By Justin Hanson

Fields, Rivers & Streams

Water quality has been a major focus during the past year in Minnesota, and that is continuing as the state Legislature works through the 2016 session.

Cedar River Watershed District is watching the session closely and has testified 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 once again is working closely 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. The sites 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.

Overall, the CIP aims to reduce flood flows to the Cedar River by more than 8 percent. CRWD’s long-term plan calls for a 20 percent reduction in flood flows.

Cooperation from the ag community has been incredible to this point and has assisted with securing cooperation with most of the sites. Our ag partners really been out front and pro-active in their approach to making the project a success.

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.

Strategic implementation of storage opportunities allows us to slow water flows, keeping soil and nutrients on the land and out of the water. This also reduces flood damage to infrastructure and agricultural fields.

Funding for the $8 million CIP has been committed over five years by the CRWD Board of Managers at $1 million and $3.2 million by The Hormel Foundation, a historic gift during the 2015 summer made possible through the Austin Vision 2020 Waterways Committee. For the remaining funds, CRWD is requesting $1.6 million this session with plans to seek bonding funds as well in 2018 while also pursuing other funding sources.

Regardless of whether 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.

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.