RICHARD & RITA BENSON SHORELINE RESTORATION FACT SHEET

The Pope Soil and Water Conservation District applied for funding for a Shoreline Restoration grant through the Department of Natural Resources. The funding received was used to provide cost share and assistance in the establishment of shoreline restoration projects. The funding was limited to sites that do not require engineering and are simply re-vegetating the site.

The Benson project was one of three sites completed in 2014 by the Pope SWCD staff with oversight from the DNR. A total of 1,345 plants were used. The Bensons were concerned about a tree that was in danger of being lost. Two curlex blocks were used to create barrier between the lake and the tree in order to allow native plants and shrubs to establish and anchor the shoreline. The site was sprayed with Rodeo to kill the turf grass 10 days prior to planting. Coconut blanket was installed and the plants were planted into the blanket using a cordless drill. The landowners assisted in the planting to meet some of the in-kind match required.

SOUTH SHORE SUBWATERSHED PROJECT FACT SHEET

The Pope Soil and Water Conservation District worked with Houston Engineering to complete a Terrain Analysis study. This study identified high priority areas for sediment, phosphorus, and nitrogen contributions downstream to Lake Minnewaska. This lead to the targeting effort on the South Shore of Lake Minnewaska. The Pope SWCD and NRCS worked with 3 landowners to implement best management practices. The projects were designed by the West Central Technical Service Area Engineers and the NRCS Engineering staff. There were 10
water and sediment control basins, 1 grassed waterway, and 1 grade stabilization structure built in the spring of 2015. More projects are planned for fall construction on the North side of County Road 18.

Pope SWCD in partnership with the Chippewa River Watershed Project has been monitoring the downstream impacts prior and after the construction of these projects. The water quality impacts are due mostly to storm events. Recent storm events have shown secchi tube readings as low as 7. There are also flooding concerns along South Shore Drive. The installation of the BMPs will reduce peak flooding by an estimated 70-80%.

MINNEWASKA, PELICAN SUBWATERSHEDS TERRAIN ANALYSIS FACT SHEET

In 2013, Pope Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) received a grant through the Board of Water and Soil Resources to priortize projects and target implementation efforts using a GIS-based water quality analysis. The SWCD retained Houston Engineering, Inc (HEI) to perform the terrain analysis for the larger project. Initial work was completed by Peter Meade of Becker SWCD and Pope SWCD staff.

The project identified areas contributing relatively high amounts of sediment and nutrients downstream to Lake Minnewaska, Lake Malmedahl, Lake Pelican, and Lake Strandness which are all impaired waters and part of a study recently completed. The study identified these lakes as not meeting the state’s water quality standards. The project identified locations for potential projects based on the landscape, land use, and pollution loading data. This information has informed the Pope SWCD, NRCS, and other partners as to the areas with the highest priority for implementing projects that will have the highest economic benefit for the funding received in the grant.

The Pope SWCD and NRCS staff began to build relationships with producers in these sub watershed areas to complete projects in a treatment chain for the most impact to the downstream impaired water. Projects have been identified and are being designed for installation in 2014 and 2015.