Minnesota: Sauk River Chain of Lakes

Phosphorus Reductions Achieved in Lakes

Waterbody | Problem | Project Highlights | Results | Partners & Funding

Waterbody Improved

The Sauk River Chain of Lakes is an interconnected system of 14 bay-like lakes fed by the Sauk River in Central Minnesota. The Sauk River Chain of Lakes is impaired by phosphorus and total suspended solids due to row cropping and livestock operations, as well as discharges from on-site septic systems. Agricultural best management practices (BMPs) and upgrades to septic systems and municipal wastewater treatment facilities throughout the Sauk River Chain of Lakes watershed have reduced total phosphorus concentrations to 176 μg/L—nearly achieving the regional goal of 100-150 μg/L—representing a 48 percent decrease in total phosphorus loading.

Contact:

Julie Klocker
(julie@srwdmn.org)
Sauk River Watershed District
320-352-6455

Dennis Fuchs
(dennis.fuchs@mn.nacdnet.net)
Stearns County Soil & Water
  Conservation District
320-251-7800 x3

Jeff Hrubes
(jeff.hrubes@state.mn.us)
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
218-828-2227

PDF version of story
(2 pp, 710K, About PDFs)

 

Vegetative filter strips, installed along shorelines (lower picture), help reduce nutrient transport to the lakes.

 

Waste storage facilities at livestock operations help reduce nutrient runoff to the lakes. Project partners installed and improved 50 storage facilities.

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Results

Total phosphorus concentrations have been reduced in the Sauk River Chain of Lakes from 300 to 1,200 μg/L in 1985 to 176 μg/L in 2002 and 2003, representing a 48 percent decrease in total phosphorus loading. A total maximum daily load has not yet been developed, but progress is being made toward the ecoregion average goal of 100-150 μg/L for total phosphorus. This progress has been made in spite of two decades of wet weather that has increased average annual flows by 30 percent, a factor that generally impedes measurement of improvements in water quality.

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Partners and Funding

The Sauk River Watershed District (SRWD) was the official project sponsor and coordinating agency for the project. The SRWD worked with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), Minnesota Board of Soil and Water Resources, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Stearns County Environmental Services, Sauk River Chain of Lakes Association, Joint Powers Association, Pheasants Forever Inc., Farm Service Agency, Sauk River Chain of Lakes Citizen Steering Committee (with representatives from the agricultural community, lakeshore property owners, and township board members), and local landowners.

Project costs since 1999 are estimated at $3.1 million. Section 319 provided $750,000 in funding to assist farmers with the installation of agricultural BMPs and the septic system maintenance education program. Other funding sources included $201,748 from the USDA NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives P

What Are Shoreland BMPs?

Best Management Practices (BMPs) are actions you can take to reduce your impact on the environment. BMPs have been described for agriculture, forest management, and construction. This fact sheet describes BMPs you can adopt on your shoreland property to help protect and preserve water quality. In many cases, the best management for shorelands may be retaining the natural characteristics of your property.

Crops and Animals Affect Water Quality

Rainfall and snow melt running off farmland or seeping into the ground can carry pollution into lakes and streams. Pollution carried by runoff is called nonpoint source pollution. In the past, nonpoint pollution from one farm or field has been easy to ignore as insignificant, but it cannot be ignored any longer because the sum of the thousands of nonpoint pollution sources is the main cause of today's water quality problems. Raising crops and animals can contribute to nonpoint pollution if runoff is not properly treated.

Nonpoint Pollution in NE Minnesota

Northeastern Minnesota is blessed with an abundance of clean water. Our lakes and streams are important to tourism, recreation, and the residents who live or vacation in our area.

Nonpoint source pollution from crops and animals in northern Minnesota results from operations ranging from dairy and beef farms to sled dog kennels and hobbyhorse farms. These operations have the potential to send nutrients and organic matter into surface water. Pasturing animals along streambanks can also cause erosion that adds sediment to lakes and streams. Sheet and rill erosion strip away topsoil from steep fields that are farmed in continuous row crops. The topsoil that ends up in lakes and streams often carries nutrients and pesticides along with it.

Major Agricultural Pollutants

The major nonpoint source pollutants are sediment, nutrients, pesticides, bacteria, and oxygen-demanding substances.

sediment--Eroded soil particles from fields, ditches, and streambanks make water turbid, damaging fish and plant habitat and reducing water's aesthetic appeal; sediment may carry nutrients and heavy metals with it.

nutrients--Fertilizer or animal waste in runoff water delivers nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen to lakes and streams, causing excessive algae and weed growth; high nitrate concentrations in drinking water can present a health threat for infants.

pesticides--Agricultural chemicals such as insecticides or herbicides can wash off crops and fields into lakes and streams where they can be toxic to fish and other aquatic life; some pesticides pose a threat to human health if they reach drinking water supplies.

bacteria--Runoff or seepage from feedlots and failing septic systems can carry coliform bacteria into surface and ground water, presenting health risks for drinking or body contact.

oxygen-demanding substances -- Manure, sewage, crop residue, and other decaying organic matter use up oxygen needed by fish.

