2015 Annual Report for Cedar River Watershed District

1408 21st Ave. NW Austin, MN 55912 507-434-2603

www.cedarriverwd.org

REVIVING OUR RIVER

Project map for five-year CIP initiative.

2015 Annual Report ‘Partnerships to Progress’ CRWD partners for help in launching nearly $8 million, 25-project initiative for water quality and reduced flooding.

Long-time SWCD manager Nordby retires; Hanson takes helm After nearly three decades of conservation service and leadership, CRWD Administrator Bev Nordy retired in November.

Nordby served since 1989 as manager of the Mower Soil & Water Conservation District (which is contracted to conduct the CRWD’s work) after starting as a part-time bookkeeper for Mower SWCD. When the state formed the CRWD in 2007, Nordby became administrator for the new watershed district focused on improving water quality and reducing flooding.

“We’re very progressive here but we’re progressive because of the board and the staff that worked with me,” Nordby said. “We push ourselves and it’s been quite a ride.”

Bev Nordby and Justin Hanson Photo by Austin Daily Herald

trator for neighboring Turtle Creek Watershed District.

Justin Hanson, the resource specialist for Mower SWCD since Also in 2015, CRWD/SWCD added three new hires: Steve 2004, was chosen to replace Nordby as Mower SWCD’s man- Lawler, resource specialist; Aaron Gamm, district technician; ager and the CRWD administrator. He also served as adminis- and Tim Ruzek, water plan and outreach coordinator.

Cedar River Watershed District’s purpose is to reduce flooding and protect and improve water quality in the streams.

CRWD Board of Managers

CRWD/SWCD staff

Justin Hanson Administrator

Jeanne Crump Admin. Assistant

Cody Fox

Project Manager

James Fett

Watershed Tech

Seven members appointed by county boards for staggered three-year terms.

Four representatives from Mower; one each from Dodge, Steele and Freeborn counties.

Pictured (L to R):

Jim Gebhardt (Mower) Mike Merten (Mower) Kevin Kiser (Dodge) Jason Weis (Mower) Steve Kraushaar (Freeborn) Sue Olson (Mower) Not Pictured:

Tim Ruzek

Public Outreach

Aaron Gamm District Tech

Steve Lawler

Resource Specialist

Larry Callahan District Tech

Mike Jones (Steele)

From the Chair...

Improving the quality of our local waterways and reducing the Penkava-Ault project north of Austin recently highlighted by severity of their flooding is a substantial undertaking requiring the Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources particularly for its strong partnerships in addressing a complex and suba broad network of partnerships. stantial project.

Progress is being made in both of these focus areas thanks to CRWD remains committed toward working aggressively to the Cedar River Watershed District’s many partners and our construct or support a variety of practices and projects, such communities’ strong interest in improving the Cedar River as wetland restoration and stormwater retention ponds, that State Water Trail and other local streams. This led to a busy 2015 construction season that easily will be topped in 2016 by capture runoff from farm fields, reduce soil erosion and protect our streambanks and waterways. many more projects.

In 2015, the CRWD continued to strengthen our partnerships in a significant way. A historic $3.2 million grant was awarded

by The Hormel Foundation to the CRWD for an aggressive, five -year Capital Improvement Plan initiative targeting 25 projects in the watershed for water retention. Austin Vision 2020 Waterways made the funding request to the Foundation to help make a substantial improvement in water quality while also reducing flooding.

This year, make sure you get out and explore the beautiful and historic Cedar River State Water Trail. We have an outstanding natural resource right here, and the CRWD’s efforts in recent years have made it even better.

Our CRWD staff’s work continues to be innovative and a statewide example of doing things right, as shown by the

Jason Weis, Chair (2015) CRWD Board of Managers

Historic partnerships lead to ‘monumental’ year for CRWD

tion benefits along with water treatment capabilities to address excess nutrient runoff.

Water quantity and quality have been long-time challenges to the Cedar River and its contributing streams.

By Justin Hanson, CRWD Administrator

The Cedar River and all who enjoy this tremendous resource experienced a monumental year in 2015.

In August, The Hormel Foundation announced it would invest $3.2 million toward water-resource improvement projects for the Cedar River and its tributary streams.

This historic partnership and project was born from the Austin Vision 2020 Waterways Hanson Committee’s initiative to address waterquality needs of the Cedar River, one of Minnesota’s state water trails. Vision 2020 volunteers challenged the CRWD staff to “think big” and focus on the long term for capitalimprovement projects that will provide permanent benefits to the Cedar River Watershed.

Under the initiative, nearly $8 million of 25 capital improvement projects are targeted for the next five years in the watershed’s priority areas. The projects will provide flow deten-

On behalf of the CRWD Board of Managers, we want to thank our communities in Mower, Freeborn, Dodge and Steele counties for their support, and we look forward to continuing to “Revive Our River.”

