technical assistance, planning, and public outreach measures to reduce nonpoint source pollution in...

8/14/2019 Technical Assistance, Planning, and Public Outreach Measures to Reduce Nonpoint Source Pollution in Cook County (310-04-08)

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landowners, and contractors. Staff referred citizens to the appropriate resourceand helped them maneuver through state and federal agencies. Please refer to

the monthly staff reports and Requests for Technical Assistance report fordetails. Staff provided public information on projects previously completedthrough the Coastal Program such as the Grand Marais Storm WaterManagement Plan, the Cook County Property Owners Resource Guide, thestorm water retention ponds, and the native plantings. Results Approximately80 citizen and elected official received assistance at the office and over thephone. Staff occasionally receive initial contacts outside of office hours whileshopping or attending unrelated community events. An estimated 22 requests

resulted in field reviews recommendations for changes on the land. Dozens ofothers contacts resulted in improved behaviors to reduce pollution.

Poplar River Projects (match). In 2008 staff provided additional technicalassistance to plan four projects to reduce sediment loading on the Poplar River.Results Four projects were built in 2009 with state funding. Estimated sedimentreduction into the river of these projects is 307 tons per year.

Natural Resource Planning:(MLSCP Performance Measurement Coastal Dependent Uses & CommunityDevelopment)Regional Natural Resource Planning (match). Match for this grant includes state-funded work by the Board and staff. SWCD supervisors voiced local concernsregarding large development projects, natural resource conservation strategies,and administrative changes that will affect the implementation of conservation-related programs. Results Board supervisors participated in priority planning1) at three meetings of the 9-county Technical Service Area 3 (TSA3) to directthe work of a shared conservation engineer and technician, 2) at three meetingsof the Soil & Water Forestry Committee (20 northern MN SWCDs), 3) at threemeetings of the Laurentian Resource Conservation & Development Committee(five Counties, five SWCDs and the Grand Portage Tribal Council), and 4) at onemeeting of the NRCS Environmental Quality Incentive local committee. Planning

led to the eventual design of 11 projects in Cook County during 2008-09 by TSA3Engineering staff. Planning of the other committees also resulted in restorationor protection through forestry work or erosion control.

Local Natural Resource Planning (match). Supervisors and staff work with localorganizations such as the Poplar River Management Board (8 members, 2

ti ) th C t Pl i C i i (7 b 3 ti ) th L l


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Public Outreach:(MLSCP Performance Measurement Government Coordination and Decision-Making (DCDM)Presentation. Soil & Waters Conservation Technician gave a presentation to theGrand Marais Recpark Visioning Committee developing a Master Plan. Hesuggested protection the wetland areas, low-cost information kiosks withinformation on the parks water resources, the overall ecosystem, and addingwater quality enhancers such as increased pervious surfaces, rain gardens andstream buffers. Results This presentation to the Committee and 40 members of

the community along with many other community comments influenced theRecpark Board decision the following summer 1) to delineate the Recparkwetlands, 2) to include the historic (filled) wetland areas on the Master Plan map,and 3) to construct trail erosion controls over the summer.

Web Site Upgrade. Staff worked many hours to expand and enhance the Soil &Water website. The upgraded web pages are housed on the new county website.Results Soil & Water now displays services and educational information in an

organized, logical style. It is expected that the posted reports and photos ofcompleted projects will increase transparency and understanding of Soil & Waterwork and conservation practices. An average of 15 per day use the site.

Reclassification of Portions of Lakes (match). During the grant period four lakeswere partially surveyed for frog count, type of vegetation, lake depth, bottomsubstrate, shoreline cover type, and presence of wetlands. Results As ofDecember 2008, data was collected along the shorelines of shallow bays of fourlakes. At the completion of this state-funded project in June of 2011 the datacollected will be used to justify a recommendation to the County Board to changethe classification of portions of four lakes from Natural Environment to SpecialNatural Environment, a classification regulating more protection.

Leveraged Dollars Match for the nonpoint source pollution initiativesincluded: MN Board of Water and Soil Resources 2009 General Services fundsfor staffing and Board ($4422), MN Clean Water Legacy 2007 funds ($2558,Poplar River Sediment Reduction projects), MN Clean Water Legacy 2008 funds($591, Lakes Reclassification), and County in-kind support ($1389, office space,information technology and legal support).

Conclusions Progress in prevention of nonpoint source pollution is relative toboth the volume of contacts and the quality of the information When a citizen


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Appendices A. Field Review Summaries, Examples

a. Flood Damage Repair Recommendation for Trout Stream CulvertReplacement

b. Shoreline Buffer and Revegetation Recommendationc. DNR Waters Permit, Trout Stream Bank Stabilization Comment

B. News Herald Article Nov 2008, Envision Future of Recreation ParkC. Record of Technical Assistance Database ReportD. Request for Technical Assistance Database Report

E. Sample Map, Lakeshore Ecological Sensitivity Analysis -Bigsby LakeF. New Website

Digital Products

Technical Assistance, Planning, and

Public Outreach Measures to ReduceNonpoint Source Pollutionin Cook County

Cook County

01/31/2009, CNP 310-04-08

Soil & Water Conservation DistrictSoil & Water

Cook County, Grand Marais, MN Conservation District

A. Field Review Summaries, Examplesa. Flood Damage Repair Recommendation for TroutStream Culvert

b. Shoreline Buffer and Revegetation Recommendationc. DNR Waters Permit, Trout Stream Bank Stabilization

CommentB. News Herald Article Nov 2008, Envision Future of

Recreation ParkC. Record of Technical Assistance Database Report

D. Request for Technical Assistance Database ReportE. Sample Map, Lakeshore Ecological Sensitivity Analysis -

Bigsby Lake

F. New Website


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