minnesota water resources conference - umn...

Minnesota Water Resources ConferenceOctober 15−16, 2019Saint Paul RiverCentre175 West Kellogg BoulevardSaint Paul, Minnesota

Sponsored by:

Cosponsored by:Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minnesota Minnesota Section, American Society of Civil Engineers Minnesota Sea Grant College Program, University of Minnesota Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota

ccaps.umn.edu/water

Program and Abstracts

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Exhibitors

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General informationMniówe / Water BarMniówe is a place for gathering water. At Mniówe / Water Bar, you can sample drinking waters from around Mnísota (Minnesota) and connect confer-ence themes to conversations about ways we use and interact with water in our daily lives. You can also learn about indigenous philosophies, relationships and practices relating to Mní (water) that have allowed Dakota people to thrive in this area for millennia. Mniówe is also the indigenized rendition of Water Bar, created in collaboration by Water Bar & Public Studio, Healing Place Collab-orative, and Dakhóta Iápi Okhódakichiye (Dakota Language Society).

Wi-Fi DetailsSaint Paul RiverCentre has free, venue-wide Wi-Fi available for all events. Inside the venue there are more than 100 Wi-Fi access points covering all levels. Guests can easily connect to the Wi-Fi network by selecting “RC_FreeWiFi” from among the connection options appearing on their device.

This conference uses Pigeonhole Live for inter-active Q&APigeonhole Live is a simple, interactive mobile website where you can submit questions to speakers via your mobile web device. You can also vote for questions that interest you. Everyone gets to take part in Q&A sessions without running to the microphones. Yes, even if you are a little shy.

Access Pigeonhole: pigeonhole.at/MNWRC19Go to www.pigeonhole.atEnter event passcode: MNWRC19

Exhibitor and Poster AreaThe exhibitor and poster area will be set up in the hallway similar to last year to facilitate networking and discussion with exhibitors and poster authors. Refreshments will be served in this area, along with the Tuesday evening reception.

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Program ScheduleTuesday, October 15, 20198:00–9:30 Welcome

Jeff Peterson, Director, Water Resources Center, University of Minnesota

Opening RemarksPresident Joan Gabel, University of MinnesotaCongresswoman Betty McCollum, Representing Minnesota’s 4th District

Dave Ford Water Resources Award

9:30–10:00 Poster and Vendor Refreshment Break

Concurrent Session I

Track A Ballroom A Track B Ballroom E Track C Meeting Room 1-3 Track D Meeting Room 7-9 Track E Meeting Room 4-6

10:00–11:30 Flood & Climate ResilienceModerator: Ann Banitt, US Army Corps of EngineersCo-Moderator: Andrea Hendrickson, Minnesota Department of Transportation

Treating Stormwater with Various Filter MediaModerator: Tina Carstens, Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed DistrictCo-Moderator: Ron Leaf, Kimley-Horn and Associates

Agriculture: Nutrient Management Practices and ChallengesModerator: Will Bartsch, Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota DuluthCo-Moderator: Marcey Westrick, Board of Water and Soil Resources

Sourcewater and Groundwater Modeling and ProtectionModerator: Joel Larson, Water Resources Center, University of MinnesotaCo-Moderator: Stew Thornley, Minnesota Department of Health

New Water Assessment and Treatment ApproachesModerator: Mark Brigham, US Geological SurveyCo-Moderator: Tracy Fallon, Water Resources Center, University of Minnesota

10:00–10:20 How Will Climate Change Affect Minnesota's Water Resources?Bonnie Keeler, Tracy Twine, University of Minnesota; Kate Brauman, Institute on the Environment; Terin Mayer, Ryan Noe, University of Minnesota

Challenges In Monitoring and Assessment of Performance of Iron Enhanced Sand FiltersOmid Mohseni, Barr Engineering Company; Barbara Loida, Minnesota Department of Transportation; Katie Turpin-Nagel, Barr Engineering Company; Nicholas Olson, Beth Neuendorf, MnDOT

Watershed Responses to Climate Change ConditionsEmily Steinweg, Gary Sands, Bruce Wilson, Brent Dalzell, University of Minnesota

Integrating Watershed Management Planning Principals in Source Water ProtectionKaitlyn Taylor, Jennifer Olson, Aileen Molloy, Tetra Tech

Updates To The Prioritize, Target, And Measure Application (Ptmapp) To Help Meet Today’s Water Quality ChallengesKris Guentzel, Houston Engineering, Inc.; Matt Drewitz, Board of Water and Soil Resources; Amir Khimji, Minnesota IT Services; Alison Slaats, Minnesota Geospatial Information Office; Chuck Fritz, Mark Deutschman, International Water Institute

10:20–10:40 Using Hydraulic and Hydrologic Techniques to Plan and Design Aquatic Habitat Restoration in a Wetter ClimateKacie Opat, Jon Hendrickson, US Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District

What Chemical Conditions Favor Phosphate Retention by Iron in Iron- Enhanced Sand Filters?Beth Fisher, Joshua Feinberg, University of Minnesota

Low-Grade Weirs as a Management Practice for Nutrient Removal in Agricultural Drainage Ditches in the Upper Mississippi River BasinJeffrey Strock, Andry Ranaivoson, Brent Dalzell, Axel Garcia y Garcia, University of Minnesota; Gary Feyereisen, US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service

Implementing a Program to Address Private Wells for Groundwater Protection: Surprises, Challenges, New Understanding of Risk, and ProgressJessica Wilson, City of Edina

Estimating Total Terrestrial Water Storage in Central MinnesotaJohn Nieber, Chelsea Delaney, Kerry Holmberg, Francisco Lahoud, Xiang Li, University of Minnesota; Jared Trost, US Geological Survey; Bruce Wilson, University of Minnesota

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Program Schedule10:40–11:00 The Big Sioux River Flood

Information System: a One-Stop Web Platform to Access Real-Time Stream Conditions, Flood Forecasts, Visualizations, Inundation Maps and Flood-Related Data.Jason Love, Seth Kenner, Peter Rausch, RESPEC; Tim Cowman, University of South Dakota, South Dakota Geological Survey

Chasing the Silver Bullet: Adventures in Alternative Stormwater Filtration MediaErin Anderson Wenz, Keith Pilgrim, Barr Engineering Company

Bioreactors as a Management Practice for Nutrient Removal from Agricultural Drainage In the Upper Mississippi River BasinAndry Ranaivoson, Jeffrey Strock, Brent Dalzell, Axel Garcia y Garcia University of Minnesota; Gary Feyereisen, US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service

Can We Recognize the Effectiveness of Improved Nitrogen BMPs in Southeastern Minnesota?Anthony Runkel, Julia Steenberg, Robert Tipping, Andrew Retzler, Minnesota Geological Survey; John Nieber, University of Minnesota

Developing a Subsurface Sewage Treatment System (SSTS) Risk Assessment in Washington CountyJennifer Olson, Tetra Tech; Stephanie Souter, Washington County; Kaitlyn Taylor, Tetra Tech

11:00–11:20 A Decision Support Tool to Increase Resilience For the Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection ProjectLaurie Kellndorfer, Michael Schmidt, Richard Wagner, CDM Smith

Using Biochar to Treat Bacteria in Urban Stormwater RunoffEd Matthiesen, Diane Spector, Wenck Associates, Inc.; Justine Dauphinais, Jon Janke, Coon Creek Watershed District

Reducing the Impacts of Ag Nutrients on Water Quality Across a Changing LandscapeHeidi Peterson, Sand County Foundation; Mark Williams, US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service; Jane Frankenberger, Purdue University; Kevin King, US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service; Josh McGrath, University of Kentucky; Lara Moody, The Fertilizer Institute; Marc Ribaudo, US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (Retired); Jeff Strock, University of Minnesota

Basin Drainage Timescale Estimates by Multivariate Regression AnalysisXiang Li, John Nieber, University of Minnesota; Jared Trost, US Geological Survey; Francisco Lahoud, University of Minnesota

Using Acoustic Doppler Velocity Meters to Estimate Suspended Sediment in the Lower Minnesota and Mississippi RiversJoel Groten, Jeffrey Ziegeweid, J. William Lund, Erin Coenen, US Geological Survey

11:20–11:30 Pop-up Poster Presentation: U.S. Geological Survey Flood Inundation Mapping Program

Pop-up Poster Presentation:Stormwater Treatment With New Sustainable Drainage Aggregate

Pop-up Poster Presentation: Wetland Phosphorus Removal Through Vegetative Harvesting

Pop-up Poster Presentation: Stream Thermal Dynamics: The Influence Of Beaver Dams In A Northern Minnesota Watershed

Pop-up Poster Presentation: Photo-Degradation And Sorption Of Strobin Fungicides In Aquatic Environments

11:30–12:15 Lunch

12:15–1:00 Lunch Session #1: Great Lakes Water Tension in the 21st Century

Peter Annin, author of The Great Lakes Water Wars

Tuesday, October 15, 2019 (continued)

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Concurrent Session II

Tuesday Track A Ballroom A Track B Ballroom E Track C Meeting Room 1-3 Track D Meeting Room 7-9 Track E Meeting Room 4-6

1:15–2:45 Aquatic Invasive Species Trends and RisksModerator: Tracy Fallon, Water Resources Center, University of MinnesotaCo-Moderator: Shawn Schottler, St. Croix Watershed Research Station

Stormwater: Pollutants & PerformanceModerator: Randy Neprash, Minnesota Cities Stormwater Coalition & StantecCo-Moderator: Greg Wilson, Barr Engineering Company

Innovations in Water Resources Monitoring: Past and PresentModerator: Karen Jensen, Metropolitan CouncilCo-Moderator: Dendy Lofton, LimnoTech

Water Reuse and ConservationModerator: William Douglass, Bolton & Menk, Inc.Co-Moderator: Stephanie Johnson, City of Minneapolis

Adapting to Changing HydrologyModerator: Salam Murtada, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Ecological & Water Resources DivisionCo-Moderator: Andrea Hendrickson, Minnesota Department of Transportation

1:15–1:35 How Long Has It Been in the Lake? Sediment Reveals Invasion History of Spiny Water FleaNichole DeWeese, Donn Branstrator, University of Minnesota Duluth; Euan Reavie, Natural Resources Research Institute

Permeable Alleyway Installation + Monitoring in MinneapolisRich Harrison, Metro Blooms

Ten Years of Watershed Pollutant Load MonitoringLee Ganske, Pat Baskfield, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Stormwater Capture and Reuse For Irrigation as a Public UtilityBob Bean, Bolton & Menk, Inc.; Craig Eldred, City of Waconia

Advances in Snowmelt Modeling in the Midwest, Red River of the North Ann Banitt, Kevin Denn, Emily Moe, US Army Corps of Engineers

1:35–1:55 Spiny Water Flea Dispersal: Quantifying Ensnarement Risk by Recreational EquipmentDonn Branstrator, University of Minnesota Duluth; Valerie Brady, Josh Dumke, Holly Wellard Kelly, University of Minnesota Duluth, Natural Resources Research Institute

Rooting Out Pollution Along the Green Line: Five Years of Green Infrastructure Operation, Monitoring, Maintenance, and PerformanceSarah Wein, Anna Eleria, Capitol Region Watershed District

A Low-Cost Internet of Things for Water Resources Science and Management: Streaming Data From Streams, Fields, and Marshes to Water Researchers and ManagersBryan Runck, Peter Marchetto, University of Minnesota

Landmark Clean Water Infrastructure at Allianz FieldWes Saunders-Pearce, City of Saint Paul; Anna Eleria, Forrest Kelly, Capitol Region Watershed District

Managing Water Systems for Resiliency Through Future Conditions ModelingBret Zimmerman, Houston Engineering, Inc.; Phil Belfiori, Rice Creek Watershed District; Chris Otterness, Houston Engineering, Inc.

1:55–2:15 Assessing the Response of Eurasian and Hybrid Watermilfoil to Intensive Herbicidal Management In MinnesotaJasmine Eltawely, University of Minnesota Water Resources Science Graduate Program; Raymond Newman, University of Minnesota; Ryan Thum, Montana State University

A Maintenance Look Back: The Treatment and Reuse of Stormwater as an Amenity in Minneapolis’ Heritage ParkDavid Filipiak, SRF Consulting Group, Inc.; Lisa Goddard, Sean Oberg, Elizabeth Stout, City of Minneapolis

Get Real-Time! Automation and Telemetry to Improve Stormwater Monitoring and BMP PerformanceJoe Sellner, Forrest Kelley, Bob Fossum, Capitol Region Watershed District

Motivations and Barriers to Industrial Water Conservation in the Twin Cities Metropolitan AreaMatt Domski, Laura Babcock, Paul Pagel, Mick Jost, Becky Copper, Minnesota Technical Assistance Program; Brian Davis, Metropolitan Council Water Supply Planning Unit

Alphabet Soup: One City’s Journey to Developing A City-Wide ModelKaty Thompson, RESPEC; Phillip Elkin, City of St. Louis Park

Program Schedule Tuesday, October 15, 2019 (continued)

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Program Schedule2:15–2:35 Status and Trends

of Wetlands in Minnesota: Minnesota Wetland Condition Assessment (2011/12 – 2016)Michael Bourdaghs, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Analyzing Watershed Chloride Loading Patterns to Inform Adaptive Management for Road De-IcingMelissa Friese, Doug Klimbal, Lawrence Baker, Bruce Wilson, University of Minnesota

Stream Monitoring for Pollutant Loads and Long-Term Trends: MCES Stream Monitoring Turns 30Casandra Champion, Jennifer Kostrzewski, Metropolitan Council Environmental Services

Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Water Conservation ResultsCarmelita Nelson, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; Leo Steidel, ESPWater

Modeling the Impacts of Mining on Hydrology In the St. Louis River BasinTimothy Cowdery, Anna Baker, Megan Haserodt, Daniel Feinstein, US Geological Survey; Nancy Schuldt, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa; Randall Hunt, US Geological Survey

2:35–2:45 Pop-up Poster Presentation: Identifying The Impact And Efficacy Of Restoration Infrastructure On An Urban Stream

Pop-up Poster Presentation: Innovative Technologies To Comprehensively Measure Sediment Transport From The Chippewa River To The Mississippi River Downstream Of Lake Pepin

Pop-up Poster Presentation: Estimating Lake Water Volume Using Scale Similarity Analysis

Open Discussion Pop-up Poster Presentation: The Role Of The Minnesota Office For Soil Health


Concurrent Session III

Tuesday Track A Ballroom A Track B Ballroom E Track C Meeting Room 1-3 Track D Meeting Room 7-9 Track E Meeting Room 4-6

3:15–4:45 Understanding and Reversing the Trends of Chloride in Minnesota’s WatersModerator: Greg Wilson, Barr Engineering CompanyCo-Moderator: Karen Jensen, Metropolitan Council

Green Stormwater InfrastructureModerator: John Bilotta, Water Resources Center, University of MinnesotaCo-Moderator: Ron Leaf, Kimley-Horn and Associates

Water Quality Innovation—Strategies, Collaboration, Markets, & ImplementationModerator: Jeff Berg, Minnesota Department of AgricultureCo-Moderator: Pat Baskfield, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

The Complexity of Water Resource ManagementModerator: Marcey Westrick, Board of Water and Soil ResourcesCo-Moderator: Amit Pradhananga, Department of Forest Resources, UMN

Rivers, Challenges, and Creative Solutions Moderator: Ann Banitt, US Army Corps of EngineersCo-Moderator: Kimberly Hill, St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, University of Minnesota

3:15–3:35 Chloride in urban shallow groundwater and lakes is increasing, while lake and stream impairments face persistent problems from water softening and road salt usage. This session will illustrate the scale of the problem, provide trends for various types of water bodies, analyze chloride loadings from each source, discuss implications of stormwater infiltration on chloride in groundwater and suggest appropriate guidance to adjust our approach to water softening, salt use and stormwater management.

The Historic Keller Golf Course: Refining Playability, Creating Natural Areas, and Improving Water Management Bill Bartodziej, Ramsey- Washington Metro Watershed District; Paul Diegnau, Keller Golf Course

Progress Report on Minnesota’s Nutrient Reduction StrategyDavid Wall, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

The Future of Water Resources Management: Merging Diagnostic Monitoring, Adaptive Management, And EconomicsMike Kinney, Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed District

Minnesota Guide for Stream Connectivity and Aquatic Organism Passage Through CulvertsNicole Bartelt, Minnesota Department of Transportation; Peter Leete, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; Matt Hernick, Jessica Kozarek, SAFL

3:35–3:55 Calculating Stormwater Volume and Total Suspended Solids Reduction Under Urban Tree Canopy in Wisconsin Using Available ResearchDane Wudel, Steve Gaffield, Emmons & Olivier Resources,Inc.

Collaborative, Interstate Water Quality Monitoring for a Shared Understanding of the Upper Mississippi River BasinLauren Salvato, Upper Mississippi River Basin Association

Applying Systems Thinking to Complex Water Resources Management IssuesPooja Kanwar, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Creative Use of Cross Vanes to Prevent Erosive Head-Cutting on a Steep Roadside ChannelJosh Stier, William Douglass, Bolton & Menk, Inc.


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Program Schedule3:55–4:15 Fire Station #2 in

Eden Prairie: Reuse and Landscaping Demonstration for Improved Stormwater ManagementLeah Gifford, SRF Consulting Group; Leslie Stovring, City of Eden Prairie; Claire Bleser, Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek WD

Exploring Stormwater as a Potential Environmental Market In MinnesotaJulie Blackburn, RESPEC; Jim Klang, TBL, Inc.

The Tale of Two Projects: Thompson Lake Contaminated Sediment Removal and Stormwater Improvement ProjectJosh Petersen, Dakota County; Joe Barten, Lower Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization

How Investing in a 2D Model Helped Shape Decisions for MnDOT D7 for Trunk Highway 30 ImprovementsTyler Johnson, Stantec; Jared DeMaster, Minnesota Department of Transportation, District 7

4:15–4:35 Best Management Practices for Enhancing Water-Use Efficiency in Minnesota LawnsDaniel Sandor, Florence Sessoms, Brian Horgan, University of Minnesota; Sam Bauer, BauerTurf, LLC; Kris Moncada, Brian Davis, Met Council

Managing TMDL Implementation in Minnesota: Lessons Learned from the Chesapeake BayBenjamin Crary, Tim Schmitt, Hans Holmberg, LimnoTech

Comparing SWAT with ACPF and PTMApp Outcomes in the Plum Creek WatershedSrinivas Rallapalli, Joe Magner University of Minnesota; Matt Drewitz, Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources;

Combining Conveyance, Infiltration and 12.5 Acre-Ft of Underground Storage to Solve an Historic Urban Flooding ProblemWilliam Douglass, Bolton & Menk, Inc.; Bryan Gruidl, City of Bloomington

4:35–4:45 Open Discussion Open Discussion Open Discussion Open Discussion Open Discussion

4:45–5:45 Reception, Vendor, and Poster Session


Wednesday, October 16, 20198:00–8:10 Welcome

William Douglass, Bolton & Menk, Inc.

8:10–9:30 Plenary Session #2 : Forever Green Initiative: Establishing Living Cover Across the Agricultural Landscape to Protect Soil and WaterDon Wyse and Nick Jordan, University of Minnesota faculty leads for the Forever Green Initiative


Concurrent Session IV

Wednesday Track A Ballroom A Track B Ballroom E Track C Meeting Room 1-3 Track D Meeting Room 7-9 Track E Meeting Room 4-6

10:00–11:30 Stormwater Pond Treatment, Maintenance, and EffectivenessModerator: Pat Baskfield, Minnesota Pollution Control AgencyCo-Moderator: Randy Neprash, Minnesota Cities Stormwater Coalition & Stantec

Assessing and Improving the Quality of LakesModerator: Jim Stark, Legislative Water CommissionCo-Moderator: William Douglass, Bolton & Menk, Inc.

Ecohydrology of Minnesota’s StreamsModerator: Mark Brigham, US Geological SurveyCo-Moderator: Salam Murtada, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Ecological & Water Resources Division

Success Stories in Cultivating Effective Partnerships for Public EngagementModerator: Katy Thompson, RESPECCo-Moderator: Karen Jensen, Metropolitan Council

Wetlands WorkshopModerator: Jennifer Kamm, StantecCo-Moderator: Shawn Williams, WSB & Associates, Inc.

