RIVER WATCHER NEWSLETTER High Island Creek & Rush River Watershed 319 TMDL Projects

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1 400 Court Ave P.O. Box 1051 Gaylord, MN Spring of 2012 Vol. 9 Issue 1 RIVER WATCHER NEWSLETTER High Island Creek & Rush River Watershed 319 TMDL Projects TMDLs Offer BMP Opportunities Section 303 of the Clean Water Act established Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) as a process to reduce specific contaminant levels in impaired waters. Part of the TMDL process is to allocate funds to the implementation of best management practices (BMPs). These funds give landowners and citizens the opportunity to address specific contamination risks without having to fund the projects all by themselves. Locally, fecal coliform is a contaminant that is currently impairing portions of the High Island and Rush River watersheds. As a result, these watersheds have been allocated 319 TMDL grants and funds. Courtesy of USDA Agricultural Research Services Originating in the digestive tract of warm blooded animals, fecal coliform is a group of bacteria species that are used as indicators. The presences of fecal coliform eludes to the presences of other bacteria, viruses, and protozoa that are also found within the digestive tract of warm blooded animals. Some of these bacteria, viruses, and protozoa can pose a significant human health risk if ingested or exposure occurs. Together, these pathogens can lead to health issues such as ear infections, dysentery, diarrheal disease, viral or bacterial gastroenteritis (nausea, vomiting, ect), typhoid fever, and hepatisis A. Courtesy of NRCS Though there are multiple sources of fecal coliform in each of the watersheds, TMDL assessment data has concluded that a large portion of the elevated fecal coliform levels are most likely attributed to overland runoff of surface applied manures, and noncompliant septic systems. Counties, local citizens, and landowners have made great strides in upgrading septic systems and properly managing manure applications. However, fecal coliform levels are still well above state surface water standards, and therefore funds have been made available to address site specific contamination risks. Continued on page 4.

2 UPCOMING EVENTS Tri-County Solid Waste Collections 2012 Sibley County Fair August 1st 5th, Arlington Tire, Appliance, and Electronics Collection Thursday June 21st at the Sibley County Fairgrounds in Arlington. Collection runs from 9am to 4:30pm. Household Hazardous Waste Collection Thursday May 24th in Arlington. Collection runs from 10am to 4pm. Agricultural Bag Disposal Sibley county farmers can dispose of their Ag bags for the entire month of May! Bring your bags to one of three convenient locations. South Central Grain & Energy Gibbon United Farmers Coop Gaylord Hutchinson Coop Arlington Collection is for agricultural and seed bags only, and free of charge to you! Contact Tri-County Solid Waste for more information at or The High Island Creek and Rush River watersheds will have a booth at the 2012 Sibley County Fair. Information available on: Current Watershed Projects TMDL Status Updates Watershed Health Cost Shares Incentives BMPs Be sure to look for us, as well as your local Soil and Water Conservation District Representatives! Fecal Coliform is an indicator for the presence of... E. coli 0157:H7 While a less common E. coli bacteria, 0157:H7 is highly virulent. This means as few as bacteria can cause infection. This bacteria is often heard about on the news for large E. coli breakouts. May survive winter in frozen soil and water. Cryptosporidium The most common water borne pathogen in the U. S. Cryptosporidium is a protozoan parasite that is very tolerant of cold temperatures. May survive through winter in frozen soil, water, or slurry. Salmonella Salmonella may survive through winter in frozen water and manure, however, infection requires the ingestion of larger numbers of Salmonella bacteria. Giardia Giardia is a parasitic protozoan that is also very virulent, however, Giardia cannot live through freezing. Campylobacter A group of around a dozen bacteria types that are now recognized as one of the main causes of bacterial food born disease in developed countries. Cannot live through freezing conditions.