CRWD staff intend to implement projects that address both issues. This will assist in the long-term challenge of watershed management for healthier streams and less flood damage.

River and Dobbins Creek at their Entering 2016, CRWD is work- Cedar confluence in Austin’s Driesner Park. ing to secure another $3.2 million in match funding. Recent state grants have provided about $1.1 million toward that match for projects to get started this year but more funding is being requested through this year’s state bonding bill.

CRWD will continue to pursue project matches from state and federal resources.

Photo by Austin Daily Herald

Accelerated funding: Five-year initiative to improve our waterways Stepping up to the next level to preserve and enhance the area’s natural resources As a result of the Cedar River Watershed District’s efforts and our community’s support, the Cedar River has seen marked improvement in water quality over the past decade.

To realize our goal, however, of reviving our river and streams along with providing long-term flood protection to our communities, we need to start work on a long “To Do” list. The CRWD in 2015 formed a Top 25 project priority list.

They range in size, complexity, and location, but generally relate to

stormwater detention, ravine stabilization, and flood-risk reduction.

erosion in ravines. This eroded material — often rich in nutrients — eventually makes its way into area lakes and Water detention/treatment streams. The result is decreased water Water detention and treatment is done by quality. Ravine stabilization often is done with turf-reinforcement mat, which also creating a basin or pond at a strategic location often adjacent to ditches, rivers, prevents further erosion. streams, lakes or bays. Basins collect and Flood-risk reduction treat stormwater runoff from drainage The CRWD’s goal is to reduce peak flood areas and release it at a slow, controlled rate to reduce flooding and downstream flows by 25 percent. To achieve this, the CRWD plans to build control structures erosion as well as remove sediment and with berms at hundreds of locations debris from inflows. (five are priority projects). These structures will detain flood waters, Ravine stabilization reducing potential damage to Stormwater runoff can cause significant downstream crops and buildings.

Implementation after prioritization Having identified the projects necessary to maintain and improve the water quality of the Cedar River State Water Trail and its tributaries as well as reduce flood risks in nearby communities, CRWD is ready to take the next step: implementation. Matching state funds are being pursued in 2016.

Enacting CRWD’s Capital Improvement Project Engineering technician Cody Fox will lead the CIP initiative: •

Managing CIP and target priority projects.

•

Facilitating cooperation and negotiating terms Fox and contracts with landowners to implement District projects.

•

Using geographic information system (GIS) software to develop a mapping database for projects.

•

Providing survey and design assistance.

•

Coordinating design and concept plans with CRWD’s engineer.

•

Communicating project details to appropriate agencies and the public to obtain necessary permits and formal approvals.

•

Providing construction oversight.

Developing and overseeing maintenance plans for completed projects and conducting routine inspections.

• A CRWD flood risk reduction and stormwater treatment project (above) in Dexter Township. Funding for the CIP project manager position and construction costs will accelerate the implementation of additional projects to protect the community from flooding and improve water quality in the Cedar River Watershed.

Stormwater basin/detention in Lansing Township • • •

Reduces flood flows Removes sediment and debris Reduces downstream erosion

Ravine stabilization construction in Udolpho Township • • •

Reduces stormwater runoff Stabilizes the ravine Reduces sediment

Flood-risk reduction in Lansing Township • • •

Provides water storage Restores historic wetland Reduces flow

Cover crop champ in CRWD Bruce Barnum’s farm near Brownsdale won the CRWD/ Mower SWCD’s 2015 Cover Crop Champion Field Day in September. His farm is in the CRWD. He showcased seven different plots of established cover crops, each consisting of different specie mixes. He previously was the Cover Crop Champion by the National Wildlife Federation and the CRWD/SWCD for using cover crops during the last 10 years and doing related outreach.

Earlier in the year, the Mower/ Fillmore Soil Health Team offered a Cover Crop Field Day in June at Terry & Cindy Hamilton’s Farm. The Hamiltons spoke about their family farm operation; switching from conventional tillage to no tillage on some acres; and adding cover crops to their management.

A district rep from Cover Crop Solutions spoke about the benefits of cover crops and seed mixes. Nath joined CRWD/ SWCD’s Steve Lawler in demonstrating the Slake test Other presenters included Paul and rainfall simulator. Trcka Trcka with CHS on cover crop spoke about chemical manageweed management; Tom ment with cover crops. Andrea Ehrhardt, owner/manager of Horsman (DC Mower NRCS) Albert Lea Seed House, on and Jessica Bronson (DC Fillavailable cover crop mixes and more NRCS) talked about finanestablishment practices; and cial assistance to implement Dan Nath, NRCS Soil Scientist cover crops through EQIP. and SWCD staffer, on soil Event sponsors included Titan health properties and resource Pro, Cover Crop Solutions, concerns. Attendees included CRWD/Mower SWCD, Fillmore 15 producers as well as NRCS/ SWCD, CHS, NRCS, and U of SWCD staff and crop/seed reps. MN Extension.