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Program Schedule10:00–10:20 What Do We Do About

Stormwater Ponds?Vinicius Taguchi, Andy Erickson, John Gulliver, St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, University of Minnesota

Sediment Core Analysis to Evaluate Lake Mccarrons Alum Treatment Efficacy After 12 Years of TreatmentMark Houle, Bob Fossum, Britta Belden, Capitol Region Watershed District

Quantifying Relations Between Altered Hydrology and Biological Responses for Streams in MinnesotaJeffrey Ziegeweid, US Geological Survey; Gregory Johnson, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; Aliesha Krall, US Geological Survey; Kara Fitzpatrick, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

People as the Final BMP: Inviting Minneapolis Communities to Participate with Stormwater Management through Local Artwork and Online EngagementAllison Bell, HDR Engineering; Paul Chellsen, City of Minneapolis; Kelly Spitzley, HDR Engineering

The Role of Wetland Processes in the Global Carbon Cycle and ClimateWilliam Mitsch, Florida Gulf Coast University

This workshop will build collective wetlands knowledge and increase understanding of how wetlands integrate with water resources management throughout the state. Each session at this workshop will include two presentations: a 60-minute overview of issuesrelated to wetlands at theglobal, regional, and localscale, and a 20-minutepresentation that providesspecific examples of theissues raised immediatelybefore. This workshop wasdeveloped in coordinationwith the Minnesota WetlandsProfessionals Association.

10:20–10:40 Mechanisms Driving Phosphorus Recycling in Constructed Stormwater Ponds: Implications for ManagementAnthony Aufdenkampe, Dendy Lofton, Ben Crary, LimnoTech; Mike Trojan, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; John Gulliver, University of Minnesota

Normandale Lake: A Holistic Approach to Improving the Water Quality and Ecology of A Shallow, Urban LakeErica Sniegowski, Nine Mile Creek Watershed District; Janna Kieffer, Barr Engineering; Steve Gurney, City of Bloomington

Improved Methods For Targeting Fluvial Management And Upstream Runoff ReductionDrew Kessler, Jun Yang, Erik Jones, Devon Libby, Houston Engineering Inc.

Developing a Standardized Framework of Landowner Conservation BehaviorAmit Pradhananga, Mae Davenport, University of Minnesota

10:40–11:00 Pond Treatment With Spent Lime to Control Phosphorus Release from SedimentsGreg Wilson, Barr Engineering Company

In-Lake and Watershed Efforts to Improve Lake George Water QualityLisa Vollbrecht, City of St. Cloud; April Ryan, Short Elliott Hendrickson

Impact of Beaver on the Hydrology of North Shore StreamsEmma Burgeson, Salli Dymond, Karen Gran, Hannah Behar, Rebecca Teasley, University of Minnesota Duluth

Partnering for Water Quality and Savings with Education in Rice Creek Watershed DistrictTim Olson, Bolton & Menk, Inc.; Beth Carreno, Rice Creek Watershed District

11:00–11:20 Are Stormwater Ponds Effective Sinks for Reducing Watershed Scale Phosphorus Loading?Joseph Bischoff, Wenck Associates, Inc.; Eric Macbeth, City of Eagan; Co-author: Sarah Nalven

Spatial and Temporal Patterns of N2 Saturation in the Water Column of Minnesota Lakes and Potential PredictorsBrianna Loeks-Johnson, James Cotner, University of Minnesota

Direct and Indirect Effects of Forest Harvesting on Sediment Loading in MinnesotaZac McEachran, Diana Karwan, University of Minnesota; Rob Slesak, Minnesota Forest Resources Council, University of Minnesota

Wilderness Inquiry’s Canoemobile Program Connects Students to Local WaterwaysJane Fields, Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement, University of Minnesota; Julie Edmiston, Wilderness Inquiry

Permitting Through PartnershipThomas Dietrich, Minnehaha Creek Watershed District


11:30–12:15 Lunch

12:15–1:00 Luncheon Session #2 : Telling Stories About Water

Wednesday, October 16, 2019 (continued)

Kirsti Marohn, Minnesota Public Radio

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Program ScheduleConcurrent Session V

Wednesday Track A Ballroom A Track B Ballroom E Track C Meeting Room 1-3 Track D Meeting Room 7-9 Track E Meeting Room 4-6

1:15–2:45 Stormwater Practices; Targeting, Siting and EvaluatingModerator: Tina Carstens, Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed DistrictCo-Moderator: John Bilotta, Water Resources Center, University of Minnesota

Understanding and Predicting Bluegreen Algal Blooms in Minnesota LakesModerator: Dendy Lofton, LimnoTechCo-Moderators: Mark Brigham, US Geological Survey; Shahram Missaghi, St. Anthony Falls Laboratory EcoLab & City of Minneapolis; Jackie Taylor, SAFL

Promoting Successful River, Stream, and Floodplain RestorationsModerator: Katy Thompson, RESPECCo-Moderator: Will Bartsch, Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota Duluth

Win-Win Opportunities For Agriculture and Water QualityModerator: Lorin K. Hatch, Widseth Smith NoltingCo-Moderator: Jim Stark, Minnesota Legislative Water Commission

Wetlands Workshop: Global Perspectives, Local ExamplesModerator: Matt Danzl, Coon Creek Watershed DistrictCo-Moderator: Beth Brown, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Office of Environmental Stewardship

1:15–1:35 The Challenge of Maintaining Stormwater Treatment Practices: a Synthesis of Recent Research and Practitioner ExperienceAndy Erickson, Vini Taguchi, John Gulliver, St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, University of Minnesota

Do you want to know what Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) are? Or how they will impact your water resources, economies, and your health? Or maybe even bring a water sample to test for HABs? Then come to the 2019 HAB special session to hear and learn from the experts in the field about the research, projects, and outreach across the state, region, and country, including the most recent tools in identifying, detecting, and managing HABs.

Adam J. Heathcote, Science Museum of Minnesota; Nicole Hayes, University of Minnesota; Stephanie Gretsch, Minnesota Department of Health; Lucia Levers, University of Minnesota; Richard Kiesling, USGS; Melissa Miller, Iowa Water Center

The Minnesota Legacy Fund Restoration Evaluation Program promotes successful practices to improve restorations by evaluating projects relative to the law, current science, and stated project goals. Part 1 of this session will cover recommendations that have emerged from evaluations of 40 river, stream, and floodplain restoration projects across the state as well as current research and professional experience from the Legacy Fund Restoration Evaluation Panel technical experts.

Gina Quiram, Wade Johnson, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; Jess Kozarek, St. Anthony Falls Laboratory; Jamison Wendel, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; Joe Magner, University of Minnesota

Evaluating MAWQCP Conservation Practice Impacts on Water Quality in the Cottonwood River BasinBrent Dalzell, Jeff Strock, University of Minnesota

What is the Future of Our Wetlands? A Review of Past and Current Biological Surveys in the Prairie Pothole RegionShawn DeKeyser, North Dakota State UniversitySee description of Workshop above

1:35–1:55 Analysis of Stormwater Runoff from Impervious SurfacesBrittany Faust, University of Minnesota and Mississippi Watershed Management Organization; Bruce Wilson, University of Minnesota; Stephanie Johnson, City of Minneapolis; Udai Singh, Mississippi Watershed Management Organization

BMP Databases for Delaware and Chesapeake Bays: Leveraging Voluntary Tracking, Modeling, Sharing, and Reporting SystemsDavid Arscott, Stroud Water Research Center; Barry Evans, Scott Haag, Drexel University; John Dawes, Chesapeake Commons; Anthony Aufdenkampe, Ben Crary, Steve Skripnik, Hans Holmberg, LimnoTech

1:55–2:15 Development of a Rapid Screening Tool for Siting Infiltration Stormwater Control MeasuresNicholas Tecca, John Gulliver, John Nieber, University of Minnesota

Disrupting The Monoculture: A Bio-Economic Spatial ModelLucia Levers, Brent Dalzell, Jeffrey Peterson, University of Minnesota

2:15–2:35 Smart Targeting Stormwater TreatmentAlex Schmidt, Nancy Stowe, Houston Engineering

Lessons Learned Implementing Water Quality TradingAndrew Skog, MSA Professional Services

One Wetland Is Not Enough: An Interdisciplinary Evaluation of Potholes in the PrairieJennifer Gruetzman, Sara Vacek, US Fish and Wildlife Service


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Program Schedule2:35–2:45 Open Discussion Open Discussion Open Discussion Open Discussion Open Discussion


2:45–3:15 Poster and Vendor Refreshment BreakWednesday Track A Ballroom A Track B Ballroom E Track C Meeting Room 1-3 Track D Meeting Room 7-9 Track E Meeting Room 4-6

Concurrent Session VI

3:15–4:45 Sand Creek Outcomes: the Result of Hard Work, Good, Timing, or Just Plain Dumb Luck?Moderator: Paul Nelson, Scott CountyCo-Moderator: Shawn Schottler, St. Croix Watershed Research Station

Understanding and Predicting Bluegreen Algal Blooms in Minnesota LakesModerator: Dendy Lofton, LimnoTechCo-Moderators: Mark Brigham, US Geological Survey; Shahram Missaghi, SAFL, EcoLab & City of Minneapolis; Jackie Taylor, SAFL

Promoting Successful River, Stream, and Floodplain RestorationsModerator: Katy Thompson, RESPECCo-Moderator: Will Bartsch, Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota Duluth

Leveraging the Arts and Storytelling to Advance Awareness of Water Resources IssuesModerator: Karen Jensen, Metropolitan CouncilCo-Moderator: Tracy Fallon, Water Resources Center, University of Minnesota

Wetlands WorkshopModerator: Derek Huebsch, StantecCo-Moderator: Ashley Payne, Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.; John Anderson, St. Mary's University of Minnesota, GeoSpatial Services

3:15–4:15 In 2010 the Scott Watershed Management Organization finished studies addressing surface water quality issues in the Sand Creek Watershed. Millions of dollars have been spent since, with some interesting outcomes.

Professionals who worked on the studies or implementation discuss the outcomes and whether they are the result of hard work, good timing or dumb luck, but will rely on you the audience to determine which applies best.

Melissa Bokman, Ryan Holzer, Scott County; Troy Kuphal, Scott Soil and Water Conservation District; Brad Wozney, Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources ; Cindy Penny, MPCA; Keegan Lund, Department of Natural Resources; Mike Schultz, Le Sueur Soil and Water Conservation District; Mae Davenport, Amit Pradhananga, UMN, Marty Melchior, Inter-Fluve

Do you want to know what Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) are? Or how they will impact your water resources, economies, and your health? Or maybe even bring a water sample to test for HABs? Then come to the 2019 HAB Special session to hear and learn from the experts in the field about the research, projects, and outreach across the State, region, and country, including the most recent tools in identifying, detecting, and managing HABs.

Pam Anderson, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; David Austin, Jacobs; Leif G. Olmanson, Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota; Dendy Lofton, LimnoTech; Mark Edlund, Science Museum of Minnesota; Anne Wilkinson, WENCK

Part 2 of the “Promoting Successful River, Stream, and Floodplain Restorations” session will include a panel discussion and evaluation case studies presented by project partners that highlight successful projects, as well as challenges and opportunities for the future of river, stream, and floodplain restorations.

Marty Melchior, Inter-Fluve; Karen Kill, Brown's Creek Watershed District; Kevin Biehn, EOR; Myron Jesme, Red Lake Watershed District; Erik Jones, Houston Engineering, Inc.; Todd Tisler, US Forest Service

Stretch your professional skills in this experiential and PowerPoint-free special session. Led by the artists and storytellers of Water Bar & Public Studio, this session will explore how the use of arts and cultural storytelling strategies in water resources outreach can help to create lasting awareness and positive action. Attendees will gain greater understanding and skills in facilitating art/storytelling by listening and engaging with the MN arts community.

Invasion of CattailsPam Geddes, Northeastern Illinois UniversitySee description of Workshop above

4:15–4:35 Restored Vegetation Outcomes in Wetland Mitigation Banks Across Minnesota Austin Yantes, University of Minnesota


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Dave Ford AwardOriginally known as the Kuehnast Award, the Dave Ford Water Resources Award was created in 2003, renamed for esteemed DNR hydrologist Dave Ford, who died prematurely from cancer in January 2003. Dave Ford was highly regarded by his water resources colleagues, who sought to honor him with an award to be presented to others in the field who also have made an indelible impact on Minnesota’s environmental landscape. Dave had an excellent theoretical understanding of various computer simulation models, along with the practical knowledge to effectively use those models to address a variety of water resource management issues. But, more importantly, he was a teacher, a mentor, a collaborator and a friend.

Recipients of the Earl Kuehnast Award Year Recipient1986 Earl Kuehnast1987 Ed Bowers 1991 Peter Fischer1992 Howard Midje 1999 Ron Nargang

Recipients of the renamed Dave Ford Water Resources AwardYear Recipient2003 Heinz G. Stefan2005 Marcel Jouseau2006 Ron Harnack2007 Patrick Brezonik2008 Steve Heiskary2009 James L. Anderson2010 Nels Nelson2011 Timothy Scherkenbach2012 Barbara Liukkonen2013 John Gulliver2014 Roland Sigurdson2015 Bruce Wilson (RESPEC)2016 Cliff Aichinger2017 Dan R. Engstrom, Kent Johnson2018 Suzanne Jiwani2019 Al Kean, Bruce Montgomery

Al Kean has been the consummate professional in his over 40-year career. He started as a hydraulic engineer at the US Army Corps of Engineers and then served as Chief Engineer at the Board of Water and Soil and Resources from 1992 until his retirement in 2019. In addition to overseeing numerous water resource protection projects across the state, he led the Minnesota Drainage Work Group and made major contributions to the Technical and Scientific Advisory Committee for the Red River Flood Damage Reduction Work Group. Al has guided many young engineers and hydrologists, always ready to listen and offer thoughtful guidance when asked. Many professionals and policy makers relied on him to gain an understanding of water resource problems in order to make effective management decisions. Al’s tireless dedication to his craft and unmatched work ethic were an inspiration to all and leave a lasting legacy to the understanding, appreciation, and protection of Minnesota’s water resources.

Bruce Montgomery has made singular contributions to address agricultural impacts on water resources. Starting as the sole employee of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Fertilizer Management Section in 1990, Bruce had built the program to national prominence by the time he retired in 2018. Known for his ability to share his knowledge in a clear and engaging manner, he is a strong advocate of a science-based approach to problem solving. He played a key role in developing several programs including the Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Plan and the Manure Testing Laboratory Certification Program. Bruce has helped shape the careers of countless professionals within and beyond Minnesota. In a technical field that tends to be male-dominated, Bruce managed a team of nearly 40% women. Many of his team members continue to rise in positions of leadership, continuing his legacy of science-based decision making and professionalism. Those who have worked for and with Bruce are grateful for his vision, skills, commitment, support, and mentorship.

Al Kean Bruce Montgomery

Dave Ford Award

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John Baker, US Department of Agriculture, and Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of MinnesotaAnn Banitt, US Army Corps of EngineersWill Bartsch, Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota DuluthPat Baskfield, Minnesota Pollution Control AgencyJeff Berg, Minnesota Department of AgricultureJohn Bilotta, University of Minnesota Extension and Minnesota Sea Grant/Water Resources CenterSuzanne Butler, College of Continuing and Professional Studies, University of MinnesotaMark Brigham, US Geological SurveyTina Carstens, Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District

*William Douglass, Bolton & Menk, Inc.Tracy Fallon, Water Resources Center,University of MinnesotaKristi Fischer, College of Continuing andProfessional Studies, University of MinnesotaKatherine Hagberg, College of Continuing andProfessional Studies, University of MinnesotaLorin K. Hatch, Widseth Smith NoltingAndrea Hendrickson, Minnesota Departmentof TransportationKimberly Hill, St. Anthony Falls Laboratory,University of MinnesotaKaren Jensen, Metropolitan CouncilStephanie Johnson, City of MinneapolisCheryel Keyser, Water Resources Center,University of MinnesotaJoel Larson, Water Resources Center,University of MinnesotaRon Leaf, Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.Dendy Lofton, LimnotechSalam Murtada, Department of Natural Resources,Division of WatersRandy Neprash, Minnesota Cities StormwaterCoalition & Stantec

*Jeffrey Peterson, Water Resources Center,University of Minnesota

Amit Pradhananga, Department of Forest Resources, University of MinnesotaShawn Schottler, St. Croix Watershed Research StationWayne Sicora, Environmental Resource ManagementJames Stark, Minnesota Legislative Water CommissionKaty Thompson, ASCE Representative and RESPECStew Thornley, Minnesota Department of HealthRick Voigt, Voigt Consultants, LLCMarcey Westrick, Board of Water and Soil ResourcesGreg Wilson, Barr Engineering Company

*Committee Co-Chairs

2019 Water Resources Conference Planning Committee

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Poster SessionAquatic Invasive Species Economic Valuation In MinnesotaLucia Levers, Kasey Rundquist, Amit Pradhananga, Brent Dalzell, Przemyslaw Bajer, University of Minnesota

Assessing Regional Variability In Soil Health Indicators: A Meta-AnalysisHava Blair, Anna Cates, Jessica Gutknecht, Nicolas Jelinski, Ann Lewandowski, Megan Kocher, Meghan Lafferty, University of Minnesota

Dynamic Shifting And Readjustment Of Regional Hydro-Political Equilibrium Due To Climatic Change In PakistanFarah Jamil, Rashid Farooq, International Islamic University; Muhammad Atiq Ur Rehman Tariq, Victoria University Australia

Estimating Lake Water Volume Using Scale Similarity AnalysisChelsea Delaney, Kerry Holmberg, John Nieber, University of Minnesota; Jared Trost, USGS; Adam Heathcote, St. Croix Watershed Research Station

Evaluating The Fate And Persistence Of Antibiotics In Minnesota’s EnvironmentLara Frankson, University of Minnesota; William Arnold, University of Minnesota

Identifying The Impact And Efficacy Of Restoration Infrastructure On An Urban StreamJack Distel, University of Minnesota

Innovative Technologies To Comprehensively Measure Sediment Transport From The Chippewa River To The Mississippi River Downstream Of Lake PepinJ. William Lund, David Dean, U.S. Geological Survey; Daniel Buscombe, Northern Arizona University; Jeffrey Ziegeweid, Faith Fitzpatrick, David Topping, U.S. Geological Survey; Jon Hendrick-son, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Lead Poisoning And Wildlife: Crafting Visibility And Community ResponseDawn Tanner, Nick Voss, VLAWMO

Minnesota Stormwater Research Program And Stormwater Research CouncilJohn Bilotta, Water Resources Center, University of Minnesota

Modelling Egg Transport And Hatching Success To Investigate The Likelihood Of Invasive Carp Populations Becoming Established In The Lower St. Croix RiverJeffrey Ziegeweid, P. Ryan Jackson, U.S. Geological Survey; Nick Frohnauer, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; Alan Kasprak, William Lund, U.S. Geological Survey

Natural Toxins In Fish: Assessing The RiskVictoria Christensen, U.S. Geological Survey; Seth McWhorter, University of Georgia; Jaime LeDuc, Voyageurs National Park; Ryan Maki, Voyageurs National Park; Susan Wilde, University of Georgia

Photo-Degradation And Sorption Of Strobin Fungicides In Aquatic EnvironmentsMeghan O’Connor, William A. Arnold, University of Minnesota

Protecting The Harvest: State-Licensed Harvesters Weigh In On The Significance Of Wild RiceBree Duever, Jaren Peplinski, Mae Davenport, Laura Matson, University of Minnesota; Mike Dockry, University of Minnesota/US Forest Service; G.-H. Crystal Ng, University of Minnesota

Quantifying Understory Water Use: A Case Study Using A Portable Evapotranspiration ChamberShelby Hammerschmidt, Salli Dymond, Haley Golz, University of Minnesota Duluth

Stormwater Treatment With New Sustainable Drainage Aggregate Monte Niemi, TDA Mfg./FST

Stream Thermal Dynamics: The Influence Of Beaver Dams In A Northern Minnesota WatershedHannah Behar, Emma Burgeson, Salli Dymond, Karen Gran, Rebecca Teasley, University of Minnesota Duluth

The Role Of The Minnesota Office For Soil HealthAnn Lewandowski, University of Minnesota Water Resources Center; Anna Cates, University of Minnesota Department of Soil, Water, and Climate

The UMD Stormwater LaboratoryGustavo Merten; David Saftner, Kendal Hill, Karth Whiteside, University of Minnesota Duluth; Jerry Henneck, NRRI

Toward The Innovative, The Practical, And The Applied - Aquatic Invasive Species Internships Provide Career Path Exploration In Research, Natural Resource Management, And Science CommunicationMarte Kitson, Leah Glimsdal, University of Minnesota Duluth; Madeline Partch, College of St. Benedict

U.S. Geological Survey Flood Inundation Mapping ProgramJulia Prokopec, U.S. Geological Survey

Using Dissolved Organic Matter Characteristics To Infer Flowpaths During The Spring Snowmelt In Northern MinnesotaLucy Rose, Diana Karwan, University of Minnesota

Water Footprint Assessment Of Water Sensitive Urban Design Plans To Meet The Challenges Of Climate ChangeRashid Farooq, International Islamic University; Shahmir Janjua, Wah Engineering College; Farah Jamil, International Islamic University; Muhammad Atiq Ur Rehman Tariq, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia

Wetland Phosphorus Removal Through Vegetative HarvestingNadia Alsadi, Joe Magner, Chris Lenhart, University of Minnesota

Book of AbstractsMinnesota Water Resources Conference

October 15-16, 2019

Saint Paul RiverCentre

175 West Kellogg Boulevard Saint Paul, Minnesota

Arranged by session in order of presentation

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Tuesday, October 15 Book of Abstracts

Concurrent Session I, Track AHow Will Climate Change Affect Minnesota’s Water Resources?Bonnie Keeler, Tracy Twine, University of Minnesota; Kate Brauman, Institute on the Environment; Terin Mayer, Ryan Noe, University of Minnesota

Anticipated changes in precipitation and temperature due to climate change may directly and indirectly affect the quantity and quality of Minnesota’s water resources. Changes in lake temperature can interact with nutrient loading to affect lake clarity, behavioral responses to drought can trigger investments in irrigation leading to groundwater depletion, and flooding can threaten agricultural lands and infrastructure. Better managing water resources in a changing climate requires interdisciplinary approaches that assess not only biophysical changes in evapo-transpiration, surface runoff, and drainage, but also social and economic responses that create feedbacks at the energy-climate-water nexus.