3 Nutrient Management & Manure Application Manure can be a valuable resource or a pollutant. When properly managed and applied, manure supplies nutrients and improves soil properties. But when poorly managed and applied, manure can degrade water quality. Some sites are more vulnerable to contamination of surface or ground water quality, including land near waters or near pathways to water. Applying excessive amounts of nutrients can represent a hazard to ground water and surface water; moreover, the over-applications reduce the economic efficiency of crop production. Based on MDA surveys, producers can reduce fertilizer costs by $5 to $15 per acre by improving nutrient management. When land applying manure this fall remember that there are three potential pathways to reach surface waters: 1) overland runoff, 2) open tile intakes and 3) macro-pores/preferential flow. The following is a helpful reminder of some sensitive land features to look out for when applying: Perennial and Intermittent Streams: Perennial streams flow continuously. Intermittent streams typically flow after storms or when snow melts, and can flow continuously for extended periods of time. Lakes and Protected Wetlands: State-required setbacks apply to all protected lakes and wetlands identified on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources protected waters and wetlands maps. Protected wetlands are typically more than ten acres in rural areas. Maps showing protected lakes and protected wetlands are available at local SWCD office. Drainage Ditches: Edge-of-the-field drainage ditches shown on United States Geological Survey quadrangle maps and other ditches constructed after the maps were developed. These maps can be found at your local SWCD office. Open Intakes: Open tile intakes include man-made openings in the ground that move unfiltered and untreated runoff waters into underground pipes, which discharge the runoff into ditches or other surface waters. Steeply Sloped Land: Slopes of more than six percent are identified on soil survey maps with the letter C or D after the soil name. Slopes between two and six percent are identified with the letter B after the soil name. Soils with slopes of more than six percent are listed as Sensitive Soil Features for Nutrient Management. Road Ditches: Road ditches are low-lying areas next to roads that could become channels for storm water or melted snow. If a road ditch is identified on United States Geological Survey quadrangle maps then it is considered as an intermittent stream and should be treated that way. Frequently Flooded Soils: Frequently flooded soils (flooded times in 100 years) are identified on soil survey, listed as Sensitive Soil Features for Nutrient Management. This information can also be found at your local NRCS office. High Water Table Soils: Soils with water tables of two feet or less in depth. High Phosphorus Soils: High phosphorus soils can be identified through soil sampling and testing programs. Soil phosphorus testing is required by cropland managers when manure is applied from feedlots with 300 or more animal units (including when manure ownership is transferred). Continued on next page.

4 Continued from previous page. Continued from cover. Site specific contamination risks include any instance in which fecal matter may come in contact with water in or near open tile intakes, open ditch systems, ravines, or the main stream channel. The mechanism for transport usually occurs through improperly functioning septic systems, surface water runoff, erosion, the spreading of manure in sensitive or setback areas, intermittent ponding of water near tile intakes of manure applied fields, or macro-pore/ preferential flow. In order to reduce fecal coliform contamination levels within High Island and Rush River Watersheds it is important that contaminated waters be stopped or absorbed into the soil prior to reaching streams, ditches, or open tile intakes. In order to achieve this goal the High Island and Rush River TMDLs have funds available for structural practices, vegetative practices, pasture management, open tile intake alternatives, and manure spreader calibrations. Structural practices include, but are not limited to, clean water diversions, catch basins, berms, waste storage facilities or basins, feedlot waste management systems, field borders, and grassed waterways. Like open tile intake alternatives, the High Island and Rush River TMDLs may be eligible to pay up to 75% of the total project costs for structural practices. Furthermore, the TMDL projects are offering additional incentives for vegetative practices, grassed waterways, and pasture management techniques. Together, these BMP practices hold the capacity to greatly reduce the amount of fecal coliform reaching our local waterways which will reduce the potential health risk of associated bacteria and protozoa. Please feel free to call or stop by for further information! Brady Swanson Ron Otto TMDL Grants Coordinator County Water Planner Sibley Court House Sibley SWCD Office 400 Court Ave P.O. Box th St. P. O. Box Ext #105

