The Clean Water Partnership (CWP) loan program helps restore lakes and streams in Minnesota, one project at a time. The program, administered by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), marked its biggest year ever in fiscal year 2020, awarding $8.75 million in no-interest loans. It’s been about 25 years since the program came close to that level, previously $7 million in the mid-1990s.

This program once awarded low-interest loans to local partners, such as cities, watershed districts and non-profit groups, to reduce non-point pollution, which is pollution from diffuse sources such as cropland runoff, urban stormwater and failing septic systems.

But as bank interest rates dropped to low levels over the years, the program had difficulty generating applications. Then program staff – Cindy Penny and Kurt Soular - proposed a change. Because previous recipients had paid back their loans with interest, the program had its own source of funding from the interest payments. In other words, MPCA staff had increased the funding available through good management and interest payments.

Their proposal: Loan the money out at no interest and use payments to keep the loan fund revolving.

They also proposed expanding the use of the loan funds for projects like wellhead protection, street sweepers, inflow and infiltration fixes, water softener removal, and streambank restoration.

“This is a great success story and we will keep it rolling. It was good before, but better now,” said Glenn Skuta, MPCA Watershed Division director.

The program is continuously open for applications, so local partners can apply at any time. Below is an example of how the program can quickly process an application and get the funds into the hands of local partners who can immediately implement their idea.

City of Edgerton

The City of Edgerton in southwest Minnesota recently applied to the CWP for a loan to purchase a street sweeper from the City of Luverne. This street sweeper is an upgrade for Edgerton and allows the city to clean their streets more quickly and efficiently than with the old sweeper. The application process was quick and easy, taking only three days from submittal of the application to receiving approval for the loan. 

By removing sediment, leaves, salt, and other debris from Edgerton streets, the city is helping to restore Chanarambie Creek. The creek is the headwaters of the Rock River, and a state study of the surrounding watershed recommends a 62% reduction of sediment to the stream. Edgerton estimates that it removes nearly 200 tons of sand, salt, dirt, leaves, grass and twigs from city streets each year. That’s 200 tons that does not go into the storm sewer system that drains to Chanarambie Creek. Street sweeping not only reduces the amount of sediment going to the stream, but also nutrients and other pollutants that may travel with the debris left on the streets.

See the Clean Water Partnership loans webpage for more information, or contact:

• Cindy Penny, 651-757-2099 or cynthia.penny@state.mn.us
• Kurt Soular, 651-757-2748 or kurtis.soular@state.mn.us

The Winnebago River Watershed in southern Freeborn County faces several water quality challenges, including high levels of algae and bacteria. Landowners and producers have implemented several practices to reduce those pollutants and improve water quality. And more are in the works, thanks to Freeborn County and its Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD).

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) recently completed two studies that show the Winnebago River Watershed suffers from extensive changes to its natural hydrology — artificial drainage — that have harmed fish and bug populations. None of the streams studied meet the state standard for aquatic life.

The Winnebago watershed is 688 square miles in size, with 71 square miles in Minnesota and the rest in Iowa. It includes the cities of Conger and Emmons in southern Freeborn County. The Winnebago chain of water resources starts with Steward Creek in Freeborn County, and ends when it flows into the Cedar River, which some downstream cities use as a drinking water source.

Because 85 percent of land in the watershed is used for agriculture, the Freeborn SWCD is working with landowners on:

• Better managing nutrient and manure application on agricultural fields
• Expanding the use of soil health practices
• Restoring wetlands to increase water storage
• Converting parts of existing ditches to two-stage ditches, which are more stable and decrease nutrient levels
• Ensuring septic systems and animal feedlots are not contributing bacteria to the watershed

Controlled drainage helps reduce erosion, provide water to crops when needed 

One SWCD project focuses on controlled drainage, a fairly new technology in agricultural conservation. Larry Bidne, who lives and farms near Emmons, recently decided that controlled drainage would be beneficial on a field he rents just west of Bear Lake. Controlled drainage is a great way to hold water in the soil profile and make it available to crops when needed.

It also helps protect water resources downstream by holding back water that could carry nutrients from fertilizer that grow algae, negatively impacting fish and other aquatic life along with recreation. Holding back water after storm events also helps mitigate high flows that can erode fields and streambanks. Erosion leads to sediment in the water, where cloudy conditions make it hard for fish and aquatic insects to find food, avoid predators, and perform other life functions.