Using best available dynamically-downscaled climate projections, we will present new research on the climate sensitivity of water-related ecosystem services in Minnesota, including impacts to drinking water, energy production, recreation, agriculture, and water-related infrastructure. Our approach combines integrated assessment models, ecosystem services metrics, statewide surveys, data on water consumption, and social and demographic data to produce a comprehensive picture of how a changing climate may affect Minnesota’s water resources and the communities that depend upon them.

Using Hydraulic And Hydrologic Techniques To Plan And Design Aquatic Habitat Restoration In A Wetter ClimateKacie Opat, Jon Hendrickson, US Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District

Project Objective: The Bass Ponds, Marsh, and Wetland Habitat Rehabilitation and Enhancement Project (Bass Ponds HREP) consists of three interconnected lakes and a marsh in the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge 10 miles south of Minneapolis, MN. Frequent flooding from the Minnesota River, combined with failing existing infrastructure, has resulted in prolonged full pool conditions in the lakes and marsh and degraded habitat.

The project objectives are to increase the diversity and percent cover of desirable emergent and submergent aquatic plant species and to provide quality feeding and resting habitat for a wide variety of waterfowl and waterbirds.

Engineering Techniques/Methodologies: Hydraulic and hydrologic analyses and models were the primary engineering tools used to develop alternatives for the Bass Ponds HREP. HEC-RAS 2D was utilized to determine existing flow patterns and design water control structures to optimize water level management. The 2D unsteady flow model included LiDAR terrain overlaid with bathymetric data for the lake complex.

A climate change analysis was also completed to describe the observed present and possible future climate threats, vulnerabilities, and impacts specific to the study goals and engineering designs.

Project Results: The recommended plan for the Bass Ponds HREP includes six stoplog structures with 5’x6’ concrete conduits that efficiently increases conveyance to allow for periodic drawdowns following periods of flooding. The climate change analysis indicated a trend of increasing river discharge that will likely continue to increase in the Minnesota River Basin in the future. Construction of this project is estimated to be completed by 2021.

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Concurrent Session I, Track A (continued)The Big Sioux River Flood Information System: A One-Stop Web Platform To Access Real-Time Stream Conditions, Flood Forecasts, Visualizations, Inundation Maps And Flood-Related DataJason Love, Seth Kenner, Peter Rausch, RESPEC; Tim Cowman, University of South Dakota, South Dakota Geological Survey

The Big Sioux River Basin in southwestern Minnesota and eastern South Dakota has experienced repeated flooding in recent years. In 2014, a major flood in the lower basin revealed shortcomings in understanding and predicting flood-event behavior. Available data and modeling at the time were not adequate for enabling state and local authorities to respond appropriately to the imminent flood event. Thankfully, the response to the 2014 event was overly conservative rather than inadequate, but the need for a comprehensive flood-mapping system and predictive model was realized. The State of South Dakota commissioned the development of the Big Sioux River Flood Information System in 2016.

The Big Sioux River Flood Information System is a two-part web platform. The first part is a public site with access to observed and forecasted stream conditions at over 50 locations throughout the Big Sioux River Basin and a library of 8,500 inundation maps that represent possible flood scenarios for five different communities. The second part is a site reserved for state and community officials and includes access to real-time flood inundation forecasts. The system’s core is a basin-wide hydrologic model (HSPF) that is continuously fed with observed and forecasted meteorological data. When flood events are predicted, the hydrologic output is run through flood inundation models (HEC-RAS 5) for the five communities, then predicted inundation maps are loaded to the web platform. The Big Sioux River Flood Information System provides the public with an understanding of potential flood risks and gives Flood Response Teams accurate information that is needed to make appropriate decisions during flood events.

A Decision Support Tool To Increase Resilience For The Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection ProjectLaurie Kellndorfer, Michael Schmidt, Richard Wagner, CDM Smith

CDM Smith has been assisting the City of Minot, North Dakota with various services in support of recovery from the June 2011 flood of record, which was approximately double the previous peak since 1904, caused over $500 million in damage, and affected over 12,000 residents. As part of this support, CDM Smith assisted with the preparation of a National Disaster Resilience Competition Phase 2 application to assist with implementation of the Mouse (Souris) River Enhanced Flood Protection Project (Project). The application incorporated a Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA) to identify potential refinements to enhance the BC ratio, while reducing flood risk, and increasing safety factor and resilience. A Decision Support Tool (DST) was developed to support the successful grant of $74 million.

This paper presents the development of the DST and the use of the tool to support resilient refinements to the Project. The DST acts as an alternative screening and evaluation tool for operational and construction enhancements. It serves as a platform to consider the entire hydrologic system, perform system-wide comparative analyses, and evaluate flood hydrographs, velocities, stages, and durations in key river reaches and reservoirs.

The DST was developed from existing data, Project design features, and USACE H&H models to evaluate flood mitigation alternatives. It provides support to prioritize buyouts of higher flood risk properties and reduce associated Project costs. The DST can serve as a platform to support deliberations concerning integrated flood operations of the US and Canadian Dams before, during, and after storm events to enhance benefits and resilience.

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Concurrent Session I, Track BChallenges In Monitoring And Assessment Of Performance Of Iron Enhanced Sand FiltersOmid Mohseni, Barr Engineering Company; Barbara Loida, Minnesota Department of Transportation; Katie Turpin-Nagel, Barr Engineering Company; Nicholas Olson, Beth Neuendorf, Minnesota Department of Transportation

Monitoring storm water treatment best management practices (BMPs) is a complex undertaking. It involves immense challenges to provide meaningful results for some BMPs and iron-enhanced sand filters (IESFs) are no exception. Herein, we present the work done on monitoring and data analysis of an IESF which was installed by MnDOT near Highway 610 in the Twin Cities Area in 2012. The purpose was to remove dissolved phosphorus (DP) from highway runoff. Upon construction of the IESF, a monitoring program was designed and implemented to assess the filter’s performance. The monitoring program included continuous flow measurements at predefined inflow and outflow locations, collection of storm event water samples using automatic samplers at inflow and outflow locations, and measuring rainfall using a rain gage at the site.

The monitoring program showed mixed results, i.e., sometimes higher effluent than influent DP concentrations and loads. Monitoring also showed that the annual inflow volume was approximately 60% of annual outflow volume. As a result, modifications to the monitoring program were implemented to more accurately measure the inflow and to better assess other potential inflows into IESF. These included the installation of piezometers in the IESF to determine inundation lengths and alternative inflow measurements. A hydrologic analysis was concurrently completed to better quantify the additional inflows to the IESF and phosphorus loads. This presentation provides the approach, data analyses, and results of the monitoring program and guidance in successful monitoring of iron-enhanced sand filters.

What Chemical Conditions Favor Phosphate Retention By Iron In Iron-Enhanced Sand Filters?Beth Fisher, Joshua Feinberg, University of Minnesota

To trap phosphorus from stormwater before it reaches natural waters, practitioners throughout Minnesota are installing iron-enhanced sand filters (IESFs). To determine the chemical conditions that promote effective retention of phosphate in IESFs, we used geophysical rock magnetic methods and we installed a suite of environmental sensors using open-source, low cost data loggers to monitor water and filter media properties to understand the oxygen and redox dynamics through cycles of IESF inundation, draining of the filter media, and the return to field moisture conditions. Metallic (zero valent) iron in filter media oxidized to magnetite, which dissolved and either exited the IESFs as solute or remained in the filter and formed goethite, hematite, lepidocrocite, and/or akageneite. Phosphate minerals were not detected, suggesting that the primary mechanism for phosphate trapping is through adsorption, which is of variable strength, and is highly dependent on pH for capture or release, particularly in the range of pH fluctuations observed in stormwater.

Chasing The Silver Bullet: Adventures In Alternative Stormwater Filtration MediaErin Anderson Wenz, Keith Pilgrim, Barr Engineering Company

Today’s stormwater practitioners are desperate for sustainable solutions that will filter stormwater to bind and remove stormwater pollutants in a cost-effective way. Where infiltration is impossible, we search for new and improved methods to remove particulate and dissolved phosphorus, metals and other pollutants from stormwater to meet permit requirements and improve the quality of downstream waterbodies. It’s a tall order, but there are some exciting recent advances in using Iron Enhanced Sand Filtration (IESF) and Spent Lime Filtration (SLF) for stormwater treatment. However, every success story has a cautionary backstory that has informed its success. This presentation will present these stories, including highlighting best practices in the design, implementation, monitoring and maintenance of Iron Enhanced Sand and Spent Lime Media filters.

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Concurrent Session I, Track B (continued)Using Biochar To Treat Bacteria In Urban Stormwater RunoffEd Matthiesen, Diane Spector, Wenck Associates, Inc.; Justine Dauphinais, Jon Janke, Coon Creek Watershed District

Stormwater conveys bacteria such as E. coli to receiving waters, where contact can be a human health risk. In urban areas bacteria sources are diffuse –pet and wildlife waste, sanitary overflows and leakages - and options for reducing loads are limited. How do you effectively address bacteria being conveyed to your impaired water or your swimming beach?

We will present four ways of using biochar amended iron-enhanced sand filters to reduce bacteria and nutrients in urban stormwater runoff. In a first of its kind field application of research previously only conducted in the lab, the Shingle Creek Watershed Management Commission and the Coon Creek Watershed District have successfully achieved reductions of 70 to 90 percent of E. coli from stormwater, even when incoming bacteria concentrations were extremely high. This is an exciting finding with great potential. We installed biochar- and iron-enhanced sand filters in storm sewer catch basin inserts, stormwater pond sand filter benches, and two different types of in situ applications to reduce bacteria and nutrients in stormwater runoff. We will present three years of inflow and outflow monitoring data as well as lessons learned about designing and maintaining these types of filters. Demonstrating that biochar- and iron-enhanced sand filters can be added to existing stormwater infrastructure or as standalone practices adds a powerful new tool to the urban stormwater toolbox.

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Concurrent Session I, Track CWatershed Responses To Climate Change ConditionsEmily Steinweg, Gary Sands, Bruce Wilson, Brent Dalzell, University of Minnesota

Climate change may have a variety of impacts on midwest USA agriculture, including impacts to water quality, soil erosion, and nutrient loss. Existing and future climate scenarios were modeled in the Le Sueur watershed using the Soil & Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to compare the watershed outflow and nutrient concentration outflows under those scenarios. The results from this analysis will be impactful for future decision making for agricultural producers and watershed managers the model area.

The Le Sueur watershed, in south-central Minnesota, USA, is approximately 1,112 square miles, 87% of which is agriculture. The agriculture land is predominantly in corn and soybean rotations. Much work has been done using international climate models to predict the climate impacts from anthropogenic climate changes, resulting in a prediction that the midwest will experience an increase in temperatures and more frequent, heavy rainfalls in the winter and spring with drier summers. Minnesota, in particular, has already documented an increase in extreme rainfall events. These events can cause flooding, damage land and property, and impact agricultural production.

This analysis uses six global climate model (GCM) projections from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) for the Le Sueur watershed area. The magnitude of change of five weather factors; maximum temperature, minimum temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, and wind speed, was averaged over three future climate time periods (2006-2029, 2030-2059, and 2060-2099) for two emissions scenarios, RCP 4.5 and 8.5. Average changes were applied to local weather in the WINDS model to simulate local climate projections. WINDS (Weather Input for Nonpoint Data Simulations) is a stochastic climate model that uses daily weather patterns and local variability to predict weather. The model uses historical weather patterns unique to south-central Minnesota to simulate a more locationally-accurate prediction.

Low-Grade Weirs As A Management Practice For Nutrient Removal In Agricultural Drainage Ditches In The Upper Mississippi River BasinJeffrey Strock, Andry Ranaivoson, Brent Dalzell, University of Minnesota; Gary Feyereisen, US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service; Axel Garcia y Garcia, University of Minnesota

In order to improve productivity, extensive agricultural areas in the Midwest require drainage systems consisting of subsurface drainage (tile) and open ditches. These drainage systems are known to transport particulate and dissolved phosphorus, nitrate-nitrogen, and sediment to streams and rivers. The objective of this research was to measure hydraulic residence time, nitrogen and phosphorus loads and drainage discharge in experimental drainage ditches with and without low-grade-weirs in a cold climate. This research took place in the Cottonwood River Watershed at the University of Minnesota, Southwest Research and Outreach Center near Lamberton, MN. The site included a paired drainage ditch system equipped with H-flumes and water level sensors for determination of discharge and flow rates along with automated samplers for collecting water to quantify water quality parameters. Ditch management in 2017 and 2018 resulted in 66% and 60% reductions in discharge from the ditch with the low-grade weir compared to the ditch without the low-grade weir. The ditch containing the low-grade weir resulted in nitrate-nitrogen load reductions of 76% and 64% in 2017 and 2018, respectively. A late season flush of phosphorus in 2017 resulted in an increase in dissolved phosphorus loss by 47% from the ditch with the low-grade weir compared to the ditch without the low-grade weir. In contrast, the ditch with the low-grade weir resulted in a 67% decrease in dissolved phosphorus in 2018.

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Concurrent Session I, Track C (continued)Bioreactors As A Management Practice For Nutrient Removal From Agricultural Drainage In The Upper Mississippi River BasinAndry Ranaivoson, Jeffrey Strock, Brent Dalzell, University of Minnesota; Gary Feyereisen, US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service; Axel Garcia y Garcia, University of Minnesota

One of the critical variables that determines the rate of any reaction is temperature. For biological systems, the effects of temperature are complicated by other factors like available carbon and residence time. A novel bioreactor capable of removing both nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) was configured to maximize N and P removal from agricultural drainage water by adding supplemental carbon and heat. This field experiment was conducted during 2018 and 2019 at the Southwest Research and Outreach Center, near Lamberton, MN. The experiment consisted of three replications of three experimental treatments consisting of a mixture of corncobs/woodchips (CW), corncobs/woodchips plus acetate (CWA) and corncobs/woodchips plus acetate and heat (CWAH). The target flow rate of subsurface drainage water delivered to each bioreactor was 4.0 L per minute. The mean N removal rates (NRR) among the three treatments was 13.6 g N m-3 d-1, 20.8 g N m-3 d-1, and 27.2 g N m-3 d-1 for the CW, CWA, and CWAH, respectively. Hydraulic residence time ranged between 2.1 and 2.2 hour. Mean NO3-N concentration ranged from 7.4 to 10.6 mg/L at the cube outlets while that of the untreated source water averaged 13.6 mg/L. Load reduction for NO3-N ranged between 17 and 38 %. Mean TP concentration ranged from 76.9 to 88.0 ug/L at the cube outlets while the source water averaged 95.5 ug/L. Total P load was reduced by between 12.2 and 21.0 %.

Reducing The Impacts Of Ag Nutrients On Water Quality Across A Changing LandscapeHeidi Peterson, Sand County Foundation; Mark Williams, US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service; Jane Frankenberger, Purdue University; Kevin King, US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service; Josh McGrath, University of Kentucky; Lara Moody, The Fertilizer Institute; Marc Ribaudo, US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (Retired); Jeff Strock, University of Minnesota

Agricultural productivity in the United States has doubled over the last 50 years through agricultural intensification and adoption of new innovative technologies. Although efficiency of our agricultural systems has increased, water quality remains a concern with minimal measured improvements observed nationwide. The purpose of this presentation is to summarize an Issue Paper published in April 2019, by the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST), which provides an overview of the processes, conservation practices, and programs that influence the impact of agriculture on surface and ground water quality. Complexities and difficulties associated with nutrient cycling and transport processes, management decisions and practice tradeoffs, and federal program effectiveness create immense challenges to achieving and measuring water quality improvement goals. Development of more precise nutrient recommendations, advancement of water monitoring methods to better differentiate among potential nutrient sources, design and implementation of novel conservation practices that address dissolved nutrient loss and in-stream nutrient retention, increased knowledge on processes influencing nutrient supply and transport, and increased cost-effectiveness of conservation programs integrating regional and industry-based collaboration are needed to continue to improve water quality in agricultural landscapes.

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Concurrent Session I, Track DFire Station #2 In Eden Prairie: Reuse And Landscaping Demonstration For Improved Stormwater ManagementKaitlyn Taylor, Jennifer Olson, Aileen Molloy, Tetra Tech

Tetra Tech supported the Iowa DNR through the US EPA’s Nutrient Framework technical assistance program with development of two source water protection (SWP) pilot plans for surface water drinking water sources: Big Spirit Lake and Cedar Lake. These SWPs were the first of their kind in Iowa and provided a bridge between watershed management and source water protection. In addition to proactively addressing drinking water quality and quantity through a voluntary plan, the pilot SWP plans 1) focused on nutrient loading from the contributing drainage area, 2) worked to implement the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, and 3) complemented the implementation of existing planning efforts including Total Maximum Daily Loads.

The presentation on will focus on integration of watershed management with source water protection, the application of the Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF) to site opportunities for agricultural practices that protect source water supply, and engagement with stakeholders including city and county governments, SWCDs, state and federal agencies, interested landowners, and area farmers.

These two water suppliers were awarded funding from the National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) for implementation activities in 2019. Out of the 16 NWQI source water recipients in 2019, only Cedar Lake and Big Spirit Lake are in the implementation phase. In addition, US EPA has gone on the fund two additional source water planning studies based on the initial success in these pilots.

Implementing A Program To Address Private Wells For Groundwater Protection: Surprises, Challenges, New Understanding Of Risk, And ProgressJessica Wilson, City of Edina

Private wells are one of the highest risk vectors for groundwater contamination. MN well code requires unused and unmaintained wells to be properly sealed and holds property owners responsible for groundwater contamination related to a private well. Encouraging private well sealing at the local level protects drinking water sources as well as property owners.

Many neighborhoods in Edina developed before municipal water was available and before the 1974 MN well code, which means a lot of private wells were bored and the records are inaccurate or missing.

City of Edina staff combined numerous data sources to create a GIS-based inventory of private wells and incorporated private well reviews into the building department permit program. Through this exercise it became apparent that many more private wells existed than previously thought.

It’s not uncommon for property owners to be unaware of the status or even the presence of a private well on their site. Reviewing building permits for private wells has enabled staff to encourage well sealing before new homes get built, potentially burying the problem for the lifecycle of a modern structure.

Additionally, overlapping private well and flood inundation GIS layers has revealed a new understanding of risk for private well owners and the City’s DWSMA.

