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June 2022
Watershed planning
2022 survey participants give another thumbs up to connecting WRAPS, 1W1Ps
Survey results from 2019-2022 have shown that the products of the WRAPS process, including these three key reports, have received high scores for their usefulness in 1W1P development.
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Just how useful are the products of the watershed restoration and protection strategies (WRAPS) process in helping local partners develop the water-quality elements of comprehensive watershed management plans (also known as One Watershed One Plans, or 1W1P)? The MPCA seeks to answer this question in an annual survey of local government and state agency partners who worked together on advisory committees to develop 1W1Ps approved in the previous year. Over the past four annual surveys, the MPCA has gathered input on all 24 plans approved by the Board of Water and Soil Resources through the end of 2021.
The most recent results were largely consistent with past surveys. Respondents continue to find products of the WRAPS process very useful to their local planning efforts.
The 2022 survey covered the five plans approved in 2021: Bois de Sioux and Mustinka, Two Rivers Plus, Sauk River, Mississippi Headwaters, and Greater Zumbro. Forty-four survey responses were received this year, including 22 from local government, 18 from state agencies, and 4 other local partners.
Here are some key results:
• 91% of all survey responders (including 95% representing local government)
agreed that the five 2021 approved plans were consistent overall with the
WRAPS on addressing water quality concerns in their watersheds, and in
informing the goals and priorities of 1W1Ps.
• The individual products of the WRAPS process had a range of usefulness for
informing the five 2021 approved 1W1Ps, with the WRAPS report (84%),
TMDL report (79%), Stressor Identification (84%), and monitoring and
assessment (86%) receiving the highest level of agreement
from respondents.
• Overall, in the 24 1W1Ps surveyed over the last four years, there was
consistently a high level of agreement among local government responders
that the WRAPS products are valuable in guiding the water-quality elements
of approved 1W1Ps.
“The survey’s results underscored how important and useful it is that the MPCA provide timely and relevant scientific information for local planning,” said MPCA Water Division Director Glenn Skuta. “We received valuable input over the past four years, and this will help us as we work with local partners to target our products to their specific water quality needs in future WRAPS updates.”
For a complete summary of all results for the 2022 WRAPS-1W1P survey, contact Jeff Risberg at jeff.risberg@state.mn.us.
Heather Johnson new MPCA South Watershed Section manager
Heather Johnson joined the MPCA in late May as South Watershed Section Manager out of the St. Paul office. Her work includes managing staff located in Mankato, Marshall, Rochester and St. Paul offices who work on WRAPS, TMDL development, biological stressors, Clean Water Partnership loans, Section 319 grants and supporting One Watershed One Plan. The areas covered include the Minnesota River, Missouri River, Des Moines River, Cedar River, Lower Mississippi River and watersheds in the Twin Cities Metro Area.
Most recently she was at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture where her work focused on report writing/editing, multiple interagency coordination efforts, as well as leading a variety of special projects including developing plans to monitor and then analyze data pertaining to the corn herbicide cyanazine (last used 20 years ago but breakdown products are now being found at levels over health risk limits in peoples private drinking water wells in multiple counties in the state). She was also Supervisor of the Monitoring and Assessment Unit for several years.
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Section 319 Small Watersheds Focus program names six organizations moving to next step in funding process
The federal Clean Water Act Section 319 program provides funding to address nonpoint source pollution loading. In Minnesota, the 319 program is managed by the MPCA. The Section 319 Small Watersheds Focus program was created to administer the implementation grants by funding plans for small-scale watersheds.
The MPCA recently prioritized six organizations for funding from the program's Focus Group D (listed below) using the Funding Principles and Selection Criteria developed for the program. The organizations and partners will work with the MPCA to next develop a nine key element (NKE) plan to qualify for funding in FFY 2023.
Watershed Organization Region
Green Lake/
Chisago Chain of Lakes Chisago SWCD East Central
Necktie River Hubbard SWCD North Central
Middle Fork Crow R. Middle Fork Crow River WD North Central
Wells Creek Goodhue SWCD Southeast
Blackduck River Red Lake Nation DNR Northwest
Hay Creek Roseau River WD Northwest
EPA releases nonpoint source watershed projects data explorer
The EPA has launched a web mapping application to explore nonpoint source (NPS) watershed projects throughout the nation. The app contains information on the location of implemented NPS projects, how Section 319 grant funds are used, and progress toward meeting pollution reduction goals. |
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Sturgeon spawning in Red River Basin first time in 100 years
Sturgeon spawning he first verified spawning of lake sturgeon in the Red River Basin in 100 years is happening this spring in the Otter Tail River Watershed. The decline and eventual extinction of sturgeon in the basin between 1880 and 1930 was due to several factors, including habitat fragmentation caused by the building of dams and other barriers to fish passage.
The Otter Tail River Watershed WRAPS report summary covers efforts to improve habitat for fish communities, including the removal of dams and other barriers. Four additional dam removal projects are proposed for the Pelican River subwatershed (including the dam next to Pelican Rapids’ iconic Pelican Pete) which would make the Pelican River free of any major fish barriers.
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Extreme weather event impacts
Wet spring raises issue of wastewater overflows, bypasses
This year’s wet spring drew attention to the increased number of extreme weather events we have been experiencing in Minnesota, in some cases leading to emergency overflows, release and/or bypasses of partially or untreated wastewater to nearby surface waters. During the recent Legislative session, the MPCA introduced for the second time a measure that would require facilities to notify downstream users when these events occur. Find more details in this recent On Point newsletter article.
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MPCA: One in four Minnesota communities do not have plans to address extreme weather caused by climate change
Preliminary survey results from cities, counties, and tribal nations show a quarter (25%) of Minnesota communities do not have plans to address extreme weather caused by climate change. Additionally, only 12% of survey respondents have a standalone climate adaptation or resiliency plan. This data was collected through the 2022 Climate Adaptation Survey, which received responses from 380 local governments across every region of the state.
The most striking response in this year’s survey is that 87% of local governments reported recently experiencing the impact of at least one weather trend caused by climate change. Read more here.
More new algal blooms predicted in time for upcoming July 4th weekend
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