BALMM to meet Feb. 21 at MPCA Rochester office

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February 2018

BALMM to meet Feb. 21 at MPCA office in Rochester

The Basin Alliance for the Lower Mississippi in Minnesota (BALMM) will meet Wednesday, Feb. 21, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 18 Wood Lake Drive S.E., in Rochester, Minn.

Agenda as follows:

  • 9 a.m.: Karst Hydrogeology of Southeast Minnesota -  John Barry, hydrogeologist in the County Geologic Atlas program at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
  • 10 a.m.: Break
  • 10:30 a.m.: Economic Impact of Recreational Trout Angling in the Driftless Area - Duke Welter, outreach coordinator for the Driftless Area Restoration Effort of Trout Unlimited
  • 11:30 a.m.: Regional updates
  • Noon: Adjourn


DNR monitoring springs to better understand groundwater flow in southeast Minnesota karst

Continuous monitor in southeast MN spring/creek

Decades of collaborative work has greatly improved the understanding of groundwater flow in karst and pseudokarst aquifers in Minnesota. Most early work focused on inventorying the locations of karst features such as sinkholes, springs, caves, and sinking streams, along with determining groundwater flow direction, groundwater velocities, and delineating groundwater springsheds using dye tracing in the carbonate dominated Devonian and Ordovician rocks of southeast Minnesota.

In the last 10 years, many hydrologic investigations in southeastern Minnesota have focused on characterizing sinking streams, and groundwater flow directions and velocities in the St. Lawrence and Lone Rock Formations. Recent continuous monitoring of springs emanating from differing hydrostratigraphic units is adding to the understanding of groundwater flow in this area. John Barry, a hydrogeologist with the County Geologic Atlas program at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, will speak on this recent monitoring work at the Feb. 21 BALMM meeting.


At $1.6 billion a year, trout fishing quite a catch for Driftless Area economy

Trout streams of southeast Minnesota

With an economic impact of $1.6 billion a year, according to a recent study, trout fishing is quite a catch for the Driftless Area in southeast Minnesota and neighboring states. The study, conducted by Donna Anderson, economics professor at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, was commissioned by Trout Unlimited, an international cold-water conservation group.

The Driftless Area is a 24,000-square-mile region marked by deep river valleys, scenic coulees, springs and cold-water streams. “Driftless” refers to the fact that glaciers bypassed the area, meaning no “drift” of rocks, boulders, silt and other matter was left behind by retreating glaciers. Fishing is one of the most popular activities in this region due to the 600-plus spring creeks covering more than 5,800 miles.

The objectives of the study were to estimate the economic impact of fishing to the Driftless Area in 2015, summarize information on area angler demographics and opinions, and identify characteristics of a healthy “trout economy.”

It found the total economic impact of Driftless Area trout fishing was $1.6 billion in 2015, up from $1.1 billion in 2008.

"Healthy trout economies are comprised of a mixture of energetic private businesses, active non-governmental organizations and volunteers, and an effective government that all work together to make the most of the gift of miles of clear, cold trout streams," wrote Anderson, citing Viroqua, Wis. and the Preston/Lanesboro, Minn., area as examples.

The results were obtained from surveys returned by randomly selected trout stamp holders in Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota who lived outside the Driftless Area. Of the 2,000 mailed surveys, 310 were returned.

At the Feb. 21, BALMM meeting, Duke Welter, outreach coordinator for the Driftless Area Restoration Effort of Trout Unlimited, will present the study results.

See the full study report, "Economic Impact of Recreational Trout Angling in the Driftless Area," on the Driftless Area Restoration Effort website.


Federal funding round opens, $1.4 million expected for 2018.

The federal Clean Water Act Section 319 funding round is now open, with $1.4 million expected for grants to reduce water pollution. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) administers this program, which provides funding and technical assistance to groups and individuals who work with citizens to reduce non-point source pollution.

To be eligible, projects must be implemented in watersheds with a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by the close of the application period, which is March 2 this year. Projects may include conservation practices that directly reduce non-point source pollution, and any associated education or development activities.

Visit  the MPCA website for more information and application instructions.


Lottery funding round opens, $59 million anticipated

Environmental Trust Fund

The Legislative- Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources recently opened its funding round for projects of all sizes that aim to protect, conserve, preserve, and enhance Minnesota’s air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources. About $59 million is anticipated to be available for projects beginning July 1, 2019. Most projects funded are 2-3 years in duration. Applicants are encouraged to submit draft proposals by March 14 to receive staff feedback. Final proposals must be submitted online by April 11.

The funding derives from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, which is funded with Minnesota Lottery and investment proceeds. The commission is responsible for making funding recommendations to the Minnesota Legislature. 


Ag BMP loans expanded with focus on Gulf dead zone

hypoxia gulf of mexico

Under an agreement between the Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture (MDA) and the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program in Louisiana, eligibility for Agricultural Best Management Practices (AgBMP) loans in Minnesota will be expanded to include larger livestock operations.

With Minnesota’s formal recognition of the Barataria-Terrebonne management plan, eligibility will be expanded to include livestock operations holding National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits or those operations with more than 1,000 animal units.

The dead zone, an area with low to no oxygen that occurs in the Gulf of Mexico each summer off Louisiana and Texas, kills fish and other marine life that fail to move out of the affected waters. Last year, it spanned a record 8,776 square miles, about the size of New Jersey, researchers said.

Since its inception in 1995, the MDA AgBMP Loan Program has issued more than 13,000 low interest loans to Minnesota businesses and landowners financing over $220 million for projects addressing erosion, runoff, manure management, septic treatment, and drinking water problems.


Root River: Nearly 100% farmer participation yields 40+ conservation projects

Legacy Amendment

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) reports that their Root River Field to Stream Partnership with local farmers is reducing soil loss and protecting water quality. Nearly 100% of farmers in the Root River study area have participated in a field walkover to identify those areas most susceptible to sediment and nutrient loss. In just two years, more than 60%of those farmers have installed or fixed conservation practices in their fields to reduce these losses.

As a result of the field walkovers, a total of 40 new conservation projects have been completed with several more projects planned through 2019.

“This project exemplifies where local conservation partners like Soil and Water Conservation Districts excel,” said John Jaschke, BWSR executive director. “They know the landscape, understand the importance of agriculture to the local communities, and are able to make the connection between what the data is telling us, what is happening on the ground, and how to find solutions that work for everyone involved.”

The work is the result of strong relationships with area farmers and an intense surface and groundwater monitoring program. Seven years of baseline water quality data has allowed researchers to identify the critical timing of loss as well as the amount of sediment and nutrients leaving fields. Water quality measurements are taken at both the edge of agricultural fields and in nearby streams.

Monitoring will continue over the next several years to evaluate the effects of these conservation practices at both the field and small watershed scales.

Funding came from several sources, including the Legacy Amendment. For details, see the BWSR website.