Work to protect groundwater is ongoing and will impact the City long into the future. Additionally, this service provides value to property owners who are liable for any pollution to the wellhead caused by their private well.

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Concurrent Session I, Track D (continued)Can We Recognize The Effectiveness Of Improved Nitrogen BMPs In Southeastern Minnesota?Anthony Runkel, Julia Steenberg, Robert Tipping, Andrew Retzler, Minnesota Geological Survey; John Nieber, University of Minnesota

The effectiveness of efforts to reduce nitrate leaching to groundwater in southeastern Minnesota through improved best management practices may not be clear because of the difficulty to interpret monitoring data. For example, some monitoring sites have increasing trends for nitrate concentration, while other nearby sites show decreasing trends. One major problem with water quality interpretations has to do with the time required for water containing nitrate to travel through the groundwater system. To better understand this problem, we have interpreted groundwater chemistry datasets (wells and stream baseflow) within the context of detailed hydrogeologic mapping of the southeastern Minnesota aquifer system. The results reveal disparities in groundwater nitrate concentration relative to agricultural practices, and variability in decadal trends, that can be accounted for by variability in the proportion of older to younger water at individual sampling sites. Sites in locations dominated by younger water show concentrations and trends indicating rapid response to changes at the land surface. Many other monitoring sites are dominated by older water, with nitrate concentrations and trends reflecting land surface conditions as far back as decades ago. These recently completed and ongoing analyses, alongside a new project scheduled to begin in 2019, will provide us with greater predictability of the proportion of older to younger water at monitoring sites. Monitoring strategies should place more emphasis on acquiring samples from sites dominated by the youngest water to provide a clearer picture on the effectiveness of improved management practices in reducing nutrient loss.

Basin Drainage Timescale Estimates By Multivariate Regression AnalysisXiang Li, John Nieber, University of Minnesota; Jared Trost, United States Geological Survey; Francisco Lahoud, University of Minnesota

Due to a general sparseness of available data and the complicated nature of the Earth’s subsurface, unraveling the characteristics of groundwater systems is challenging. Nevertheless, one characteristic that can be derived relatively easily from streamflow records is the characteristic timescale for catchment drainage, also known as the median groundwater travel time. This characteristic timescale plays a significant role in basin hydrology regarding the long-term trend in groundwater storage and transport of constituents in groundwater systems. One possible theoretical expression for characteristic drainage timescale is derived from the Boussinessq equation, which itself is derived based on simplifying assumptions about groundwater flow configuration. We have tested this theoretical expression by conducting a multivariate analysis on data acquired for HUC-8 watersheds in central Minnesota. The independent variables included perennial stream length, watershed area, basin scale transmissivity, aquifer thickness and aquifer slope. The dependent variable, groundwater travel time, was determined empirically from baseflow recession analysis. Regarding the statistical significance and also the magnitude and sign of the regression coefficients, the regression between independent variables and groundwater travel time is in agreement with the theoretical drainage timescale expression. This multivariate analysis serves as confirmation that geomorphic features control the catchment drainage process. As an illustration we apply the drainage timescale for one of the HUC-8 watersheds to quantify the trend in water storage change over a period from 2002 – 2015, and compare the result to storage change estimates from satellite, water well data, and hydrologic modeling approaches.

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Concurrent Session I, Track E Updates To The Prioritize, Target, And Measure Application (Ptmapp) To Help Meet Today’S Water Quality ChallengesKris Guentzel, Houston Engineering, Inc.; Matt Drewitz, Board of Water and Soil Resources; Amir Khimji, Minnesota IT Services; Alison Slaats, Minnesota Geospatial Information Office; Chuck Fritz, Mark Deutschman, International Water Institute

In 2014, the Prioritize, Target, and Measure Application (PTMApp) was released to identify conservation opportunities and better understand their benefit relative to other opportunities in their watershed. Over the last five years, PTMApp improvements have increased functionality, improved the user experience, and tailored the application to better meet the long-term and day-to-day needs of local government staff. These improvements have accelerated in the last couple years with investments by the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) and increased support for both the ArcGIS Desktop (PTMApp-Desktop) and web-enabled (PTMApp-Web) versions of the tool. BWSR is in the process of completing a User Needs Assessment “roadmap” for current and future investments. This presentation will explore how PTMApp can address water quality needs and describe recent and planned PTMApp investments outlined in the User Needs Assessment. If you are currently using the tool or are interested in learning more, don’t miss this talk!

Estimating Total Terrestrial Water Storage In Central MinnesotaJohn Nieber, Chelsea Delaney, Kerry Holmberg, Francisco Lahoud, Xiang Li, University of Minnesota; Jared Trost, United States Geological Survey; Bruce Wilson, University of Minnesota

The water stored in lakes, wetlands, streams, soil, and groundwater plays a critical role in the functioning of the ecosystems of the earth and human well-being. In the past two years we have been developing estimates of terrestrial water storage in a region spanning from the Twin Cities Metro to Moorhead. The region contains 17 HUC-8 watersheds. Storage estimates were made using data from observation wells, soil moisture monitoring sites, lake levels, and the national wetland inventory. Water level data from wells in conjunction with lakes was used with interpolation methods to estimate water table levels across the study region, and from that water storage was estimated using porosity estimates for the quaternary geology. Lake volumes were estimated using a model that applies lake surface area with the topography surrounding a lake. Soil moisture was estimated using thickness of the unsaturated zone and assuming field capacity conditions. Storage in wetlands was estimated using the wetland areas mapped within the national wetland inventory. These estimates of water storage were made on an annual basis. Annual changes in water storage were estimated using water balance models, and by data from the GRACE satellite which quantifies the change in stored mass based on gravitational anomalies. Estimated changes in water storage with time were found to be consistent across these different approaches. It is hoped that the methods applied and tested will be of assistance in water management decision-making, and to provide data for hydrologic and ecosystem models.

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Concurrent Session I, Track E (continued)Developing a Subsurface Sewage Treatment System (SSTS) Risk Assessment in Washington CountyJennifer Olson, Tetra Tech; Stephanie Souter, Washinton County; Kaitlyn Taylor, Tetra Tech

Washington County has been updating and modernizing their SSTS records and estimates there are over 17,000 SSTS systems in the County. The county has a database of maintenance records for almost all these systems which includes an approximate location. The risk assessment serves to consolidate all relevant data and information on SSTS into a tool designed to provide the county and others with information to support planning and policy decisions. The tool was developed in an ArcGIS framework and is based on a series of indicators that were chosen from over 35 initial datasets. These indicators are used in combination to determine the level of risk to surface water and groundwater. They also provide the data to determine the level of risk from individual or multiple SSTS.

The risk assessment tool can be used at multiple scales (e.g., parcel, watershed) and can be customized by the user with updated datasets and indicator weighting. Outputs can be used to provide consistent information to planners, policy developers and decision makers that will allow better prioritization and targeting of funds and efforts. Outputs can also be used to inform other planning efforts such as lake management plans.

This presentation will provide a summary of the County’s data collection efforts; review the process undertaken to choose the strongest and most relevant indicators that would identify risk to surface water, groundwater, and from an individual SSTS; and introduce the tool. Examples of uses will also be provided.

Using Acoustic Doppler Velocity Meters To Estimate Suspended Sediment In The Lower Minnesota And Mississippi RiversJoel Groten, Jeffrey Ziegeweid, J. William Lund, Erin Coenen, U.S. Geological Survey

Lake Pepin is filling in with sediment at a rapid rate compared to conditions prior to intense agricultural cultivation by European immigrants. Accordingly, State Agencies have developed aggressive plans to prioritize sediment sources, understand transport mechanisms, and implement large-scale strategies to reduce sedimentation in Lake Pepin.

The Minnesota River is the primary sediment source to Lake Pepin (Engstrom and others, 2009). Current loading estimates were calculated from sampling and laboratory methods that greatly underestimate the actual concentrations in the rivers when compared to U.S. Geological Survey width and depth integrated sampling and laboratory methods. The purpose of the study was to collect suspended-sediment concentrations (SSCs) and acoustic backscatter data from acoustic Doppler velocity meters to improve understanding of sediment-transport processes and increase accuracy of estimating SSCs and suspended-sediment loads for the lower Minnesota River and the Mississippi River.

The study results indicated that acoustic backscatter worked well in estimating SSCs at sites not regulated by locks, dams, and lakes. The results also confirmed previous studies that determined most of the suspended-sediment loading into the Mississippi River is from the Minnesota River and the largest sediment sink is Lake Pepin. Suspended-sediment loading from site to site and year to year was often variable. As a result, this study demonstrates the value in having high temporal and spatial resolution of continuous sediment monitoring from acoustic devices to help manage the sources of sediment into Lake Pepin.

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Concurrent Session 2, Track AHow Long Has It Been In The Lake? Sediment Reveals Invasion History Of Spiny Water FleaNichole DeWeese, Donn Branstrator, University of Minnesota Duluth; Euan Reavie, Natural Resources Research Institute

The spiny water flea (Bythotrephes longimanus) is an invasive predacious zooplankton species that has spread to lakes throughout the upper Midwest, Northeast, and Canada. Once introduced to a lake, spiny water flea devastates native phytoplanktivorous zooplankton populations in the pelagic zone. The impacts of reductions of native zooplankton can cascade across lower food webs and lead to increased algal blooms and reduction of prey for young fish. However, these impacts take time to appear and require knowledge of when spiny water flea first invaded an ecosystem, which is difficult to estimate from water column samples because of the species’ small size. To explore this problem, we examined lake sediments for subfossils of spiny water flea to estimate first invasion of the species and changes in its population over time. We reconstructed populations in Mille Lacs Lake and Kabetogama Lake in northern Minnesota from 1970 to present and found spiny water flea subfossils in all sediment samples. Results suggest that spiny water flea was present in both lakes for at least 30 years before detection in the water column and existed for decades at low population densities before increasing. Potential drivers of population dynamics will be explored.

Spiny Water Flea Dispersal: Quantifying Ensnarement Risk By Recreational EquipmentDonn Branstrator, University of Minnesota Duluth; Valerie Brady, Josh Dumke, Holly Wellard Kelly, University of Minnesota Duluth, Natural Resources Research Institute

Spiny water flea can dramatically diminish the abundance and biodiversity of native zooplankton. Although human recreational equipment is widely considered to be the most threatening vector of spiny water flea spread, we know little about the relative risk of fouling associated with alternative forms of recreational equipment. We simulated usage of fishing lines, downrigger cables, bait buckets, anchor ropes, and live wells in Island Lake Reservoir and Lake Mille Lacs in order to measure their susceptibility to fouling by spiny water flea. Gear was deployed during daytime hours and twilight hours on consecutive, 1 kilometer long transects. Anchors were deployed at the ends of transects. Results indicate that ensnarement risk associated with anchor lines is very low compared to most other gear types, and that ensnarement risk for some equipment can be dependent on time of day. Our results have the potential to inform recreationalists, managers, and AIS personnel on which gear needs the most vigilant decontamination attention.

Assessing The Response Of Eurasian And Hybrid Watermilfoil To Intensive Herbicidal Management In MinnesotaJasmine Eltawely, University of Minnesota Water Resources Science Graduate Program; Raymond Newman, University of Minnesota; Ryan Thum, Montana State University

Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) and its hybrid (M. spicatum x M. sibiricum) are invasive aquatic plants in the United States, with millions spent annually on control. Hybrid watermilfoil is more genetically diverse than its parent Eurasian and some hybrid genotypes have been found to be more invasive and less sensitive to commonly used herbicides. To assess the response of Eurasian and hybrid watermilfoil to herbicidal management, we surveyed five lakes with management using herbicides and five unmanaged reference lakes in the summer of 2018. All lakes surveyed contain hybrid watermilfoil. The managed lakes were treated with large-scale spot treatments 2,4-D (1 lake) or, ProcellaCOR (2 lakes), or whole lake treatments with fluridone (2 lakes) during the summer of 2018. These lakes were sampled prior to (May or June), and after (August) treatment to characterize the plant community and the occurrence of milfoil taxa and genotypes. The lake-wide fluridone treatments eliminated almost all milfoil, with less than 2% frequency remaining in both lakes. The lakes treated with 2,4-D and ProcellaCor had less herbicidal coverage (8-15% of lake area treated) and less overall control. The within treatment area milfoil was well controlled with 2,4-D; milfoil occurrence within these areas decreased from 53% to 5% following treatment, while the lakewide milfoil occurrence had a 50% decrease. There was less control observed with the use of ProcellaCOR, and in one lake milfoil increased following treatment. Further surveys of these managed lakes will occur in future summers to assess the milfoil infestations moving forward.

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Concurrent Session 2, Track A (continued)Status And Trends Of Wetlands In Minnesota: Minnesota Wetland Condition Assessment (2011/12 – 2016)Michael Bourdaghs, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

The Minnesota Wetland Condition Assessment (MWCA) is a probabilistic survey initiated to broadly measure wetland quality trends and help determine if we are achieving our state goal of no-net-loss in the quantity, quality, and biological diversity of our wetlands. Vegetation quality can integrate and reflect cumulative wetland impacts, is the primary MWCA indicator, and is expressed through the Floristic Quality Assessment approach. Results from the 2016 (2nd) MWCA iteration provide the first estimates of wetland quality change representative of all of Minnesota’s wetland types. Minnesota’s overall wetland vegetation quality continues to be high with an estimated 60% of the state’s wetlands in exceptional/good condition. Wetland vegetation quality also continues to vary greatly in different parts of the state with wetlands in the northern region predominately in exceptional/good condition, while wetlands in the central and former prairie regions are largely degraded. Wetland quality may have improved in the central and former prairie regions as the extent of fair condition wetland significantly increased—with a corresponding decrease of poor condition wetland—between 2011/12 – 2016. These changes were unexpected and appear to be associated with an overall decrease in non-native invasive species abundance in those regions. A combination of sampling variability and measurement error appear to be the most likely cause of the change. The overall picture for Minnesota’s wetland vegetation quality, however, largely remains the same and more survey iterations and refinement will be required to determine if quality is changing over time.

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Concurrent Session 2, Track BPermeable Alleyway Installation + Monitoring In MinneapolisRich Harrison, Metro Blooms

In Minneapolis, there is approximately 400 miles of alleyway and nearly all alleys are publicly‐owned. This project offered a unique opportunity to install a permeable alleyway in Minneapolis and monitor the effectiveness of the system. In partnership with Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, Hennepin County, St. Anthony Falls Laboratory and alley residents, permeable pavement and monitoring systems were installed in a privately‐owned alleyway in south central Minneapolis in 2017-18.

The alleyway, located in the Lake Hiawatha subwatershed, ends 5 houses into the block, and is privately owned by the 5 residences adjacent to the alleyway on the west side of the block. Poor condition prior to 2018 caused severe flooding of garages, driveways, and backyards. Project goals included: reduction of localized flooding, reduction in volume of runoff and associated pollutants flowing to Lake Hiawatha and Minnehaha Creek, and before/after monitoring to measure effectiveness and feasibility of permeable alleys in Minneapolis.

In May of 2017 a trench drain, flow-rate measurement device, and rain gauge were installed in the alleyway to capture a year of precipitation and runoff data. In May 2018 the alley was replaced with a PaveDrain permeable pavement system and a second year of data was captured.

The permeable pavers reduced the runoff from the catchment area by 86%. Study limitations lead us to believe the paver’s actual success rate was 94%, as a small amount of impervious surface continued to drain directly to the trench drain without mediation by the pavers. Furthermore, no surface flooding was observed in 2018.

Rooting Out Pollution Along The Green Line: Five Years Of Green Infrastructure Operation, Monitoring, Maintenance, And PerformanceSarah Wein, Anna Eleria, Capitol Region Watershed District

The Green Line is a two-way light rail line connecting the Minneapolis and Saint Paul downtowns that became operational in 2014. As part of this construction, a series of boulevard raingardens and stormwater planters at nine locations adjacent to the light rail were installed to reduce the impact of stormwater runoff along this highly urbanized transportation corridor. Capitol Region Watershed District (CRWD) has inspected, maintained, and monitored the functionality and effectiveness of these BMPs over the past five years.

These surface practices are heavily impacted by large volumes of runoff, trash, debris, and sediment that have affected plant health, rate of sedimentation, and frequency of routine maintenance. The design of the practices and maintenance schedules have evolved to address these challenges. This project also offered a monitoring opportunity to better understand BMP performance. An analysis of field data (including level, flow, precipitation, and water quality) from 2014-2018 was used to compare actual BMP effectiveness to the modeled results and determine project effectiveness for runoff reduction and pollutant removal.

Overall, results show that these BMPs captured an average of 88% of monitored events and showed a significant reduction in TP and TSS. These results indicate that even with the maintenance challenges, the constructed BMPs are meeting or exceeding performance expectations. Lessons learned are helping CRWD understand the level of effort and costs of maintaining green infrastructure practices and will inform designs of future projects. Continued monitoring will aid in long-term maintenance planning as well as understanding overall project performance over time.

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Concurrent Session 2, Track B (continued)A Maintenance Look Back: The Treatment And Reuse Of Stormwater As An Amenity In Minneapolis’ Heritage ParkDavid Filipiak, SRF Consulting Group, Inc.; Lisa Goddard, Sean Oberg, Elizabeth Stout, City of Minneapolis

Constructed in the early 2000s, Heritage Park is 130-acre neighborhood consisting 900-unit of housing in North Minneapolis. The site includes a buried river valley and a former creek/wetland complex, which filled over time with unstable soils, silts, clays, and organic materials that contributed to the failure of previous land uses.

Heritage Park is organized around an enhanced park system. The project harvests stormwater from both on and off-site areas and uses an innovative treatment train approach containing several regional stormwater gardens in series that highlight the movement of water and support open water ponds within the public realm parks and open spaces. The harvested stormwater passes through grit chambers, wet forebays, and filtration basins to remove non-point source pollutants prior to reaching the new ponds.

The stormwater elements were designed to withstand Minnesota winters, facilitate long-term maintenance, create a new park design vocabulary for an inner-city neighborhood, and respond to construction challenges given poor soil conditions. All above ground stormwater infrastructure elements were designed to minimize erosion and sediment build-up and to be aesthetic amenities and educational features within the park system. This project demonstrates that stormwater treatment can function as a community amenity.

This presentation will include a discussion of the original design elements that were discussed at the time regarding the innovative approach to stormwater management as an amenity, and, most importantly, a discussion about maintenance methods and practices. How often are they cleaned out? What tweaks (or wholesale changes) could be made to the design to better accommodate current equipment? How are the filtration basins holding up? All these questions and more will be addressed in this talk.

Analyzing Watershed Chloride Loading Patterns To Inform Adaptive Management For Road De-IcingMelissa Friese, University of Minnesota

In areas that experience cold climate, road salt is commonly used to de-ice roads. Although effective at maintaining traffic mobility, the chloride washed off the roads into the storm drains causes infrastructure corrosion, contaminates groundwater, and harms aquatic life resulting in dozens of chloride-impaired waters in the Metro area. Removal of the chloride through treatment is not feasible. Because road salt application rates are highly variable we hypothesize that chloride loading is also highly variable. By understanding the dynamics of salt movement through watersheds, our goal is to develop adaptive management practices that can be used by cities to develop de-icing practices that have less economic and environmental impact.

Analysis of data four stormwater outfalls in the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) revealed that chloride loading was highly disproportionate in time. From 2011 to 2017, 60-80% of chloride loading occurs in less than 100 days each year. A similar trend was found for the subsequent years. During winter, the highest loading days occur during “winter mix” weather periods. In the spring, high loading days occur from snowmelt and flushing. We postulate that major reductions of chloride loading could be accomplished by focusing on a few of these high loading events each year.

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Concurrent Session 2, Track CTen Years of Watershed Pollutant Load MonitoringLee Ganske, Pat Baskfield, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Minnesota’s Watershed Pollutant Load Monitoring Network (WPLMN) recently passed a milestone of a decade of data collection, analysis, and results communication. The WPLMN, a partnership of state, federal, and local agencies and organizations that is coordinated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency measures streamflow, sediment, and nutrients at 200 mostly medium-sized and large rivers throughout Minnesota.

Over the past 10 years, the WPLMN has provided new knowledge about the conditions and dynamics of Minnesota’s watersheds and rivers. In addition, many lessons have been learned about operating and sustaining the WPLMN. The authors will overview significant findings including spatial and temporal variability, and trends, in streamflow, pollutant concentration, and pollutant loads. The authors will discuss what these findings tell about pollutant sources and management strategies. The authors will also share their learnings on the operational side including working with multiple partner organizations and several public and private labs, dealing with shifting state priorities and budgets, and starting to adapt to climate change.