5 Low Interest Loans available for upgrading of Noncompliant Septic Systems Owners of a Subsurface Sewage Treatment System (SSTS) are eligible for low-interest loans to upgrade their non-conforming septic system. Check with your county contact for further details. To Be Eligible: Applicant must be a property owner of a non-conforming septic system: Discharge to the surface Tiled to drainage or road ditch Discharge to cesspool, seep-age pits or dry wells Less than a 2-foot separation to seasonally saturated soil Lack of a system Does not meet setbacks to existing well Not Eligible: Refinancing a previously installed system Septic for new homes Non-residential property Project started before design and loan approval Under court order to repair system Contact Information: Sibley County: Ron Otto Sibley SWCD office th Street, P.O. Box 161 Gaylord, MN ext. 105 Nicollet County: Mandy Landkamer Environmental Services Office 501 South Minnesota Avenue St. Peter, MN McLeod CO: Roger Berggren Environmental Services Office th Street East, Suite 110 Glencoe, MN Renville County: Diane Mitchell Renville County Government Services Center 105 S. 5th Street, Suite 318 Olivia, MN Cost Share & Incentive Monies Available for Best Management Practices A variety of cost-share and incentive monies are available to producers looking to implement conservation practices within the High Island Creek & Rush River watersheds. Open Tile Intake Alternatives: cost-share monies are available for the following options: 1. Removal of intake 2. Removal of intake and replacement with a rock inlet The project will cost-share at a rate of 75% with a cap of $300 per intake. Structural Practices for Feedlot and Runoff Controls: The projects will provide up to 75% cost-share in conjunction with other state and federal funding, such as EQIP. These practices could include clean water diversions, catch basins, waste storage facilities, field borders, and vegetative treatment areas. If a potential practice application is deemed beneficial but doesn t qualify for EQIP or state cost share, the project may consider funding at 75% cost share upon approval. Vegetative Practices (HICW only): Filter strips, riparian buffers and grassed waterways installed under the USDA s Continuous CRP program may be eligible for an incentive payment. An upfront one time incentive offer of $225 per acre for a 15 year contract when a landowner enrolls a minimum of 50 feet out from the top of the ditch bank. Manure Application Calibrations: Manure application equipment should always be calibrated prior to applying manure in order to ensure the proper rate of application. The project staff will assist producers with equipment calibration using weigh pads. Manure Management Plans (RRW only): The project will provide a cash incentive capped at $900 or $300 per year to feedlot operators with animal units to develop and maintain a nutrient management plan. Producers are required to work with a certified crop consultant, agronomist, U of M Extension or the NRCS in the creation of their plan. Pasture Management (RRW only): The project will provide operators with a $15 per acre incentive payment for their enrollment in and installation of a rotational grazing plan through NRCS EQIP program. For more details contact the watershed project.

6 High Island Creek & Rush River Watersheds Implementation Projects 400 Court Ave, P.O. Box 1051 Gaylord, MN PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID GAYLORD, MN PERMIT NO 61 Project Sponsor Sibley County Sponsors: Renville, McLeod & Nicollet Counties Sibley, Renville, McLeod & Nicollet SWCDs Sibley County Water Resource Advisory Committee Renville Co. Water Protection & Management Environmental Services: Sibley, Renville, McLeod & Nicollet Counties University of Minnesota Extension Service High Island Creek Watershed District Natural Resource Conservation Service 2012 Photo Contest It s hard to believe it, but we are already on our 4th annual High Island Creek and Rush River Watershed photo contest! Similar to past years, winning photographs will appear in the 2013 watershed calendar, and on each watershed s website. A $50 cash prize will also be given to the person whose photograph is selected as the grand prize winner. All photographs must be taken within the watersheds boundaries. This years contest will end on October 15th, Photographers can submit their pictures via to: bradys@co.sibley.mn.us Please include the following information in your Photographer s name and address. Small picture description, including the general location of photograph. Date of Photo (please remove timestamp) Sponsors: Cities of Arlington, New Auburn, Gaylord, Winthrop, Gibbon & Lafayette United States Geological Survey United States Fish & Wildlife Service Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Coalition for a Clean Minnesota River Pheasants Forever: Sibley and McLeod Co. Chapters Conservation Partners of America Green Isle Sportsman s Club Gaylord Protective League This newsletter is sponsored by the High Island Creek & Rush River Watershed 319 TMDL Projects. This publication is issued quarterly and is funded through the 319 grant program from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and various local and state organizations. Both Projects are equal opportunity organizations and employers. Questions and comments can be directed to: Brady Swanson, Watershed Grants Coordinator, bradys@co.sibley.mn.us Phone: (507)