The area near Bear Lake is very sandy, and the water table is regulated by the lake level. In a wet season, Bidne can hold back water with the controlled drainage system and reduce minor flooding that would otherwise hurt the crop. In a dry season, he can meter out the water to help the crop grow.

In this case, controlled drainage will help reduce nutrient and sediment pollution in Bear Lake, State Line Lake, the Winnebago River and water resources downstream in Iowa.

This is one example of how the SWCD works with landowners and farmers to implement BMPS that leave the land and water in better condition for generations to come.

See the full story on the MPCA website.

The relatively dry spring helped produced excellent water quality in many streams and rivers throughout Minnesota.  These conditions were good for fish, as well as fishing and other forms of river recreation. At right is an example: An angler caught a small-mouth bass in the Maple River in southern Minnesota when the water was clear.

One storm can change that. Heavy rains lead to runoff from farm fields, many of which are bare at this time of the year, as well as from paved areas in cities. The rain flushes pollutants from the landscape and raises stream levels. The results are erosive flows, higher levels of pollutants, and muddy waters.

For example, rains on May 16-17 led to higher levels of sediment in the Le Sueur River near Mankato, as shown in the sample bottles at right. The results before and after:

May 16

• Total suspended solids: 32mg/l
• Nitrate = 3.4 mg/l
• Phosphorus = 0.059 mg/l

May 17

• Total suspended solids: 1,100 mg/l (34 times higher)
• Nitrate: 11 mg/l (3 times higher)
• Phosphorus = 0.904 mg/l (15 times higher)

The Le Sueur is a tributary to the Minnesota River, which carries high sediment loads to the Mississippi and downstream. The Maple River referenced above is a tributary to the Le Sueur.

Catching that flush of pollutants is the job of the Watershed Pollutant Load Monitoring Network. This network of state and local partners monitor the quality of major rivers throughout Minnesota. Their work is important for detecting if water quality is getting better or worse; tracking the impact of restoration work; and identifying source of pollution, as well ways to reduce them.

Climatologists predict that heavy rains are becoming more common, making water retention even more important for keeping pollutants out lakes and streams. Practices that retain water include:

• Building soil health on cropland
• Planting cover crops
• Restoring wetlands
• Building water and sediment retention basins
• Planting rain gardens
• Planting buffers of native vegetation along lakes, streams and ditches

Learn more:

• What the MPCA is going to improve water quality
• Watershed pollutant load monitoring, including real-time data.

Defined by wooded bluffs and spring-fed cold-water streams, the Mississippi River-La Crescent Area Watershed in southeast Minnesota offers trout fishing and other recreation. The majority of streams in this small watershed – covering 95 square miles in Minnesota – meet water quality standards designed to protect fish and other aquatic species, according to two studies by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).

These reports, a TMDL study and a watershed restoration and protection strategy report (WRAPS), are open for public comment through July. 1. They provide information that will be used to develop local plans for implementing stream restoration and protection projects.

A portion of Pine Creek in Houston County has levels of bacteria and sediment too high to meet water quality standards. Bacteria can come from wastewater and manure, and can make water unsafe for swimming. Sediment, from erosion and runoff, can make the water too cloudy for fish to find food, avoid predators and perform other life functions.

Because nearly half of this watershed is forested, maintaining forestland is an important strategy for protecting the streams meeting standards. Forests soak up precipitation and hold soil in place, reducing runoff of pollutants. They also provide shading to help keep trout streams cool and provide habitat.

To reduce bacteria and sediment pollution in Pine Creek, the studies recommend several strategies, including the following:

• Increasing water storage through water and sediment control basins (watershed-wide) and soil health practices on agricultural fields. Holding back water helps reduce erosion and thus sediment in streams.
• Addressing failing septic systems, improving animal manure management and ensuring animal feedlot compliance, all of which help reduce bacteria levels in streams.
• Maintaining good pasture management and improving pasture management where needed.
• Continued implementation of the City of La Crescent’s stormwater program to reduce urban runoff.

The MPCA is asking for public comments on the two reports, which will be available on the MPCA web site. Mail or email written comments to Emily Zanon, MPCA, 18 Wood Lake Drive SE, Rochester, MN 55904 by 4:30 p.m. on July 1. Call her at 507-206-2613 for more information.