A Low Cost Internet Of Things For Water Resources Science And Management: Streaming Data From Streams, Fields, And Marshes To Water Researchers And ManagersBryan Runck, Peter Marchetto, University of Minnesota

Timely and accurate data are critical for integrated water resources science and management. Yet, data remain costly to collect, process, store, and operationalize for decision-making. The GEMS agroinformatics initiative and the UMN Sensing and Instrumentation lab are collaborating to develop an “internet of things” platform that can stream data back in real-time from low cost sensors in stream, field, marsh, and barn back to GEMS servers. This data is then made accessible to watershed researchers and managers through web-based portals for analysis and visualization. This presentation will provide a general overview of the platform, our approach of using low cost, open source hardware and software, and a description of pilot projects to date. Our pilot projects illustrate that it is possible to reduce the cost and time of data collection in field, but that coordinated cross organization efforts remain needed in order to scale this approach to maximize impacts.

Get Real-Time! Automation And Telemetry To Improve Stormwater Monitoring And BMP PerformanceJoe Sellner, Forrest Kelley, Bob Fossum, Capitol Region Watershed District

The Capitol Region Watershed District (CRWD) has implemented automation and telemetry systems to improve the operation, efficiency and efficacy of several stormwater BMPs and long-term stormwater monitoring installations. Two capital improvement projects, a stormwater reuse and infiltration system at Upper Villa Park in Roseville MN and an underground infiltration facility adjacent to Curtiss Pond in Falcon Heights MN, highlight the use of weather forecasting combined with real-time control to maximize performance and benefits of these BMPs. Additionally, CRWD has increased the efficiency, accuracy and reliability of the stormwater monitoring program by automating manual tasks and reducing time in the field by implementing telemetry for data retrieval and equipment programming.

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Concurrent Session 2, Track C (continued)Stream Monitoring for Pollutant Loads and Long-Term Trends: MCES Stream Monitoring Turns 30Casandra Champion, Jennifer Kostrzewski, Metropolitan Council Environmental Services

The MCES Stream Monitoring Program was initiated in six watersheds in the Lower Minnesota River Basin in 1988, building seven of the first comprehensive automated water quality monitoring stations in the region. The monitoring program was designed to study Lower Minnesota River basin non-point and point source phosphorous dynamics during the open water season and guide wastewater treatment infrastructure investment strategies. Over the ensuing three decades, MCES Stream Monitoring expanded in scope and geographical reach.

The MCES Stream Monitoring Program is a cooperative regional partnership comprising 21 automated water quality monitoring stations representing 20 watersheds and 17 agencies; collecting hydrology, water chemistry and biological data to describe non-point source pollution dynamics in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. This program supports Metropolitan Council Thrive outcomes of stewardship, sustainability and livability by employing the principles of integration, collaboration and accountability.

The monitoring program included a sampling plan designed to determine annual pollutant load. Recently, long-term pollutant trend has emerged as a powerful way to describe watershed pollutant dynamics. So, here’s the conundrum – pollutant load models run better when sampling programs emphasize capturing storm events, pollutant trend models run better when sampling programs are unbiased and routine.

In 2017, MCES embarked on a several-year process of redesigning our sampling stations and our sampling programs to provide high quality data sets for both types of analyses. This presentation will describe the data requirements of pollutant load and trend models and discuss a sampling program design that will produce high-quality and flexible datasets.

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Concurrent Session 2, Track DStormwater Capture And Reuse For Irrigation As A Public UtilityBob Bean, Bolton & Menk, Inc.; Craig Eldred, City of Waconia

The City of Waconia was experiencing increased runoff volumes due to development and a mounting potable water demand. The city embarked on a program to effectively collect and manage their stormwater runoff and turn it into a usable resource. Using Bolton & Menk to design a stormwater reuse system, the objectives were to minimize flooding potential, maximize development potential, and reduce potable water demand. By collecting stormwater runoff regionally and using it as a public utility, the city can: reduce flooding potential in downstream developments, provide water for irrigation at 60 percent of the cost of potable water, reduce potable water demand, meet stormwater management requirements for all new public and private improvements within the Reuse Overlay District, maximize development area for private lots, control irrigation rates to match weather conditions, and maintain equipment to ensure adequate functionality.

We used guidance from the Metropolitan Council, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and Title 22 of California Regulations, related to recycled water, to help drive system design decisions to ensure reliability and safe practice of the non-potable irrigation system. Regional wet retention basins and underground tanks are used for storage. Various treatment facilities are used based on locations and exposure, including water quality structures, filters, and UV disinfection.

With the right partnerships in place, the city discovered stormwater reuse systems for irrigation can be cost effective for regional stormwater management. The city considers connecting to the irrigation system as a public utility by applying a connection charge to developers who use the system to meet their stormwater management requirement. Furthermore, the demand on the potable water distribution system has been reduced, which allows the city to expand their water distribution network to newly developed areas without an impact to their water appropriations.

Landmark Clean Water Infrastructure At Allianz FieldWes Saunders-Pearce, City of Saint Paul; Anna Eleria, Forrest Kelly, Capitol Region Watershed District

The City of Saint Paul has made a bold commitment to sustainability and green infrastructure that will support the long-term health of its community and environment. At the Allianz Field soccer stadium site, the City of Saint Paul, with support from Capitol Region Watershed District, has developed landmark clean water infrastructure, which will recycle millions of gallons of rainwater every year.

Within the 35-acre Midway Development District, every drop of rain and snow melt from the roof of Allianz Field and neighboring future District buildings will be captured and directed to a 675,000+ gallon storage tank. From here, the water is processed through a smart hub that analyses and cleans the water. This smart hub can even read weather forecasts to predict rainfall and adjust water levels accordingly. After being cleaned in the smart hub, the water is distributed throughout the District for irrigating trees and grass across the site. Irrigated boulevard trees are planted in engineered soil trenches to capture and clean polluted runoff from roadways and sidewalks before discharging to the Mississippi River. Connecting new developments with the landmark water system will also provide these businesses with a source of filtered water for uses such as laundry, irrigation, or restroom flushing.

The City is exploring opportunities to generate funding for ongoing construction and maintenance costs based on assessments to new developments on the site, making it both environmentally and economically sustainable for area businesses and the City of Saint Paul.

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Concurrent Session 2, Track D (continued)Motivations And Barriers To Industrial Water Conservation In The Twin Cities Metropolitan AreaMatt Domski, Laura Babcock, Paul Pagel, Mick Jost, Becky Copper, Minnesota Technical Assistance Program; Brian Davis, Metropolitan Council Water Supply Planning Unit

Between 2012 and 2017, MnTAP made 194 water efficiency recommendations to facilities identifying potential annual water savings of over 279,000,000 gallons per year. Approximately 82% of the recommendations resulted from 20 MnTAP intern projects, while 18% resulted from 10 MnTAP staff site assessments. To date, implemented water efficiency recommendations total over 95,700,000 gallons per year, 34% of the recommended opportunity.

MnTAP interviewed industrial facility staff on reasons why water conservation technical assistance recommendations made during MnTAP staff site assessments or summer intern projects were or were not pursued. Interview results revealed factors that influence implementation of water efficiency recommendations. Some of the motivational factors for pursuing recommendations included corporate goals, site continuous improvement programs, regulatory constraints, energy costs, metro area wastewater strength and sewer availability charges (SAC), as well as water supply and quality issues. Examples of barriers to implementing recommendations included competing limited internal resources such as time, human resources and capital, along with return on investment and technologically or logistically challenging process changes.

Understanding these motivations and barriers has been critical for MnTAP in order to increase effectiveness of technical assistance to Minnesota industries and to achieve statewide water conservation goals.

Commercial, Industrial, & Institutional Water Conservation ResultsCarmelita Nelson, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; Leo Steidel, ESPWater

In Minnesota, over 1.2 trillion gallons of water was reported used by 9,400 water use permits in 2017. Power generation uses 63% of that water and other commercial, industrial, and institutional permits use another 8%. For the first time ever, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) asked them not only how much water are they using, but what are they doing to conserve water. Although the new conservation reporting is voluntary, the survey revealed some very interesting result. For example, nationwide the hospital sector is among the highest in Water Use Intensity (WUI), using a median of 315 gal/bed/day or 55-150 gal/sq. ft./day. For comparison, in Minnesota the statewide household water use is 52 GPCD. Some Minnesota hospitals are leading the way in water sustainability by converting their heating and cooling equipment to closed loop systems, installing pressure control valves, and training staff on water conservation, to name a few.

The new Water Conservation Report also collected data from food processing facilities, ethanol production facilities, large factories, prisons, and many other sectors. The annual reporting system will measure water conservation progress and track trends statewide. The reporting system benefits industry by encouraging best practices that reduce operating cost, reduce energy costs associated with water production, reduce water treatment costs, improve their stewardship and sustainability image, and meet or exceed industry standards. One industrial representative thanked the DNR for giving them a platform to report their environmental stewardship.

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Concurrent Session 2, Track E Advances In Snowmelt Modeling In The Midwest, Red River Of The North Ann Banitt, Kevin Denn, Emily Moe, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

The Red River of the North (RRN) basin is a hydrologically-complex area bordering eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota. Positioned in low-lying glacial Lake Agassiz, the RRN flows northward over very flat terrain. The watershed is vulnerable to snowmelt floods due to its flat terrain and low permeability soil. High river discharges poses a threat to communities along the RRN, inundating sections of land extending out several miles from the river’s main channel.

The St Paul District USACE in partnership with the USACE Cold Regions Laboratory utilized the temperature index method of HEC-HMS to simulate the snowmelt across the watershed, focusing on the March 2009 flooding event that was the basin’s second-worst in modern history. Real-Time Mesoscale Analysis (RTMA) is a NOAA/NCEP high-spatial and temporal resolution analysis/assimilation system for near-surface weather conditions. RTMA was used for the temperature series, and SNODAS was used to generate an “observed” snow water equivalent (SWE) time series for each HMS subbasin for calibration purposes.

Regional suitability of snowmelt parameters was assessed to group regions across the 46,000 square mile watershed that could be parameterized similarly. A suite of snowmelt parameters were applied across the basin and Nash Sutcliffe Efficiency parameters were calculated and displayed spatially using GIS software. Calibrated parameters for regulated basins were reviewed against the visual relationships discovered in the regional processing.

Despite the basin’s extreme flatness NASA’s MEaSUREs Calibrated Enhanced-Resolution Passive Microwave Brightness Temperature (CETB) data indicates heterogeneous behavior in the initial melt onset spatial distribution, which provides valuable hydrologic information on snowmelt processes and could help improve the accuracy of hydrologic modeling in the basin.

Managing Water Systems For Resiliency Through Future Conditions ModelingBret Zimmerman, Houston Engineering, Inc.; Phil Belfiori, Rice Creek Watershed District; Chris Otterness, Houston Engineering, Inc.

The Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) contains some of the fastest-growing communities in the metro area. Because of the scale of these land use changes, the RCWD recognized that increasing runoff volumes may have cumulative effects on downstream water management systems, despite the RCWD’s progressive stormwater management rules. To effectively address these changes and to understand their magnitude, the RCWD needed a tool to predict the effects of projected land use changes on a watershed-wide scale, and needed to evaluate the effectiveness of proactive projects and programs the RCWD can use to address these issues.

The tool the RCWD chose for predicting the resiliency of its systems was an adaptation of its District Wide Modeling Program (DWMP). The DWMP, based on the EPA’s Stormwater Management Model, was developed in 2011 to simulate the complex interconnectivity of the RCWD’s water management systems. The DWMP was later modified to reflect hydrologic changes which would result from the projected future changes in land uses, and then the DWMP was further altered to simulate potential stormwater management decisions.

This presentation will describe the challenges faced in “predicting the future” on a watershed-wide scale, the value of these tools in striving for system resiliency, and opportunities for collaboration with local governments to achieve common goals.

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Concurrent Session 2, Track E (continued)Alphabet Soup - One City’s Journey to Developing A City-Wide ModelKaty Thompson, RESPEC; Phillip Elkin, City of St. Louis Park

Water resources engineering and science is littered with an alpha-numeric mess of software and models, leaving many officials unfamiliar with the differences between these models or how to interpret the model results. This educational presentation will focus on the more common hydrologic and hydraulic modeling platforms, provide attendees with knowledge of these models, and when/where they may be best applied. It is not intended to be a training session, nor will it get into the details of modeling, but rather provide a discussion of how these models are used, the benefits and limitations, relative costs and levels of effort involved, culminated with an example case study presented by the City of St. Louis Park.

As part of the City of St. Louis Park’s Surface Water Management Plan, six different existing models (XP-SWMM and HydroCAD) were consolidated into a unified model using EPA SWMM. The City’s choice to use an open-source model has allowed them to more quickly and efficiently update and revise the model using City staff as well as transfer the model to consultants and neighboring communities with minimal effort. Phillip Elkin, Senior Project Manager with the City of St. Louis Park, will present on the City’s perspective, including the difficulties managing multiple models and the benefits of the new system. Katy Thompson (RESPEC) will provide a brief background on water resources modeling platforms, including general limitations and applications of common water resources models.

Modeling The Impacts Of Mining On Hydrology In The St. Louis River BasinTimothy Cowdery, Anna Baker, Megan Haserodt, Daniel Feinstein, US Geological Survey; Nancy Schuldt, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa; Randall Hunt, US Geological Survey

The St. Louis River Basin (SLRB) in northern Minnesota is not only home to the Mesabi Iron Range, but it is also territory ceded by the Tribes of this region, who maintain rights to hunt, fish, and gather on this land. Mining has the potential to alter groundwater flows that feed rivers, wetlands, and lakes. However, broad understanding of flows between ground- and surface-waters across the basin is limited.

In cooperation with Tribal representatives from five bands of Minnesota Chippewa and Ojibwe, the U.S. Geological Survey is developing a series of groundwater models for the SLRB to explore how groundwater flux to streams may have changed as a result of changing land uses. We use a stepwise approach, beginning with a broad two-dimensional analytic element model of the entire basin. We then zoom in to the Iron Range with a more detailed three-dimensional (3-D) finite-difference (MODFLOW) model. This 3-D model describes both horizontal and vertical flow of groundwater, providing information about groundwater/surface-water flows. Two 3-D models are being developed — one calibrated to modern conditions and one simulating the pre-iron-mining landscape. Comparison the results from these two models will allow us to estimate changes that have occurred in the groundwater flow system due to iron mining.

This study will provide those interested in land-use change effects on groundwater hydrology with a tool for understanding flow changes throughout a large area of the SLRB and will offer a resource to provide boundary conditions to site-specific models throughout the basin.

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Concurrent Session 3, Track AUnderstanding and Reversing the Trends of Chloride in Minnesota’s Waters (Special Session)Chloride in urban shallow groundwater and lakes is increasing, while lake and stream impairments face persistent problems from water softening and road salt usage. This session will illustrate the scale of the problem, provide trends for various types of water bodies, analyze chloride loadings from each source, discuss implications of stormwater infiltration on chloride in groundwater and suggest appropriate guidance to adjust our approach to water softening, salt use and stormwater management.

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Concurrent Session 3, Track BThe Historic Keller Golf Course: Refining Playability, Creating Natural Areas, And Improving Water Management Bill Bartodziej, Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District; Paul Diegnau, Keller Golf Course

With a fully developed urban-residential watershed, the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District (RWMWD) is continually looking for creative ways to reduce storm water runoff and restore exceptional habitat. The Phalen Chain of Lakes is the most significant surface water feature in our watershed. Keller Golf Course overlooks the Phalen Chain, and is a key parcel of land in its corridor. Opened in 1929, this outstanding course has a rich past, hosting PGA championships, with legendary golfers including Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus.

Over the last 15 years, the watershed and the course developed a strong partnership. We set out to effectively meld our disciplines to produce an amazing golf experience in a way that benefits the region’s water and natural resources. This effort focused on generating a win-win for the golfers, lake users and the citizens of the watershed.

Keller now has the most and the highest quality natural areas of any course in the Twin Cities. It is listed as a nationally certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, and more than 150 plant and 110 bird species have been identified on the course. An infiltration basin accepts over 75% of the course runoff, significantly reducing storm water input to the Phalen Chain. An on-site weather station and in-ground moisture sensors help to formulate dynamic watering plans for each day, which saves millions of gallons of water and reduces runoff. Interpretive signage details the conservation initiatives. Patrons appreciate the changes on the course, as Keller remains one of the most popular public golf destinations in the Twin Cities.

Calculating Stormwater Volume And Total Suspended Solids Reduction Under Urban Tree Canopy In Wisconsin Using Available ResearchDane Wudel, Steve Gaffield, Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc.

Urban tree are the focus of runoff reduction and water quality research and efforts to promote regulatory stormwater credits. We evaluated one impact of urban trees on stormwater design at a proof-of-concept level for the University of Wisconsin - Madison campus. Urban tree canopies trees intercept rainfall and can reduce stormwater volume, but this process is not simulated by common design models. We developed a method to simulate canopy interception for an annual rainfall series for input to a stormwater model. The model estimated that 13% of the 1981 annual rainfall would be intercepted by trees. Sensitivity tests demonstrated the impact of seasonal rainfall distribution and large events on total annual interception volume. The simulated canopy throughfall for 1981 was input to WinSLAMM to test the effect of tree canopy cover on runoff volume and bioretention performance. A WinSLAMM model of a parking lot under a tree canopy draining to a bioretention facility predicted improvements of 15% to 17% for both runoff volume and total suspended solids load, depending on the design details for the bioretention facility, compared to no tree cover. Although additional work is needed to quantify the performance benefits and potential complicating issues, like nutrient loading due to leaves falling on streets, urban trees are worth considering as part of a sustainable stormwater management system.

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Concurrent Session 3, Track B (continued)Fire Station #2 In Eden Prairie: Reuse And Landscaping Demonstration For Improved Stormwater ManagementLeah Gifford, SRF Consulting Group; Leslie Stovring, City of Eden Prairie; Claire Bleser, Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District

In 2015, the City of Eden Prairie began exploring City-owned fire stations that could serve as locations for incorporation of a water reuse system, with the intent to offset potable water use, reduce runoff, improve water quality, and educate residents and business owners about water reuse. SRF assisted with a feasibility study and the team determined that Fire Station #2, located in southeastern Eden Prairie and within the Purgatory Creek watershed, was a good site due to its large irrigated area, potential for truck washing and filling, and its location on a residential trail system. Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District joined forces with the City and together they received a Metropolitan Council Stormwater Grant for the project. Construction was completed in July 2018.

The reuse system harvested rainwater from the rooftop into two cistern systems; one large 6,500 gallon tank that connects to the site’s spray irrigation system and routes water inside for washing equipment. A smaller two-tank system that included 800- and 150- gallon cisterns set that provide drip irrigation to landscaped areas was added within a demonstration area for reuse of stormwater. Beside the trail, a new rest area and an educational sign were added to highlight the new features of the Fire Station grounds. The demonstration area also includes educational signage about the benefits of home rain barrels to the community. The reuse system design includes gutters, downspouts, filtration, UV disinfection, plumbing (including a faucet within the fire station), concrete pads, irrigation connections, fences and vegetation for screening.

In addition to the reuse demonstration area, the City also included a landscaping demonstration area along the trail. The lawn area was divided into sections to show various types of alternative and ecological lawn types. This included a tall native prairie mix, a short native prairie mix, a formal native garden, and a low-mow/no-mow fescue section.

Best Management Practices For Enhancing Water-Use Efficiency In Minnesota LawnsDaniel Sandor, Florence Sessoms, Brian Horgan, University of Minnesota; Sam Bauer, BauerTurf, LLC; Kris Moncada, University of Minnesota; Brian Davis, Metropolitan Council

Lawn-irrigation practices have become a great concern recently due to water quantity and quality issues and irrigation is significant source of freshwater withdrawals in the Twin Cities Metro Area. Using best management practices such as proper turfgrass species selection, adjusted mowing heights, and improved watering schedules, can all have a significant impact on reducing water use without sacrificing lawn quality. Many consumers are unaware of turfgrass species that require less maintenance inputs including mowing, fertilizers, and water. Furthermore, new irrigation technologies are designed to apply water more efficiently by using real-time environmental data such as precipitation, evapotranspiration and soil moisture, and these technologies can be easily integrated into existing sprinkler systems. Therefore, the objectives of our research examined opportunities to maximize water-use efficiency in lawns by: a.) Evaluating the drought-resistance of consumer-available turfgrass seed mixtures under prolonged drought, and b.) Evaluating the water savings and additional environmental and economic impacts of smart irrigation technologies. Our results identified seed-mixtures containing tall fescue or fine fescues remained green for a longer period than other products containing species that have traditionally been used for Minnesota lawns. Using smart irrigation controllers and soil-moisture sensors significantly reduced water use without negatively affecting turfgrass quality. These findings support the use, and necessity, of these best management practices towards water conservation efforts.

