KITTSON COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE WATER PLAN UPDATE

Introduction

Darren CarlsonDistrict ManagerKittson Soil and Water Conservation

District (SWCD)410 South 5th Street, Suite 106Hallock, MN 56728(218) 843-2619 Ext. 3www.nwmnswcd.org/Kittson_SWCD

Kittson County Facts Kittson County is a

large rural county covering 1,103 square miles.

2000 Census population was 5,285.

2008 estimated at 4,691.

A decline of about 1% per year.

9 communities in Hallock (60% of total population).

Kittson County Facts

Out of the ten major water basins in Minnesota, Kittson County lies entirely in the Red River Basin.

Kittson County is divided into four major watersheds: Joe River (10%), Roseau River (3%), Middle/Tamarac/Snake River (2%) and the Two Rivers (85%).

Kittson County has a very flat topography and is heavily ditched for agricultural purposes.

Elevation of Kittson County

Kittson County Major Watersheds

Legend

County

Major River

Two Rivers Watershed

Joe River Watershed

Roseau River Watershed

Tamarac/Snake/Middle River Watershed

Water Plan History

Kittson SWCD is the local government unit responsible for the Local Water Management Plan.

The is the 4th generation plan. 1st generation plan adopted in 1990. 2nd generation plan adopted in 1995. 3rd generation plan adopted in 2003.

The current Water Plan expired December 31, 2009.

Past Accomplishments

Abandoned well sealings. Private well testing

program. Feedlot Inventory. Started an abandoned

well inventory. Beaver Bounty Program. Website. Numerous Two Rivers

Watershed projects were cost share.

Gravel Pit Inventory.

Water Resources Advisory Committee (WRAC)

Kittson SWCD Board Member

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)

Two Rivers Watershed Representative

City of Halma Representative

Kittson County Highway Department Rep.

Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) Rep.

Kittson SWCD/CLWP Coordinator

Kittson County Environmental Serv. Rep.

Kittson County Auditor Natural Resources

Conservation Services (NRCS)

Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

Kittson County Commissioner

Selection of Priority Concerns

The WRAC met, October 15, 2008 to review all the comments received from the local agencies and the public.

After reviewing all of the priority concerns submitted and after much discussion, the WRAC decided to go with three priorities: Land Use Surface Water Groundwater

Resolution Adopted & Approval of PCSD

Kittson County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution on June 3, 2008 requiring the update and revision of the CLWMP.

The Priority Concern Scoping Document (PCSD) was presented to the BWSR North Water Planning committee on April 8, 2009.

Development of Goals and Action Items

Following the approval of the PCSD, the WRAC met, November 23, 2009 to develop the Water Plan’s specific goals and action items.

The WRAC and citizens of Kittson County identified the County’s water related resource management needs (Objectives) and mapped out a course of action to address those needs (Goals).

Priority Concern Land Use Objective

The objective of this concern is to reduce erosion and sedimentation through the use of existing programs and development of new programs.

Three subwatersheds were identified by the WRAC as target areas to implement programs/practices, but not to neglect the rest of Kittson County residents outside of the targeted subwatersheds.

Two Rivers Subwatersheds

Priority Concern Land Use Goals

Contact Landowners and Identify needs

Install grass filter strips Keep residents informed of

incentive programs such as EQIP

Install field windbreaks, living snow fences, shelterbelts.

BMP for Greenwood Cemetery

Restore wetlands Conduct an annual crop

residue survey

Seek funding from other lgu such as WD, County, Sportsmen’s Clubs, etc.to implement practices

Implement a procedure for choosing the most effective bang for the buck

Priority Concern Surface H20Objective

The objective of this concern is to provide protection of all surface waters

Once again a subwatershed was selected by the WRAC to be targeted, but does not mean to ignore the rest of the county

Joe River Watershed

Priority Concern Surface H20Goals

Assist with water quality monitoring

Assist all agencies with the TMDL studies

GIS/Arc Map possible locations for side water inlets

Install grass filter strips, field windbreaks, wetland restorations

Continue with streambank stabilization projects

Develop a septic system inventory

CRP & Watercourses

Priority Concern Ground H20Objective

The objective of this concern is the protection of ground water in Kittson County.

The main objective will be to focus on protecting drinking water resources. All public water supplies come from an underground water source in Kittson County.

Priority Concern Ground H20Goals

Continue the well sealing program

GIS Arc Map abandoned and sealed wells

DNR Ob Well Readings

Wellhead Protection Plans

Water Plan Public Hearing

WRAC completed the draft Water Plan on November 23, 2009 and set a public hearing for December 15, 2009.

Comments received during the hearing from DNR, BWSR, Two Rivers Watershed District and the Kittson County Highway Department included in adding an additional subwatershed, “Unnamed Coulee” into the Land Use priority and Living Snow Fences for safer roads.

The Water Plan was submitted to BWSR at the start of the New Year.

Water Plan Agency Comments

Comments were received from MPCA and MDA.

Both agencies approved the entire plan as submitted.

MPCA offered comments for consideration on a few grammatical items.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!

QUESTIONS?