For not having its own distinct identity among Minnesota’s 80 major watersheds, the Hawk Creek Watershed Project could well be considered an overachiever in terms of water quality protection and improvement efforts.

Over the past three years Hawk Creek has captured more than 25 percent of state and federal grants and loans in competition with all other watersheds. Over a 20-year period it has turned $16 million in funds into more than 1,700 water quality projects.

Officially, the Hawk Creek Watershed is a part of the Yellow Medicine River Watershed. Both streams enter the Minnesota River almost across from the other about eight miles southeast of Granite Falls. Extending north from the Minnesota River, the Hawk Creek watershed drains major portions of Renville, Chippewa, and Kandiyohi counties.

The three counties created the Hawk Creek Watershed Project in 1997 for:  “improving the water quality/quantity issues in the watershed, while also promoting a healthy agricultural, industrial, and recreational-based economy for the region.” In 2013, the counties formalized the organization in a joint powers agreement.

Under the state’s new One Watershed One Plan approach, this work is now organized by the natural boundaries of watersheds rather than county boundaries. Previously, counties developed their own water plans. The Hawk Creek Watershed Project is well-positioned to inform the new approach.

Currently, the watershed manages about $2 million in active grants. Most of that money goes for installation of water quality projects, such as buffer strips, bank stabilization, water storage, and education and outreach. Staff also monitor water quality and pesticides at a total of 36 sites in four watersheds among eight counties.

Fortin Consulting is hosting a two-day live streamed event all about chloride. The first day, Aug. 4, will focus on water softening, fertilizers and dust control. The second day, Aug. 5, will focus on the latest research and technology related to winter maintenance.

Both days, content will stream from 7:30 a.m. to about 3 p.m.

In addition, the MPCA will be hosting two free smart salting certification training sessions online on Aug. 6. 

Aug. 4 New Directions in Chloride

Keynote speakers 

• Minnesota's Chloride Sources - Alycia Overbo, Minnesota Department of Health
• Rolling out the Minnesota Chloride Management Plan - Brooke Asleson, MPCA

Presentations

• Chloride and wastewater treatment Plants - Scott Kyser & Elise Doucette, MPCA
• Reducing Chloride by Incentivizing Home Water Softener Improvements: Municipal Case Study - Emily Jones, Madison Metro Sewerage District
• Low Salt Diet: Process and Public Relations Challenges of Reducing Chlorides with Lime/Soda Ash Softening - John Graupman, Bolton and Menck 11:30
• The Water Softening Industry and Chloride Reduction - Scott Schiesser, Minnesota Water Quality Association
• Chloride Moving from Fertilizer through Soil - Aicam Laacouri, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
• Is application of potash having a negative impact on crops in Minnesota? - Daniel Kaiser, University of Minnesota
• Simple Steps to Reduce Lawn Fertilizer Use - Carolyn Dindorf, Fortin Consulting, Inc. 
• Enhanced Dust Palliatives - Achieve More with Less - Steve Clark, Envirotech Services

August 5th - Snow and Ice Management

Keynote speakers

• Minnesota's Chloride Sources - Alycia Overbo, Minnesota Department of Health
• Rolling out the Minnesota Chloride Management Plan - Brooke Asleson, MPCA

Presentations

• Bringing Smart Salting to a Different Audience - Property Management - Claire Bleser, PhD, Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District
• Getting the Most out of your Spreader Controls and Truck Telemetry - Andy Kietzmann, Force America, Inc. & Andy Kraemer, Hennepin County Highway
• How Deicing Chemicals are Changing Landscapes; What Tactics Lessen the Damage - Gary Johnson, University of Minnesota
• New Liquid Spread Pattern - Jeff Vanderzwaag & Robert Ellis, Iowa Department of Transportation
• Different Perspectives on Lowering salt use by ramping up liquids - (Jordan Smith, Smith Lawn and Landscaping; Craig Eldred, City of Waconia; Kris Holzknecht, Anoka County Highway Department; Christopher Cheney, Minnesota Department of Transportation).

Register
Check here for more information and/or to register. For questions about the event or registration, contact Doug Klimbal. For questions about billing, contact carolyn@fortinconsulting.com, 612-220-4999.

Certification training
Two free certification training sessions (Roads/Parking Lots and Sidewalks) will be presented online Aug. 6. Check the online schedule for more information about these sessions.