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Concurrent Session 3, Track C Progress Report On Minnesota’S Nutrient Reduction StrategyDavid Wall, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Minnesota’s 2014 Nutrient Reduction Strategy focuses on achieving 2025 interim goals for making fair-share nutrient loss reductions to the Gulf of Mexico and other downstream waters, as well as our own in-state waters. The strategy identifies nutrient load reduction targets, best management practice (BMP) adoption scenarios, and state-level programs and initiatives for making nutrient reduction progress. As we approach the half-way point toward our 2025 milestone goals, several agencies and the University of Minnesota are working together to complete a 5-year progress report assessing progress made thus far. Considerable progress has been made to implement programs that reduce nutrient delivery to waters. But we also are attempting to answer how much of a difference these collective programs and activities are making on our land (BMP adoption) and in our waters (river trends).

Trends analyses show many rivers across the state with decreasing phosphorus, whereas nitrogen is generally showing no-trend or increasing trends. Because climate variability, lag times, and other complexities make it challenging to draw short-term conclusions about recent BMP adoption on river nutrient levels, the 2014 strategy also includes benchmarks for BMP adoption. A state-level example scenario for achieving the 2025 milestone targets indicated that it will take 2-5 million acres of new BMPs in each of the following categories of practices: continuous living cover, fertilizer efficiency, and cropland erosion control. Additionally, the strategy calls for advancements in drainage water storage/treatment, urban stormwater, manure management, urban wastewater and septic systems. We show considerable new BMP adoption in the first five-years of strategy implementation; and yet many challenges remain to reach the needed scales of adoption outlined in the strategy.

Collaborative, Interstate Water Quality Monitoring For A Shared Understanding Of The Upper Mississippi River BasinLauren Salvato, Upper Mississippi River Basin Association

Natural resource agencies monitor waterways routinely to generate information such as long-term trends or as a part of Clean Water Act regulatory requirements, but there are many differences in how this is executed. For example, State A says you can eat a particular fish and State B says you cannot. Dissimilar information is confusing for river practitioners, recreators, or any others that interact with the Upper Mississippi River Basin (UMRB). The five states of the UMRB (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri) saw an opportunity to address this.

Beginning in 2011, the five states developed a monitoring strategy for the Upper Mississippi River (UMR), an area defined from the Twin Cities Metro Area to the confluence of the Ohio River (near Cairo, Illinois). The monitoring strategy is a sampling network designed to comprehensively support the assessment of the four defined uses of the UMR: drinking water, aquatic life, recreation, and fish consumption. The data collected are used to generate a condition assessment (i.e., good-fair-poor rating) and enable agencies to communicate a single rating across multiple jurisdictions.

In 2016 Minnesota and Wisconsin natural resource agencies successfully conducted a water quality monitoring pilot by collecting chemical, physical, and biological parameters over approximately 160 river miles from the Twin Cities Metro Area to La Crosse, Wisconsin. The pilot objectives were to implement the sampling methodology and test the feasibility of a voluntary and coordinated sampling effort.

The pilot was a valuable opportunity to understand the quality of the river and to test a collaborative effort among state natural resource agencies. Another pilot is being planned for 2020 with Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri natural resource agencies.

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Concurrent Session 3, Track C (continued)Exploring Stormwater As A Potential Environmental Market In MinnesotaJulie Blackburn, RESPEC; Jim Klang, TBL, Inc.

Minnesota’s municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permitted entities are faced with high costs for implementing stormwater quality projects in highly urban settings. These costs can become a local tax burden that may not yield significant improvements to stormwater quality. Innovative funding options are needed to accelerate the implementation of projects and practices that will result in cleaner lakes and streams. Nationally, environmental markets, or water quality trading, offers a viable option for many MS4 entities. MS4s who have adopted water quality trading programs have accelerated improvements to impaired waters while reducing overall clean-up costs.

Water quality trading for stormwater is a flexible option for MS4 entities that is defensible, environmentally sound, and provides equal, or greater, water quality benefits than most traditional urban retrofits. Stormwater quality credit trading can provide MS4s with an alternative to improving local water quality by partnering with rural land owners to implement desired nonpoint source BMPs and leveraging existing funds to the maximum benefit. Implementing a stormwater quality credit trading program helps to build a stronger rural-urban community relationship and creates a mutual vested interest in the health of the watershed, by setting up both sides to win. Julie Blackburn, RESPEC, and Jim Klang, TBL Inc., will present on the stormwater quality credit trading opportunity in Minnesota, including the policy framework, uncertainties, quantification of trade ratio components, and what it takes to establish an environmental market.

Managing TMDL Implementation In Minnesota: Lessons Learned From The Chesapeake BayBenjamin Crary, Tim Schmitt, Hans Holmberg, LimnoTech

The implementation requirements for TMDLs that have been developed in the Chesapeake Bay watershed may provide a glimpse into the future for how Minnesota MS4s will have to address multiple overlapping TMDLs. In the Chesapeake Bay, multiple states have included TMDL implementation plan requirements in MS4 permits. These requirements typically include components for addressing the overarching Chesapeake Bay TMDL, plus requirements for addressing “local” TMDLs. Minnesota may soon face the same situation, with the larger-scale Lake Pepin TMDL overlapping the watersheds and lakes with local TMDLs for nutrients and other pollutants. This presentation will compare and contrast the approaches that some of the Bay states are taking to using MS4 permits to drive TMDL implementation, and will cover potential methods for tracking and reporting BMP implementation. Case studies will be used to demonstrate how regional recommendations and requirements have been incorporated into local implementation and how data curation has contributed towards TMDL allocation accounting. Example case studies will include Anne Arundel County, MD, where an update of the County’s existing stormwater BMP database was undertaken to ensure a proper baseline against the requirement to restore 20 percent of uncontrolled impervious surface. A second case study is the District of Columbia, which developed a Consolidated TMDL implementation plan to address over 250 TMDLs, including local and Chesapeake Bay TMDLs. Minnesota MS4s may consider these methods for proactive measures in addressing their own TMDLs.

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Concurrent Session 3, Track DThe Future Of Water Resources Management: Merging Diagnostic Monitoring, Adaptive Management, And EconomicsMike Kinney, Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed District

Moody Lake is currently on the impaired waters list for eutrophication due to excess phosphorus - but not for long! The CLFLWD is in the final stage of a multi-year, multi-phase, adaptive management approach to cost-effectively reducing phosphorus loads to Moody Lake. This holistic approach uses the Pareto Principle (a.k.a. 80/20 rule) by addressing the highest measured phosphorus loads which provide the greatest calculated return on investment (ROI). Additionally, using a Lean Six Sigma framework, this approach intentionally passes over many other potential projects which were called out in desktop analysis because their calculated reductions at the field edge generally failed to capture the actual efforts needed to provide measurable improvements.

Diagnostic monitoring was employed in 2014 to target phosphorus loading in the watershed, thus revealing that 80% of the watershed load could be addressed by treating 25% of the flow to the lake. BMPs (including wetland restorations, livestock access management, and alum treatments) were implemented in multiple phases, staggered by project effectiveness monitoring, so that actual results were quantified, and adaptability was possible. The effectiveness monitoring shows that projects are functioning as intended. This year we will complete the remaining watershed BMPs as well as the whole-lake alum treatment. The combination of these projects should result in Moody Lake reaching a summer average phosphorus concentration of 40 micrograms/liter – down from over 160 micrograms/liter. Total estimated implementation cost is ~$1,000,000. Total lifetime (25-year) phosphorus load reduction is 19,000 pounds. Thus, having an overall project cost-effectiveness of under $60/pound of phosphorus.

Applying Systems Thinking To Complex Water Resources Management IssuesPooja Kanwar, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Systems thinking provides techniques to communicate across disciplines, and offers tools to help dissect complex problems in innovative ways. While there are several diverse schools of thought on systems thinking, this presentation focuses on a relatively new approach that has been developed by the Cabrera Research lab at Cornell University. It is being applied and taught across the country through initiatives such as the USDA funded ThinkWater campaign.

The model is comprised of four simple rules: Distinctions, Systems, Relationships, and Perspectives (DSRP), and they provide the structure for a dynamic way to approach wicked water resources problems. The four rules identified offer innovative ways to examine a system’s boundaries, the subsystems within those boundaries, the interconnected relationships between those subsystems, and the differing perspectives in any given issue. The DSRP framework can be mapped using the software Plectica. The data visualizations created help illustrate the emergent and interrelated properties of a system; characteristics that often are challenging to recognize when dissecting any complex question.

The State of Minnesota works across different silos of water, and using this approach will be valuable in achieving holistic water resource management. This framework is currently being applied to a variety of topics in the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, allowing for cross-divisional collaboration within the agency and with external partners. The objective of this initiative is to energize the conversation around systems thinking in the State, to cultivate a community of practice around this type of integrated water resources work, and to increase interdisciplinary collaboration in the protection, conservation and efficient use of our water resources in the State of Minnesota.

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Concurrent Session 3, Track D (continued)The Tale Of Two Projects: Thompson Lake Contaminated Sediment Removal And Stormwater Improvement ProjectJosh Petersen, Dakota County; Joe Barten, Lower Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization

Thompson Lake, located in Thompson County Park in West Saint Paul, MN is a valued regional recreational amenity which fell victim to decades of developmental degradation and zero water quality treatment. Dakota County, the Lower Mississippi River WMO, and the City of West St. Paul partnered to complete an environmental cleanup and implement multiple stormwater BMPs to improve the water quality of Thompson Lake. Initial sediment testing in 2009 indicated the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH’s) in the bottom of Thompson Lake, contained within the sediment. The LMRWMO completed a WRAPS report in 2014 which identified an impairment and TMDL for excess nutrients in the Lake and identified a stormwater pond at the inlet to Thompson Lake as the best solution to address water quality issues. However, it required remediation at the lake inlet prior to installation of water quality practices with clean-up of several environmental contaminants. After years of project study and design identifying the extent of and solutions to the PAH contamination, partners gained traction with a 2016 BWSR Clean Water Fund Grant obtained by the LMRWMO as well as financial commitment from Dakota County to utilize environmental funds. The project included removal of PAH contaminated sediment from the inlet of Thompson Lake in West St. Paul and installation of a treatment train of stormwater BMPs. Practices included hydrodynamic separators, a wet retention pond, large scale restored treatment wetland, bioretention basin, and removal of invasive species around the lake, all with a very tight construction timeline. The project removed legacy urban contamination, will improve lake water quality, and completely satisfied the TMDL identified by the WRAPS report. It would not have been successful without the support the multiple partners and is the result of years of studies, as well as a combination of different objectives and funding sources into one massive construction project.

Comparing SWAT with ACPF and PTMApp Outcomes in the Plum Creek WatershedSrinivas Rallapalli, University of Minnesota; Matt Drewitz, Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources; Joe Magner, University of Minnesota

Identification of targeted locations at field scales for implementing conservation practices in an agricultural watershed has become a prerequisite to sustainable land use management. Understanding how to relate multiple fields and riparian zones at the small watershed scale is critical to managing water quality goals. We compared the outcomes of three models/decision support tools in the Plum Creek watershed near Redwood Falls, Minnesota. Prioritize, Target and Measure Application (PTMApp) and Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF) were applied to a HUC 12 sub-watershed scale using high-resolution LiDAR-based hydro-conditioned digital elevation model (DEM) to achieve following objectives: 1) develop comparative assessment of these tools in identifying critical areas and conservation practices at field scales; 2) develop a watershed framework to achieve nutrient reduction goals, build soil health for enhancing crop production within and below the fields and riparian management in a cost-effective manner. Results suggest that hydro-conditioning provided better hydrologic processing compared to the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. Though SWAT has strong agronomic features, the output of ACPF and PTMApp provides clearer guidance to local entities seeking pollutant reduction for improved water quality.

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Concurrent Session 3, Track E Minnesota Guide For Stream Connectivity And Aquatic Organism Passage Through CulvertsNicole Bartelt, Minnesota Department of Transportation; Peter Leete, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; Matt Hernick, Jessica Kozarek, St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, University of Minnesota

In this project, University of Minnesota researchers compiled a guide to assist culvert designers in identifying, selecting, and implementing culvert designs appropriate for maintaining aquatic organism passage (AOP) and stream connectivity at road-stream intersections. The guide is intended for locations where preserving fish movement is required, specifically public road crossings of public waters in Minnesota. It builds upon results of previous MnDOT and LRRB studies, and was informed by published guidance, research results, experience of an expert panel, and an original survey of Minnesota practitioners.

Transportation networks and stream networks are important to the economic and ecological well-being of Minnesota’s people and landscapes. These networks intersect at thousands of locations, often with a stream passing below a roadway in a culvert. However, culvert designs that create excessive velocity, physical barriers, or shallow depth can block aquatic organism passage (AOP). Disruptions to the continuity of stream habitat, water flow, and sediment transport processes can also interfere with AOP and result in long term negative impacts to infrastructure and streams.

The guide contains a summary of design methods including geomorphic and hydraulic simulation, recessed or embedded barrels, and hydraulic design retrofits. Selection tools to help identify which method is most appropriate for a given location based on stream parameters including slope and substrate composition, which vary for streams across Minnesota. Therefore, identifying relevant stream characteristics from a suitable stream reference reach and building on these metrics is critical to design success in any part of the state. A set of seven best practices captures critical elements for effective culvert design that integrates AOP and stream connectivity, safety to the general public, and infrastructure resilience and longevity.

Creative Use Of Cross Vanes To Prevent Erosive Head-Cutting On A Steep Roadside ChannelJosh Stier, William Douglass, Bolton & Menk, Inc.

In the summer of 2014, Sibley County experienced an intense rainfall causing serve erosion along County Road 6 that cut away the roadway shoulder in several locations and threatened to take the driving lanes. Upon reviewing the aftermath, it was determined the sudden change in channel slope combined with extreme channel velocities created a hydraulic jump that surged upstream and completely removed the existing riprap for a length of more than 1,300 feet. The existing riprapped channel had an average slope of 2.75 - 4 percent. Following the storm, there was no evidence of the original riprap.

Bolton & Menk was hired to analyze and develop solutions to repair the problem. Our HEC-RAS analysis showed the channel shear stress was simply too much for the original riprap. Further, there was a high probability that future riprap would experience the same fate. The final design included revetment with periodic boulder cross vanes that were designed to prevent the riprap from migrating during high shear stress conditions. The bidding documents allowed for alternative revetment types between the cross vanes, including large cable concrete mates or Angular Class V riprap. Ultimately the contractor decided to go with Class V riprap in lieu of the cable concrete.

This presentation will describe the conditions of the original failure, detail the design considerations and bid alternatives, show the final product, and document how the design has fared with similar rainfall events since the reconstruction.

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Concurrent Session 3, Track E (continued)How Investing In A 2D Model Helped Shape Decisions For MnDOT D7 For Trunk Highway 30 ImprovementsTyler Johnson, Stantec; Jared DeMaster, Minnesota Department of Transportation, District 7

A case study will be presented of how the design of Trunk Highway 30 (TH-30) near Minnesota Lake was informed by linked 1D and 2D XPSWMM models. With higher intensity storms occurring, a section of TH-30 experienced frequent flooding that creates a safety hazard to the public. As part of redesign of the roadway, MnDOT District 7 wanted a greater understanding of the system hydraulics driving the flooding. The goals of the 2018 study were to: (1) understand the hydrology and hydraulics that result in inundation of TH-30;(2) determine the impacts of high-water levels in the nearby Cobb River; and (3) present alternatives that will allow designers to make informed decisions about how best to reduce highway flooding.

TH-30 and adjacent agricultural lands drain to a low adjacent “bowl area”, which then outlets to the Cobb River. High water levels in the bowl area periodically inundate TH-30. It was believed that flood levels in the Cobb River influenced the hydraulics of the bowl area and thus the TH-30 flooding. A 1D XPSWMM model of the river was created and then linked with a 2D XPSWMM model of the bowl area to help quantify the Cobb River impact. It was found that the river did have a significant influence on TH-30 flooding, which guided the modeling of alternative designs to address this issue.

The presentation will include:

■ the history of flooding of TH-30 at this location ■ safety concerns that led to the project ■ an overview of the XPSWMM models, including ■ the linkage between the 1D and 2D models ■ key results of the modeling ■ the innovative design solutions resulting from the modeling that were incorporated into the final project design.

Combining Conveyance, Infiltration And 12.5 Acre-Ft Of Underground Storage To Solve An Historic Urban Flooding ProblemWilliam Douglass, Bolton & Menk, Inc.; Bryan Gruidl, City of Bloomington

The City of Bloomington, Minnesota has a history of flooding in its Southtown commercial area. During significant rainfall events, the low areas near the Knox - American Avenue intersection can have more than 3 feet of water over heavily traveled roadways. In addition to potential flood damage to surrounding commercial buildings, the area also includes multiple car dealerships whose inventory is also at risk. Bolton & Menk was hired to calibrate the existing XPSWMM modeling and investigate potential solutions, including enforcing onsite infiltration throughout the watershed, underground storage, pumping, etc. Because the large, nearly 100 percent impervious watershed simply overwhelms the existing storm sewer system, our modeling showed that requiring upstream infiltration would have negligible impact on the flood-prone area. Nevertheless, the MS4 and construction permits require infiltration practices where possible. The value of the surrounding land also limited the opportunity for land acquisition options for traditional detention storage. Bolton & Menk worked with the city to provide a design for a 12.5-acre-foot underground storage system that includes an array of 12 ft diameter CMP pipes and approximately 700 ft of double 16’x 9’ box culverts in a linear storm sewer system that stores, conveys, infiltrates runoff, and delivers it downstream without adverse impacts. The double box culvert was designed with a geotextile fabric wrap and open joints to promote exfiltration. XPSWMM 2D modeling was used to develop before and after inundation mapping to illustrate the modeled benefit of the proposed design. Given the positive impact of the $10 million project, the affected property owners were in favor of the project. Bids were received in June, construction began in July 2018, and with completion expected in June 2019. This presentation will detail the XPSWMM 2D modeling used for the existing and proposed conditions as well as the associated construction challenges.

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Wednesday October 16 Book of Abstracts

Concurrent Session 4, Track AWhat Do We Do About Stormwater Ponds?Vinicius Taguchi, Andy Erickson, John Gulliver, St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, University of Minnesota

In Minnesota, we’re proud of our 10,000 lakes (or 14,000, depending who you ask), but we don’t usually say much about our 30,000 stormwater ponds unless we’re complaining about the smell or cost of maintenance. In fact, stormwater ponds are seldom maintained at all. So what can we do about our problem ponds? And how can we stop the good ones from becoming headaches? We’ve combined some of the latest research with experience from our fellow Minnesotan practitioners to produce a set of guidelines for designing and maintaining high-functioning, low-stress stormwater ponds. Some highlights include problem-based design, pretreatment, low-cost monitoring, and remediation options.

Mechanisms Driving Phosphorus Recycling in Constructed Stormwater Ponds: Implications For ManagementAnthony Aufdenkampe, Dendy Lofton, Ben Crary, LimnoTech; Mike Trojan, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; John Gulliver, University of Minnesota

Reduction of phosphorus loads to surface waters is a persistent management challenge in urban environments. Constructed stormwater ponds (ponds) have typically been designed to capture and retain solids and particulate phosphorus in stormwater runoff thereby reducing loads to downstream waterbodies. However, recent evidence indicates that many ponds can often export phosphorus rather than retain it. Phosphorus release from the sediments is referred to as internal loading and is governed by the same suite of fundamental physical, geochemical and biogeochemical mechanisms that occur in lakes. However, the relative importance of the drivers of these processes, and the extent and timing of release in urban ponds is less understood. This lack of understanding is further complicated by the range of physical designs as well as the position of ponds on the landscape. Therefore, development of an understanding of the mechanisms and drivers of phosphorus retention versus release is necessary for design and maintenance guidance for these ponds. We are conducting a thorough assessment of phosphorus cycling in ponds in an effort to understand the controls on retention and release. This information will guide future designs, management actions, and maintenance practices, and will be included in the Minnesota Stormwater Manual. Based on the research to-date, we will present a summary of the mechanisms of internal phosphorus loading in ponds, drivers of retention and release, and implications for future management.