University of Minnesota partners with CRWD in Dobbins Since 2014, the University of Minnesota has partnered with the Cedar River Watershed District to evaluate the effectiveness of best implementation currently done within the Dobbins Creek subwatershed that covers land going northeast from the city of Austin.

Both graduate and undergraduate students from the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus have been performing water quality monitoring for numerous water chemistry parameters and E. coli as part of the nearly $2.1 million Dobbins Targeted Watershed initiative.

Board of Water & Soil Resources (BWSR) funds most of the Dobbins project.

Monitoring began in 2015, and will be conducted annually throughout the duration of our Targeted Watershed Demonstration and EPA 319 Grants.

CRWD hopes to see an improvement in water quality along with more diverse fish and macroinvertebrate communities as a response to our projects in the Dobbins Creek subwatershed.

Dobbins Creek’s two branches — north and south — converge in Austin’s Jay C. Hormel Nature Center before flowing These students also have conducted fish into East Side Lake, which is created by a and macroinvertebrate monitoring to dam on the creek. Dobbins then condetermine how these biological commu- nects with the Cedar River in Austin. nities respond to the changes in water quality that result from putting conserva- Overall, the Dobbins Creek subwatershed covers more than 25,700 acres, tion projects on the land. with 71 percent of it used for intensively A $1.5 million grant from the state’s farmed row crop agricultural land.

University of Minnesota students do an electrofish survey during summer 2015 in the headwaters of Dobbins Creek’s north branch.

One of the Southern Redbelly Dace found in the survey.

CRWD makes progress on $2.1 million Dobbins Targeted Watershed project An innovative, $2.1 million project focused on the Dobbins Creek subwatershed has made significant headway through 2015.

CRWD staff has completed 29 projects mostly in the Dobbins headwaters area, including waterways; waterway rebuilds; side inlets; and water/ sediment basins.

Projects have been clustered on the north branch of Dobbins Creek due to CRWD’s monitoring results showing higher concentrations of sediment coming from that waterway.

The branch has much more slope and a noticeable need for practices to slow stormwater runoff.

CRWD staff in rural Dexter.

In 2016, CRWD

staff has many similar projects planned for construction; however, CRWD has started working on larger watershed projects. Permanent embankment structures for flood control and sediment reduction now are a major portion of the shifted effort in the headwaters, specifically in the north branch of Dobbins Creek.

In spring 2014, CRWD secured nearly $2.1 million in funding aimed at restoring the water quality of Dobbins Creek, which feeds Austin’s East Side Lake.

Most of the funding — $1.5 million — is a state grant from the Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources.

CRWD’s Board of Managers also has committed much of the required $200,000 local match over four years.

The Hormel Foundation also provided $100,000 as part of the Vision 2020 Waterways efforts to improve water

Completed projects through 2015 in Dobbins watershed

6 3 2 18

waterways waterway rebuilds side inlets water/sediment basins

quality in the Cedar River Watershed.

University of Minnesota students also are involved with the project.

State officials have listed Dobbins Creek as “impaired” for aquatic life and turbidity or the cloudiness of its water.

The project seeks to achieve 15 percent of the pollutant reduction needed to achieve the overall water quality

Busy permitting year in ’15 With 50 permits issued within the CRWD for a wide range of projects, our 2015 year proved to be a busy one.

CRWD staff are finding that landowners and contractors are getting accustomed to the process of coming to the CRWD/Mower SWCD office to get a permit before they begin projects.

Watershed district rules were adopted in 2010 by the CRWD Board of Managers and revised in 2014.

Below is a summary of all permits granted in 2015.

events resulting in significant surface runoff from overland flow. During drier periods, tile lines continued to run throughCRWD collected water samples out the year, leading to signifiin 2015 at 10 sites — estabcant tile flow contributions to lished in 2008 —throughout the the base flow of streams. Our watershed district about 10 to area also experienced abnormal 12 times per year. For every vis- rainfalls in November and Deit, each site was analyzed for cember resulting in much higher total suspended solids; turbidistream levels than typically seen ty; total phosphorus; ortho that time of year. phosphorus; nitrates; E. coli; temperature; dissolved oxygen; Once analyzed, the 2015 results and conductivity. will be posted in spring to the CRWD aims to determine if wa- CRWD’s surface water monitoring webpage. ter quality is improving; what streams are contributing the most pollutants to the Cedar River; and what watersheds to target for conservation initiatives to improve water quality.

CRWD monitoring water quality

As shown in the hydrograph (right), 2015 was an abnormally wet year, with several rain

Cedar River Watershed District 1408 21st Ave. NW Austin, MN 55912 507-434-2603 www.cedarriverwd.org