (Topic: First draft drainage policy statement.) The June 23rd and July 28th meetings were cancelled. The packet from the May 19th meeting (topics: drainage) has been posted at our web site.

Budget & Outcomes Committee: The next meeting is Friday, September 8th (topic: TBD). The packet from the August 4th meeting has been posted.

Updates on Projects Supported by the Clean Water Fund

MPCA Smart Salting News - Summer 2023: Features include an update to the Smart Salting Tool, the new Low Salt No Salt Minnesota program from the Hennepin County Chloride Coalition, the latest Smart Salting training tool, and loans for small businesses to upgrade equipment for chloride reduction.

Grass Lake restoration near Willmar proves its worth in habitat, stormwater, water quality - West Central Tribune: "After 29 years, the restoration of Grass Lake east of Willmar is providing habitat for waterfowl, turtles and frogs, as well as improving stormwater management and water quality....According to the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources October 2020 Snapshots newsletter, the project cost $5.5 million — $2.5 million for easement acquisitions and $3 million for vegetation and restoration. A Minnesota Clean Water Fund grant for $250,000 was received for the project in 2020, which was for riparian easements and restoration." Estimated phosphorus reductions are about 91%.

Stearns County Feedlot Fixes - BWSR YouTube Channel: Kevin and Shirley Klaphake are among the Stearns County livestock producers within the Sauk River watershed who have installed new manure storage solutions and adopted management plans that curb runoff and benefit water quality in the nutrient-impaired Sauk River Chain of Lakes. The $1.9 million endeavor, led by Stearns County SWCD and NRCS staff, leveraged Clean Water Funds from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources, and assistance from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. SWCD and NRCS staffers saw the Klaphakes’ recently constructed, 56-by-96-foot stacking slab in September 2020.

Other Relevant Water News

Wild Rice Sulfate Standard Implementation Changes to Material Reviews and Final Meeting Date: The MPCA is extending and coordinating the review time to provide feedback on all written materials through Sept. 4, 2023. Due to the extended review, the agency is moving the final informational meeting from Sept. 6, 2023, to Sept. 27, 2023.