Pond Treatment With Spent Lime To Control Phosphorus Release From SedimentsGreg Wilson, Barr Engineering Company

Sedimentation ponds that accumulate particles and phosphorus in stormwater runoff are a standard and widely applied storm water best management practice. However, just as internal loading occurs in lakes during warm summer periods when the potential for oxygen depletion is greatest, aging ponds have the potential to release more phosphorus than is captured during summer months. Dredging is a potential, but expensive, option to improve pond performance and phosphorus release may occur long before a pond is filled with sediment. Areal applications of alum and iron can control phosphorus release, but incur raw material production costs. In cooperation with St. Paul Regional Water Services (SPRWS), City of White Bear Lake, Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District (RWMWD), and Vadnais Lake Area Water Management Organization (VLAWMO) staff, Barr Engineering is completing a study to evaluate the application of spent lime (waste product from drinking water treatment) to pond sediments to reduce phosphorus release during warm summer months. Spent lime can reduce phosphorus release by forming calcium phosphate and potentially by increasing the pH of the treated sediments to facilitate iron and aluminum phosphate binding. This study includes a laboratory and a field component that is intended to validate large-scale applications and should be largely complete by October, 2019. The laboratory component includes the addition of spent lime at a range of doses to phosphorus rich pond sediment to determine optimal spent lime dosing. The field component involves the addition of spent lime to two ponds and monitoring to determine the magnitude of reduced phosphorus release, evaluate cost-effective methods for areal application and quantify the benefits of this water treatment byproduct. This project received Clean Water Funds from the Water Resources Center (WRC) at the University of Minnesota, along with funding from the Minnesota Stormwater Research Council (MSRC).

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Concurrent Session 4, Track A (continued)Are Stormwater Ponds Effective Sinks For Reducing Watershed Scale Phosphorus Loading?Joseph Bischoff, Wenck Associates, Inc.; Eric Macbeth, City of Eagan; Sarah Nalven, Wenck Associates, Inc.

Stormwater ponds are one of the most commonly used stormwater practices to reduce watershed sediment and phosphorus loading to downstream waterbodies. Current stormwater pond design standards focus on settling particulate phosphorus and generally ignore dissolved phosphorus fractions. Recent research suggests that while stormwater ponds are relatively efficient at settling particulate phosphorus, these same ponds can increase dissolved phosphorus loading to surface waters through sediment phosphorus release. The City of Eagan monitored 10 stormwater ponds for phosphorus release and 15 ponds for sediment chemistry to determine overall pond efficiency with respect to reducing phosphorus loading to the City’s priority lakes. Anaerobic sediment phosphorus release in these ponds ranged from 2.5 to 11.6 mg P/m2/day suggesting these ponds are discharging as much as 34 pounds dissolved phosphorus annually to surface waters. However, PondNET estimates that these same ponds are capturing almost 90 pounds of particulate phosphorus annually. These results suggest that stormwater ponds remain effective tools for reducing gross phosphorus loading to receiving waters but may be transforming some of that phosphorus into a more problematic dissolved form. This presentation will explore the importance of dissolved phosphorus release from stormwater ponds on watershed scale phosphorus loading.

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Concurrent Session 4, Track BSediment Core Analysis To Evaluate Lake Mccarrons Alum Treatment Efficacy After 12 Years Of TreatmentMark Houle, Bob Fossum, Britta Belden, Capitol Region Watershed District

Lake McCarrons in Roseville, MN is a 75-acre mesotrophic lake that supports a variety of recreational opportunities. The lake is located in the Capitol Region Watershed District (CRWD). In 2004, CRWD treated the lake with alum to decrease internal phosphorus loading, improve water quality, and meet the State deep lake total phosphorus (TP) standard (40 mg/L). The alum was uniformly applied across the entire lake surface. Since the treatment, the lake has met State standards annually, but hypolimnetic TP concentrations have been gradually approaching pretreatment levels, prompting an evaluation to assess the alum treatment efficacy after 14 years.

To evaluate the efficacy of the 2004 alum treatment, 23 sediment cores were taken in a grid across the whole lake in 2017 and were examined for: 1) the presence and thickness of the alum layer, and 2) the thickness and composition of sediment overlying the alum layer (if present).

Results from the cores revealed that alum was present in only 10 of the 23 cores. Additionally, the alum was not distributed equally, and where it was present, the alum layer was overlain by sediment. The thickest layers of alum corresponded to the deepest parts of the lake, with alum thickness decreasing with depth. Conversely, the thickest layers of overlying sediment coincided with the thinnest layers of alum, potentially preventing the alum from interacting with hypolimnetic phosphorus. This evaluation also explores potential factors that may have influenced the distribution of alum and sedimentation rates. Results will inform future management of Lake McCarrons.

Normandale Lake: A Holistic Approach To Improving The Water Quality And Ecology Of A Shallow, Urban LakeErica Sniegowski, Nine Mile Creek Watershed District; Janna Kieffer, Barr Engineering; Steve Gurney, City of Bloomington

Normandale Lake is a shallow, 100-acre lake located along Nine Mile Creek in Bloomington, Minnesota. The lake is a local amenity, with several important community events held at the location each year. Poor water quality, frequent algal blooms, and an abundance of invasive curly-leaf pondweed and other aquatic plants prompted strong public support for improvements. A 2017 study by the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District (NMCWD) concluded that internal phosphorus loading and the presence of dense aquatic vegetation, specifically curly-leaf pondweed, were degrading water quality and the health of the aquatic communities. To remedy the situation, the NMCWD has embarked on a holistic lake management program that includes a lake drawdown to freeze the lake bottom sediments and kill invasive curly-leaf pondweed, an alum treatment to prevent the internal release of phosphorus from lake bottom sediments, and planning for future carp management.

In late-summer of 2018, the NMCWD began drawing down Normandale Lake by pumping and installation of a permanent bypass pipe. With Nine Mile Creek flowing through the lake, the full drawdown of water levels posed a significant challenge. The lake was fully drawn down by early-November and by mid-February of 2019 the top 15-24 inches of lake sediment were frozen. The effectiveness of the drawdown in reducing curly-leaf pondweed will be assessed during the summer of 2019. The NMCWD will also be conducting an alum treatment in spring 2019 and the DNR will be restocking fish. The NMCWD is also tracking carp to plan for future carp management.

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Concurrent Session 4, Track B (continued)In-Lake And Watershed Efforts To Improve Lake George Water QualityLisa Vollbrecht, City of St. Cloud; April Ryan, Short Elliott Hendrickson

Lake George, an 7.8 acres urban lake, is a vibrant gathering place for events in the St. Cloud community, a recreation area and City park. Significant summertime algae blooms and unpleasant odors caused the lake to be placed on the State’s impaired waters list in 2012. The City’s goal is to improve the water quality of Lake George to reduce algae blooms and odor, create a healthier fish and wildlife environment, and remove Lake George from the State’s impaired waters list. A watershed management plan was completed and outlined both in-lake and watershed treatment efforts to meet water quality goals. The City has also initiated a long-term monitoring/assessment plan to track progress.

The presentation will focus on the treatment efforts completed to date, including water quality sampling results from before and after treatments; a larger inactivation alum dose was followed by three smaller stripping applications. Applications were spaced approximately one month apart with sampling completed between doses.

Other watershed efforts include a joint project with the U of MN on stormwater pond dredging located directly upstream of Lake George. Iron filings were added to the pond to further reduce phosphorus release. An upcoming underground regional treatment system is planned. The presentation will touch on the monitoring/assessment plan, long term planning efforts, the comprehensive approach, along with detailed information and water quality results.

Spatial And Temporal Patterns Of N2 Saturation In The Water Column Of Minnesota Lakes And Potential PredictorsBrianna Loeks-Johnson, James Cotner, University of Minnesota

Lakes are biogeochemical ‘hotspots’ metabolizing nutrients from internal and external sources. Microbes can metabolize nitrate to N2 and nitrate is a nutrient that when found in excess in lakes can lead to eutrophication. N2 is an inert gas that makes up most of our atmosphere, and once nitrate is converted to N2 it is permanently removed from the system. Our recent research suggests that lakes are a source of N2 gas to the atmosphere and the water column is supersaturated with N2, but the spatial and temporal variation of this phenomenon is unknown. We looked at N2 saturation in the water column of 17 lakes across a land-use gradient sampled over three consecutive months. We compared the saturation data to amounts of dissolved nutrients and oxygen to determine relationships with N2 saturation. From these data, we also determined how much nitrate microbes are removing from these lakes over a summer. But another important issue is when and how much N2 is fixed into lakes via the process of N-fixation. N-fixation is an energy intensive process which could offset N-losses to the atmosphere. We will determine what organisms are performing this process and where they occur in the water column this summer. From these data, we will continue to close the knowledge gap in N cycling in freshwater systems which has important implications for management of excess N.

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Concurrent Session 4, Track CQuantifying Relations Between Altered Hydrology And Biological Responses For Streams In MinnesotaJeffrey Ziegeweid, U.S. Geological Survey; Gregory Johnson, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; Aliesha Krall, U.S. Geological Survey; Kara Fitzpatrick, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has identified altered hydrology as a stressor on aquatic life for several watersheds in Minnesota. However, a lack of quantitative relations between hydrologic alterations and biological responses limits the ability of the MPCA to determine actions that will help reduce biological impairments. Therefore, the MPCA partnered with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to develop quantitative relations between hydrologic and biological metrics that can be used to further examine effects of altered hydrology. Potential explanatory variables included 178 hydrologic metrics calculated from USGS streamgage data using the EflowStats package in R. Study streamgages had at least 10 years of continuous streamflow record and were located close to MPCA biological monitoring sites. Response variables were community metrics associated with fish-based indices of biological integrity (FIBIs). Stepwise regression analyses were used to identify explanatory variables that were most strongly correlated with each response variable. The response variable percent of sensitive taxa was used to calculate final FIBI scores for all stream classes in this study; therefore, percent of sensitive taxa is particularly useful for examining streamflow-biology relations on a statewide scale. Percent of sensitive taxa was most strongly correlated with “low exceedance flow,” a hydrologic metric calculated by dividing the 90-percent exceedance value for the flow record by the median flow value. Streamflow-biology relations developed in this study will provide quantitative relations that can be used to assess effects of altered hydrology and identify actions to reduce biological impairments. This study will conclude in December 2019.

Improved Methods For Targeting Fluvial Management And Upstream Runoff ReductionDrew Kessler, Jun Yang, Erik Jones, Devon Libby, Houston Engineering Inc.

Broad scale efforts to assess and target strategies for managing fluvial systems in Minnesota are lacking. Yet, many of our watersheds are in need of conservation efforts to manage flow, improve aquatic habitat, and increase geomorphic stability. This study highlights a project in the Buffalo-Red River Watershed that developed and deployed novel methods for targeting near-channel management of rivers, streams, and ditches within a GIS system. The results are compared to traditional stream assessment techniques to highlight how the GIS methods could be applied in other watersheds. Finally, this study will demonstrate how to tie strategies for managing fluvial systems in the Buffalo-Red River Watershed to opportunities for upstream runoff reduction.

Impact Of Beaver On The Hydrology Of North Shore StreamsEmma Burgeson, Salli Dymond, Karen Gran, Hannah Behar, Rebecca Teasley, University of Minnesota Duluth

The Knife River, located just north of Duluth, is a stream that contains 70 percent of the trout spawning habitat on Lake Superior’s North Shore. Because of this large spawning area, interest groups have begun to focus on restoring and managing parts of the watershed to maintain the important coldwater fishery. Removing beaver dams is a current management practice driven by the concern that dams cause increased water temperatures and decreased stream flow. To better understand beaver impacts to North Shore low-flow hydrology, a paired watershed study on 8 sub-watersheds was conducted over a two-year period in Knife River tributaries. A watershed-scale water budget was created using evaporation data, discharge, precipitation, and changes in pond storage. The budget was used in concert with water isotopes (Deuterium and 18O) to trace water movement through the watershed pre and post dam removal. Using a two end member mixing model for isotopic signatures, contributions of groundwater and pondwater in low-flow periods were analyzed and compared pre and post treatment to parse out changes to surface and subsurface flow paths. This study is part of a larger project that includes evaluation of subsurface flow as well as temporal and spatial alterations to stream temperatures. The hope is that data from this study will be useful to agencies when making decisions about watershed management in the future.

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Concurrent Session 4, Track C (continued)Direct And Indirect Effects Of Forest Harvesting On Sediment Loading In MinnesotaZac McEachran, Diana Karwan, University of Minnesota; Rob Slesak, Minnesota Forest Resources Council and University of Minnesota

Forests generally produce high water quality, but water quality can decrease if proper forest management is not implemented. In Minnesota, the water quality impact of highest concern is increased sediment loading. To address and mitigate sediment loading effects of forest harvesting, it is necessary to recognize and understand all processes that contribute to these effects. However, forest harvesting BMPs designed to mitigate impacts to water quality focus almost exclusively on overland sediment sources, while in-and-near stream sources go unaddressed despite being major drivers of sediment loading in some areas. Thus, we propose a new framework to classify forest harvesting effects on surface water sediment loading according to their direct and indirect processes. Direct effects are those caused by erosion and sediment delivery to surface water from the forest road network and general harvesting area. Indirect effects are those caused by a process alteration in the water cycle due to tree removal that accounts for increases in subsurface as well as surface flows to the stream such that alterations in water quality are not predicated upon overland delivery to the stream. Although the direct/indirect distinction is often implicit in forest hydrology studies, we have formalized it as a conceptual model to aid in the identification of the primary drivers of sediment loading due to forest harvesting in different landscape conditions. We demonstrate its utility with an application to the unique conditions in the Lake States region to identify drivers of direct and indirect effects, and identify regional research needs.

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Concurrent Session 4, Track D People as the Final BMP: Inviting Minneapolis Communities to Participate with Stormwater Management through Local Artwork and Online EngagementAllison Bell, HDR Engineering; Paul Chellsen, City of Minneapolis; Kelly Spitzley, HDR Engineering

While stormwater BMPs are critical components in community infrastructure, the City of Minneapolis posed an important question: what if the community itself was a part of the BMP? Stormwater BMPs, by design, blend into the community and are passively enjoyed as parks, gardens, and neighborhood ponds. Additionally, the residents and businesses that benefit from these BMPs are often unaware of their own contributions to the problem, and their potential to be an active part of the solution. Traditional educational signage is often text-heavy and technically-focused, appealing to only a small fraction of the community with the appropriate interest, education level, and age to engage with the content. To reach a broader, more diverse audience, the City took a new approach using local artwork and online engagement to create a visually compelling, interactive story about the City’s network of BMPs.

We began a program to develop site-specific artwork across 26 BMPs and a companion website to supplement and link the signs together. These tools allow viewers to engage not only with individual sites and how they function, but also to explore the ways in which each site connects with and protects our streams, lakes, and rivers.

This presentation will cover how the City converted technical content to community artwork and leveraged a digital platform to create a cohesive narrative and allow for different levels of engagement. We’ll discuss how success was measured across a spectrum, ranging from simply raising awareness to converting passersby into stormwater advocates.

Developing A Standardized Framework Of Landowner Conservation BehaviorAmit Pradhananga, Mae Davenport, University of Minnesota

Addressing water resource problems requires not only technical and engineering solutions, but also commitment and action of residents, land owners and entire communities. State planners and water resource managers continue to seek guidance from social scientists to better understand human system drivers of conservation behavior. This study builds on and synthesizes ongoing research at the Center for Changing Landscapes, University of Minnesota investigating conservation decision-making in rural, urban, and mixed-use watersheds across Minnesota. We have thus far collected survey data from twelve Minnesota watersheds examining landowner values, beliefs and norms associated with clean water conservation behavior. While information collected from each study watershed has helped inform local watershed-specific programming, a standardized monitoring program and assessment tool is seriously lacking for statewide decision making. The purpose of the study is to develop a comprehensive, social science-based framework to assess drivers of conservation behavior. We compiled survey data collected from Minnesota watersheds and tested an integrated model of conservation behavior across the study watersheds using latent variable structural equation modeling. Findings indicate that human values, beliefs, and norms influence landowner engagement in conservation action. Understanding the drivers of and constraints to conservation behavior will help guide future water resource programming and communication strategies to promote adoption of conservation practices. Study output also includes development of a monitoring framework and standardized assessment tool (i.e., survey template) that can be administered statewide, at a watershed scale, to set benchmarks, monitor trends, and track program (i.e., Clean Water Legacy funded projects) outcomes.

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Concurrent Session 4, Track D (continued)Partnering For Water Quality And Savings With Education In Rice Creek Watershed DistrictTim Olson, Bolton & Menk, Inc.; Beth Carreno, Rice Creek Watershed District

Managing excess runoff volume is important to protect Minnesota’s surface and ground water resources. Projects involving stormwater runoff capture and use for irrigation have a unique ability to reduce stormwater runoff volumes and irrigation demand. Every gallon of stormwater used for irrigation is a gallon of water saved for consumption. As surface water quality continues to degrade, flooding conditions become more severe and groundwater sources dry up; stormwater capture and use projects become more important. In Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD), stormwater capture and use is one of the few tools communities have to meet stormwater management requirements where infiltration is not feasible. Furthermore, surface and groundwater resource advocates are responsible for teaching younger generations the importance of water savings in a water-rich state. RCWD and other engineers and scientists developed tools to assess a watershed for its viability to support stormwater capture for irrigation use. The basic assessment evaluates a watershed’s size and ability to generate runoff (usually in terms of hard surface percentage), an area to store captured stormwater runoff (usually a pond or underground tank), irrigable areas (like soccer fields or parks), and educational opportunities. We will discuss innovative approaches to developing effective partnerships, coupling educational resources and curriculum development, and available funding sources using a case study involving Forest Lake Area Schools, City of Forest Lake, and RCWD. The project included an effective approach to project funding, saving approximately four million gallons of groundwater annually. Forest Lake High School educators also developed unique environmental science, biology, and agriculture curriculum. The lessons use authentic place-based education to learn about stormwater and other water issues. Forest Lake Area Schools has since become a regional leader in STEM programing.

Wilderness Inquiry’s Canoemobile Program Connects Students to Local WaterwaysJane Fields, Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement, University of Minnesota; Julie Edmiston, Wilderness Inquiry

Connecting students to their local waterways is an important first step in helping them to understand the importance of our water systems, including current and future challenges facing these waterways. Through Wilderness Inquiry’s (WI) Canoemobile program, youth of all backgrounds and abilities participate in fun and engaging water-based activities that also provide them with important environmental, cultural, historical, and science-focused content. The on-water experiences are often enriched with land-based learning activities developed and facilitated by organizations such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, and hundreds of other government and nonprofit agencies. WI has partnered with the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI) at the University of Minnesota to collaboratively identify three broad areas the program is uniquely designed to foster in youth: persistence, environmental stewardship, and an interest in science and the environment. CAREI developed an 11-item, retrospective pre-post youth survey measure focused on indicators connected to youth development and the environment. First-year findings from 2018 will be presented showing that the overall post-means were higher than the overall pre-means, and this pre-post change was statistically significant for all three factors. The factor with the greatest percent change in the Minnesota data was environmental stewardship, followed by future science/career interests and then persistence. In this session, we will share effective strategies in connecting youth to their local waterways and information about how to measure change associated with that programming.

