By Justin Hanson

Water quality has been a major focus during the past year in Minnesota, and that will continue as the state Legislature reconvenes March 8 for its 2016 session.

Cedar River Watershed District will watch the session closely and likely testify before legislators on our request for $1.6 million in state bonding funds to accelerate our efforts to improve water quality and reduce our area’s vulnerability to damaging floods. CRWD looks forward to continuing to work with local legislators Sen. Dan Sparks and Rep. Jeanne Poppe and other legislators to gain state support for our significant initiative.

Bonding funds will support CRWD’s nearly $8 million, five-year Capital Improvement Project (CIP), an innovative and historic project for a watershed district in Minnesota. Under the plan, CRWD will implement a top-25 priority list we created in 2015 of project sites within the Cedar River Watershed, with all but a few located on farmland upstream from Austin along the Cedar River or in the Dobbins Creek subwatershed.

Landowner cooperation already has been secured on more than half of the CIP’s project sites, which include 11 on the Cedar River and 14 along Dobbins Creek’s two branches that converge in Austin’s Jay C. Hormel Nature Center before becoming East Side Lake and flowing into the Cedar.

While we are fortunate to have beautiful local waterways that are great for canoeing and kayaking, the Cedar River and Dobbins Creek are listed by the state as “impaired” for aquatic life and turbidity (water being muddy or cloudy). Our CIP projects will reduce stream flows, downstream erosion and stormwater runoff from reaching waterways as well as restore wetlands and stabilize river ravines. Slowing stormwater flows is particularly vital on Dobbins because it is prone to flash flooding.

Funding for the $8 million CIP has been committed over five years by the CRWD Board of Managers at $1 million and by The Hormel Foundation at $3.2 million, a historic gift last summer made possible the through Austin Vision 2020 Waterways Committee. For the remaining funds, CRWD is requesting $1.6 million this year with plans to seek bonding funds as well in 2018 while also pursuing other funding sources.

No matter if bonding is approved this year, CRWD will start CIP work using funds already in place.

We cannot thank The Hormel Foundation enough for its major gift that will reap benefits for all who enjoy our local waterways and natural resources, and those who want better flood protection.

Calling all artists

CRWD is teaming up with the Austin ArtWorks Center for a gallery show from May 20 to July 9 showcasing the Cedar River Watershed through paintings, photography and drawings. We are excited for this new event as a way of raising awareness and appreciation for the Cedar River State Water Trail and local streams.

Gallery participation requires that the art piece show water at a specific location in Minnesota’s Cedar River Watershed. Work must be submitted for consideration to ArtWorks Center by no later than May 6. ArtWorks staff determines which art is featured.

Also, make sure to stop by the CRWD booth at the Austin Home & Vacation Show on March 18-20 at Packer Arena.

Mower SWCD provides technical assistance to landowners with conservation practices that protect land and water resources. SWCD also performs the duties of the Cedar River Watershed District to improve water quality and reduce flooding. This monthly column by Mower SWCD/CRWD typically runs the last Thursday of each month. More information is available on the Mower SWCD and CRWD websites as well as the CRWD’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/CedarRiverWD” www.facebook.com/CedarRiverWD. Questions and comments can be sent to tim.ruzek@mowerswcd.org.