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Concurrent Session 4, Track EThe Role of Wetland Processes in the Global Carbon Cycle and ClimateWilliam Mitsch, Florida Gulf Coast University

Although carbon in wetland soils has long been recognized as an important storage of global carbon, very little work has been done to consider the role of current and restored wetlands on carbon processes in the global carbon cycle. Peat deposits in the world’s wetlands, particularly in boreal and tropical regions, are substantial storages of carbon (C) in the lithosphere. Of the total storage of carbon in earth’s soils of 1,400 to 2,500 Pg-C, anywhere from 20 to 30 percent of that is stored in wetlands. These deep peat deposits, if disturbed could contribute significantly to worldwide atmospheric CO2 levels, depending on rates of draining and oxidation of the peat deposits due to climate change and human development. While much attention has been recently paid to the ability of coastal wetlands (mangroves, salt marshes, and sea grass beds) to sequester carbon (the concept is known as “blue carbon”), less attention has been paid to the ability of inland wetlands, particularly on a global scale, to sequester carbon, even though these wetlands comprise 95% of the world’s wetlands. Part of the reason is because these freshwater wetlands often have significant emissions of greenhouse gases, particularly methane. I provide an updated analysis of the balance between carbon sequestration and methane emissions in natural, created, and restored wetlands around the world, as well as illustrating models and previous studies that have attempted to balance these two fluxes to determine the net effect of wetlands on both carbon balances and net radiative forcing. Our studies show that most wetlands are net sinks of radiative forcing; exceptions to this are some degrading boreal and tropical wetlands that have been drained and have become net sources of carbon dioxide.

Permitting Through PartnershipThomas Dietrich, Minnehaha Creek Watershed District

A constant struggle between water resources and economic development is trying to maximize the property’s economic value while preserving and enhancing its natural heritage.

Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD), through a collaborative process with a landowner and the City of Minnetrista, worked in partnership to create a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to maximize both the conservation area on the property and the potential revenue for the landowner on low-lying and challenging areas of the property.

Through this collaborative partnership the project resulted in:

■ The property owner restoring a 22-acre wetland and 20-acres of upland buffer on their property, benefittingwater quality and providing an amenity for future residents;

■ The restoration qualified under the “Cluster Development” provision in the City’s rules, allowing for fouradditional lots and additional tax base for the City;

■ The landowners establishing a “wetland bank,” generating additional revenue and creating the first privatewetland bank within the MCWD;

■ The City attained credits to meet state pollution reduction requirements.■ This project is an example of creative collaboration between landowners and government agencies to

maximize the benefits of a property. The establishment of the wetland bank on the site resulted in therestoration of wetland functions that protect water quality, provide flood storage and create wildlife habitat.The wetland bank also allowed for maximum economic benefit of the property, as it allowed for the sale ofwetland credits while increasing the number of lots for residential development.

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Concurrent Session 5, Track AThe Challenge Of Maintaining Stormwater Treatment Practices: A Synthesis Of Recent Research And Practitioner ExperienceAndy Erickson, Vini Taguchi, John Gulliver, St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, University of Minnesota

The methods for properly executing inspection and maintenance of stormwater treatment practices are often ambiguous and inconsistently applied. This presentation presents specific guidelines for inspecting and maintaining stormwater practices involving media filtration, infiltration, and permeable pavements because these tend to be widely implemented and often unsatisfactorily maintained. How do you know when enhanced media or amendments are no longer effective and should be replaced? Why do some infiltration practices fail while others succeed and how do you prevent failure? The same can be asked of permeable pavements; is the pavement clogged with sediment, collapsed, or effectively infiltrating rainfall? Guidelines and examples are based on recent scientific research and practitioner experience. Of special note are new assessment and maintenance methods, such as testing enhanced filtration media that target dissolved constituents, maintaining proper vegetation coverage in infiltration practices, and identification of compressed impermeable regions in permeable pavements and their implications for runoff. The maintenance of a stormwater treatment practice is a continuous adaptation to the changing condition of the practices.

Analysis Of Stormwater Runoff From Impervious SurfacesBrittany Faust, University of Minnesota and Mississippi Watershed Management Organization; Bruce Wilson, University of Minnesota; Stephanie Johnson, Udai Singh, Mississippi Watershed Management Organization

There is a need to understand how runoff amount and event mean concentration (EMC) values of select pollutant types (Total Suspended Solids, Total Phosphorus, Total Nitrogen, Heavy Metals, Chemical Oxygen Demand, Total Carbon, E. coli, and Chloride) vary between different types of impervious surfaces.

In 2017 and 2018, the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) in collaboration with scientists from Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering at the University of Minnesota (UMN) conducted a unique field experiment and study to investigate the impact of stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces into the Mississippi River. The study focused on city streets, sidewalks, parking lots, and rooftops located in the downtown Minneapolis area. A rain simulator was used to study the runoff response of streets, parking lots, and sidewalks in spring, summer, and fall conditions. Overview of site selection, design of experiments, field experiment, instrumentation and data collection along with results of the study will be presented in this presentation.

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Concurrent Session 5, Track A (continued)Development Of A Rapid Screening Tool For Siting Infiltration Stormwater Control MeasuresNicholas Tecca, John Gulliver, John Nieber, University of Minnesota

Infiltration practices are an increasingly common stormwater control measure (SCM). The current MPCA Construction Stormwater General Permit requires that a volume reduction practice, such as an infiltration SCM, be the first consideration for treating the water quality volume when a development creates more than one acre of new imperious surface. Despite the increased prevalence, studies have found that the rate of infiltration SCM failure may be as high as 50%. Identifying an appropriate location is one critical component contributing to the successful long-term performance of an infiltration SCM. A good location requires soils with a high saturated hydraulic conductivity, adequate separation from the seasonal high groundwater table, the ability to direct stormwater to the location by gravity flow, and a relatively flat topographic slope to promote infiltration. A GIS based tool was developed that aggregates these variables into a combined Preliminary Infiltration Rating (PIR) using a fuzzy logic product operator. The PIR can then be overlaid with GIS data identifying areas where infiltration is likely to be prohibited by the MPCA Construction Stormwater General Permit. The combination of data identifying where an infiltration SCM is likely to be prohibited and likely to be successful will assist designers in identifying locations for site specific investigation. Three levels of PIR were developed associated with the different levels of construction effort involved in redevelopment projects, new development projects, and new development projects with extensive earthwork.

Smart Targeting Stormwater TreatmentAlex Schmidt, Nancy Stowe, Houston Engineering

Location, Location, Location! Finding the ideal location for your next stormwater treatment BMP is getting more challenging. Obvious sites are becoming sparse. How do you know where to locate the most effective BMP in your watershed, with limited resources? Traditional watershed assessments or feasibility studies use non-specific criteria and intuition to locate stormwater management practices. This is often done non-objectively by manually scanning through areal imagery. With a combination of available watershed science, technology, and regional datasets the best locations for stormwater treatment can now be located and prioritized based on tailored criteria, by assessing every square meter of a watershed.

A water quality study in the City of Thief River Falls used GIS techniques to smart-target pollutant loads and BMP locations. Post-processing of water quality modeling results allowed for mapping of nutrient runoff yield. This and other readily available data were used to inform targeting processes resulting in a BMP Targeting Heatmap – which highlights the most probable locations where a water quality treatment BMP will make the greatest impact in water quality, in cost-effective manner. The heatmap was computed by automated GIS assessment combining spatial data on space suitability, landowner receptivity, sediment and nutrient loads, LiDAR data, and location relative to stormwater conveyance systems. The locations were vetted and matched with a selection matrix of BMPs and implementation criteria. The study was completed in 2018 and resulted in the selection of 12 high-priority, regional stormwater treatment BMPs.

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Concurrent Session 5, Track BUnderstanding and Predicting Bluegreen Algal Blooms in Minnesota LakesDo you want to know what Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) are? Or how they will impact your water resources, economies, and your health? or maybe even bring a water sample to test for HABs? Then come to the 2019 HAB Special session to hear and learn from the experts in the field about the research, projects, and outreach across the State, region, and country. Including the most recent tools in identifying, detecting, and managing HABs.

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Concurrent Session 5, Track CPromoting Successful River, Stream, and Floodplain RestorationsThe Minnesota Legacy Fund Restoration Evaluation Program promotes successful practices to improve restorations by evaluating projects relative to the law, current science, and stated project goals. Part 1 of this session will cover recommendations that have emerged from evaluations of 40 river, stream, and floodplain restoration projects across the state as well as current research and professional experience from the Legacy Fund Restoration Evaluation Panel technical experts.

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Concurrent Session 5, Track DEvaluating MAWQCP Conservation Practice Impacts On Water Quality In The Cottonwood River BasinBrent Dalzell, Jeff Strock, University of Minnesota

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture administers the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) to encourage farmers to adopt a suite of management practices for the purpose of improving water quality. Farmers who enroll in the program are granted reprieve from uncertainty that may arise from new regulatory actions for a period of 10-years. We are using the SWAT model to estimate the water quality benefits of the Certification Program by simulating farm-specific practices on farms enrolled in the Cottonwood River watershed and comparing those results against baseline values that represent typical management scenarios. Preliminary results from similar landscapes show that: (1) meeting water quality goals may be achievable by targeting key aspects of the landscape, and (2) inter-annual variability in weather plays a strong role in the effectiveness of farm management practices. Following evaluation of results from Certified Farms, we will simulate expanded adoption of similar management practices to other farms in the watershed with the goal of determining what level of MAWQCP enrollment is necessary to achieve basin-wide water quality benefits.

BMP Databases for Delaware and Chesapeake Bays: Leveraging Voluntary Tracking, Modeling, Sharing and Reporting SystemsAnthony Aufdenkampe, LimnoTech; David Arscott, Stroud Water Research Center; Barry Evans, Scott Haag, Drexel University; John Dawes, Chesapeake Commons; Ben Crary, Steve Skripnik, Hans Holmberg, LimnoTech

The Delaware River Watershed Initiative (DRWI) was funded by William Penn Foundation (WPF) to harness the knowledge and energy of over fifty non-profit organizations to work with government agencies to improve water quality through targeted conservation projects. WPF funded easy-to-use web applications for (1) modeling and prioritizing best management practice (BMP) options (i.e. Model My Watershed, https://modelmywatershed.org/); (2) monitoring water quality (i.e. EnviroDIY, https://www.envirodiy.org/, and Monitor My Watershed, https://monitormywatershed.org/); and most recently (3) tracking basin-wide progress toward achieving goals (i.e. DRWI Dashboard and FieldDoc, https://drwidashboard.org/). As these web applications and data systems work anywhere in the continental USA, Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection (PaDEP) has begun to recommend and utilize them to meet their MS4 and TMDL requirements for EPA and Chesapeake Bay.

We will describe how we developed these systems to first meet the needs of conservation organizations, which in turn motivated the sharing of information on planned and implemented BMPs into our central databases. We will explain why Pennsylvania is adopting these systems to meet their needs, and funding enhancements to automate integrations with EPA’s National Environmental Information Exchange Network (NEIEN) to account for existing BMP implementation when simulating pollutant loads. We will share our vision to further develop these systems to harness the self-interests of conservation organizations to voluntarily contribute BMP data to automate the tracking, modeling and reporting of cumulative and future benefits of all BMPs within regional watersheds. We believe that such an approach has great potential to assist planning and management of watershed conservation in Minnesota.

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Concurrent Session 5, Track D (continued)Disrupting The Monoculture: A Bio-Economic Spatial ModelLucia Levers, Brent Dalzell, Jeffrey Peterson, University of Minnesota

We developed a flexible geo-spatial optimization framework to model and evaluate alternative farm management practice policies. By combining Soil and Water Assessment Tool model outputs with an economic programming approach, our framework simulates policy driven land use and environmental effluent shifts. We simulate land use shifts at the hydrologic response unit (HRU) level and also by using a novel and more realistic management unit approach. We applied our framework to a Minnesota River Basin watershed, Beaver Creek, in the state of Minnesota and estimated land use changes required to achieve nitrogen reduction benchmarks. While perennial crops are more environmentally beneficial, strategically located cover crops can be used as the sole practice to achieve significant land use benchmarks. As the management unit increases in size, the loss of potential agricultural profit increases as well. A larger driver of nitrate pollution and reduction in profit may be precipitation volume—indicating that climate change may be particularly impactful in areas like Minnesota, where climate change models predict increasingly rainy springs.

Lessons Learned Implementing Water Quality Trading Andrew Skog, MSA Professional Services

In 2013, MSA Professional Services, Inc. (MSA) began working with the City of Brodhead, WI, to develop a plan to meet new phosphorus limits for the City’s wastewater treatment facility. The State of Wisconsin currently has some of the most stringent phosphorus regulations in the United States. In the case of Brodhead, the City will be required to reduce the amount of phosphorus discharged by the wastewater treatment facility by nearly 95%. The City’s new phosphorus limit of 0.1 mg/L becomes effective in 2019 and is so stringent that traditional biological and chemical phosphorus removal processes will not be sufficient to achieve compliance. Faced with two options: 1) complete a $5.3 million dollar wastewater treatment facility upgrade, or 2) implement Water Quality Trading for $1.5 million, the City decided to pursue the lower cost option. However, there are risks involved: achieving compliance via Water Quality Trading will require the City to form binding legal agreements with private landowners, work with multiple regulatory agencies with competing goals, and partner with many outside stakeholders and non-profit organizations. This presentation will discuss how MSA navigated these issues to successfully begin the implementation of a major Water Quality Trading project in Wisconsin. Discussion will include potential regulatory hurdles of implementing a Water Quality Trading program, how to prioritize the search for “credits,” and how to negotiate a trade agreement.

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Concurrent Session 5, Track EWhat is the Future of Our Wetlands? A Review of Past and Current Biological Surveys in the Prairie Pothole RegionShawn DeKeyser, North Dakota State University

It is widely known there has been a large loss of wetlands in the United States especially in highly agriculturalized ecoregions like the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR). The remaining wetlands of these areas are further impacted by the effects of agriculture including increased sedimentation, nutrient overloading, pesticide contamination, total destruction of native plant communities, and plant invasions to name a few. Further complicating the issue is the fact the wetlands of the PPR lie within one of the most endangered ecosystems of the world (i.e. native prairie). Prairie ecosystems are highly utilized due to productive soils, thus leaving these regions extremely fragmented. Recent surveys in the PPR conducted as part of the Environmental Protections Agency’s National Wetland Condition Assessment indicate a large percentage of wetlands are lower quality. The few wetlands remaining on native prairie tracts considered “reference condition” are also changing. The plant communities of these wetlands are being effected by plant invasions and an overall loss of diversity, which may be due to fragmentation and recent climatic changes. Considering all factors, novel approaches toward management of wetlands and the grasslands they lie within will have to be considered in the future to maintain ecosystem functionality.

One Wetland Is Not Enough - An Interdisciplinary Evaluation Of Potholes In The PrairieJennifer Gruetzman, Sara Vacek, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) holds the most productive waterfowl habitat in North America. The US Fish and Wildlife Service puts forth resources to protect wetlands and grasslands in this region, providing functional habitat for breeding and migrating waterfowl. Ducks need a variety of wetland types throughout their life cycle; temporary and seasonal wetlands provide key pair-bonding habitat, while semi-permanent wetlands are important for brood rearing.

Often, wetland evaluations focus on individual basins. However, in the PPR the wetland complex is seen as the functional ecological unit. Recognizing the paucity of long-term wetland monitoring in the PPR, in 2009 we established a cooperative hydrologic and biological monitoring program. It includes data from fourteen wetlands across two wetland complexes in western Minnesota. Using this data set we developed baseline hydrographs to better understand the hydrology within and between those wetlands. By providing the baseline hydrographs for defining wetland types on the landscape, we can better identify how the wetlands are responding across the complex unit. Collecting continuous wetland hydrology data is not enough to completely evaluate the health of the ecosystem. Therefore, we also implemented a vegetation assessment on these same wetlands to evaluate their ecological condition, including waterfowl habitat quality. With interdisciplinary collaboration between hydrologists and biologists, the Service can better meet its mission of enhancing habitats in the prairie pothole region. This comprehensive picture of wetland complex functionality will help managers respond to uncertainties introduced by land use and climate change in the future.

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Concurrent Session 6, Track ASand Creek Outcomes: The Result of Hard Work, Good Timing or Just Plain Dumb Luck?Melissa Bokman, Ryan Holzer, Scott County; Troy Kuphal, Scott Soil and Water Conservation District; Brad Wozney, Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources ; Cindy Penny, MPCA; Keegan Lund, Department of Natural Resources; Mike Schultz, Le Sueur Soil and Water Conservation District; Mae Davenport, Amit Pradhananga, University of Minnesota; Marty Melchior, Inter-Fluve

In 2010 the Scott Watershed Management Organization finished studies addressing surface water quality issues in the Sand Creek Watershed. Millions of dollars have been spent since, and we are seeing some interesting outcomes. This session will have professionals that worked on the studies or implementation discuss the outcomes and whether they are the result of hard work, good timing or dumb luck; but will rely on you the audience to determine which applies best.

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Concurrent Session 6, Track BUnderstanding and Predicting Bluegreen Algal Blooms in Minnesota Lakes

Do you want to know what Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) are? Or how they will impact your water resources, economies, and your health? or maybe even bring a water sample to test for HABs? Then come to the 2019 HAB Special session to hear and learn from the experts in the field about the research, projects, and outreach across the State, region, and country. Including the most recent tools in identifying, detecting, and managing HABs.

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Concurrent Session 6, Track CPromoting Successful River, Stream, and Floodplain RestorationsPart 2 of the “Promoting Successful River, Stream, and Floodplain Restorations” session will include a panel discussion and evaluation case studies presented by project partners that highlight successful projects, as well as challenges and opportunities for the future of river, stream and floodplain restorations.

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Concurrent Session 6, Track DLeveraging the Arts and Storytelling to Advance Awareness of Water Resources IssuesStretch your professional skills in this experiential and PowerPoint-free special session. Led by the artists and storytellers of Water Bar & Public Studio, this session will explore how the use of arts and cultural storytelling strategies in water resources outreach can help to create lasting awareness and positive action. Attendees will gain greater understanding and skills in facilitating art/storytelling by listening and engaging with the MN arts community.

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Concurrent Session 6, Track EInvasion of CattailsPam Geddes, Northeastern Illinois University

Wetlands provide important ecosystem services but invasive plant species can greatly compromise these services. In the Midwestern US, two wetland plant species -native Typha latifolia and exotic T. angustifolia- hybridize to form T. x glauca. The exotic parent T. angustifolia and the hybrid are very aggressive, forming dense monocultures and reducing plant biodiversity. Due to variable morphology and hybridization, Typha species are difficult to identify in the field. In addition, the extent of hybridization across the Midwest is not well documented. Our goal was to use molecular tools that discriminate between the parent taxa and hybrids to quantify hybridization rates in cattail populations across the Midwest. After sampling plants from 39 populations in 7 states, we found that approximately 11% of populations sampled contained pure T. latifolia, while approximately 5% contained pure T. angustifolia. We also found not only first-generation hybrids (i.e., T. x glauca) but also advanced-generation hybrids, suggesting T. x glauca backcrosses to either parent or with other hybrids. We also found that morphological traits are likely to lead to high error rates when identifying Typha species in the field because visual identification of those traits cannot pick up small differences among species and even less so for hybrids. Our data suggest that hybrids are replacing both parental species within the Midwestern region, and that hybridization could lead to extinction of native Typha latifolia. Implications for cattail species management may thus require efforts to preserve the native parental species through seed banking and/or other approaches. Additionally, further work in our lab suggests that invasion of further cattail species (T. domingensis, T. laxmannii) into the Midwest is likely to continue due to climate change and globalization so this problem may be compounded by further hybridization with other exotic cattails. We finally recommend the current Typha taxonomy be revised to incorporate emerging information from more recent molecular analyses of the Typha genus.

Restored Vegetation Outcomes in Wetland Mitigation Banks Across MinnesotaAustin Yantes, University of Minnesota

The Minnesota Wetland Banking Program exists as a convenient pathway to wetland mitigation. While the program has been offered since 1994, there has been no assessment of the long-term outcomes of wetland banking projects. Vegetation monitoring occurs for 5 years post-restoration, but even then these sites are ecologically young and conclusions made about the achievement of vegetation restoration goals may be premature. This study aimed to evaluate vegetation outcomes in wetland banks restored 8-11 years ago and to compare the outcomes across four seeding zone types. The zones were located on-site using georeferenced PDFs of seeding maps. Vegetation surveys using 1m2 quadrats and timed meanders were completed in 2017. The results indicate that of the four types, the emergent zone had the lowest native species richness and highest invasive species cover. In all seeding zones, the number of seeded species present was often quite low even when native richness was high. This study also identified which seeded species and guilds persisted over time and which were consistently absent. This type of data can inform future seed mix adjustments, thereby improving the success and cost-effectiveness of wetland vegetation restoration efforts. Across all study sites, invasive cattails and reed canary grass were pervasive and seem to be increasing in cover over time. This study highlights the necessity of long-term management to combat the ongoing expansion of invasive species and to promote the persistence of desired native species.

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