BMPs to Prevent Nonpoint Source Pollution

Figure 1 illustrates several BMPs designed to minimize the impact of agriculture on nearby lakes and streams.

Figure 1: Several BMPs work together to control agricultural runoff.

(1) CROPPED LAND EROSION CONTROL

Careful management of your tillage practice can lead to a more profitable farm operation, reduce erosion, and improve water quality. These management choices added to your tillage options can enhance your operation. Some tillage options to consider are:

• mulch tillage
  
  
• no-till and ridge-till systems
  
  
• contouring and grass field borders
  
  
• strip cropping

Many operations still use the moldboard plow in a conventional tillage system. Fall plowing heavy soils is the best option, but the ground should be left rough and cloddy. Winter conditions can help improve your soil structure by reducing the clump size. Leaving a rough surface also helps cut down surface erosion. Never disc a fall plowing unless it is early enough to establish a fall cover crop. Discing or making seedbeds in the fall will create the opportunity for significant soil and nutrient loss. Spring plowing is your best option in lighter soils and can reduce overall soil erosion.

Some basic BMP practices such as soil management, crop rotation, nutrient management, and seeding fragile and drainage areas with grass for sediment control can greatly increase the profitability of your long-term farming operations. At the same time, negative impacts to water quality will be lessened.

(2) DIVERSIONS AND ROOF GUTTERS

A diversion is a permanently vegetated ridge constructed at the base of a slope to safely divert the runoff. Gutters simply redirect significant amounts of water away from building foundations or, in this case, an animal barnyard.

(3) & (4) MANURE CATCHMENT

This structure allows for the buildup of manure and channels liquid manure to a single outlet. Liquid manure can be either stored and used to fertilize fields or ÒtreatedÓ by a grass filter strip. Solid manure within the catchment can be removed during the growing season and applied to the field, adding organic matter and nutrients. There are many designs and methods of storage for managing both solids and liquids.

(5) GRASS FILTER STRIP

This is permanent grass sod that filters potentially harmful nutrients from the manure catchment area. In the growing months, excess nutrients can be utilized by the grasses. This method is enhanced by the addition of a buffer strip between the grass filter strip and the stream.

(6) BUFFER STRIPS

Along lakes and streams, removal of excess nutrients can be enhanced by the use of buffer strips. These consist of natural or planted woody vegetation along the edge of the stream or lake. In this case, red pine and spruce trees were planted. The buffer strip acts to:

• stabilize soil
  
  
• trap nutrients by filtering runoff
  
  
• shade and cool the water to improve aquatic habitat

The wider the buffer strip, the greater its effectiveness. Planting high value tree species could increase your farm's future value.

(7) STREAM CROSSING

The least expensive method is to make a low-flow gravel crossing allowing livestock access to pasture on the other side of the stream. Fencing can be installed on either side of the crossing as gates to prevent them from walking along the stream.

Culverts and bridges are more costly but might be necessary in sensitive areas. These also can be built to allow machinery to cross.

Fencing animals out of lakes or streams will prevent water pollution. Watering your animals can be done with electric pumps, solar-powered pumps, mechanical nose-pumps, and stock watering ponds. Permits may be needed for work done along streams or lakeshores.

(8) PASTURING LIVESTOCK

Intensive rotational grazing provides better forage for your animals while improving sod and soil coverage between grazing cycles and can reduce overall erosion. Fencing animals from sensitive areas is also important.

(9) UNUSABLE LAND CONVERSION

Highly erodable and marginal fields can be converted to various uses depending on your objectives. Changing marginal cropland or pastures can provide long-term benefits both financially and environmentally. Some conversion possibilities are:

• intercropping trees and pasture
  
  
• planting nut trees or high quality timber
  
  
• planting Christmas trees
  
  
• using native and imported species for wildlife habitat

(10) FUEL, FERTILIZER, & PESTICIDE STORAGE

A small amount of fuel oil, gasoline, diesel, fertilizer, or other chemicals can contaminate a large volume of water. Here are som suggestions:

Fuel Oil, Gasoline, and Diesel

• Locate tanks away from other buildings and water.
  
  
• Dike the area around above-ground tanks to contain spills.
  
  
• Follow maintenance, safety, and disposal precautions.

Fertilizer and Other Chemicals

• Store only small amounts for short periods.
  
  
• Clearly mark containers and check their condition.
  
  
• Cover and store on a sealed surface to contain any spills.
  
  
• Properly dispose of outdated unused chemicals; contact your county solid waste officer who may accept unused chemicals free of charge.

(11) SILAGE/HAYLAGE

Improperly contained silage can contaminate ground and surface water. Using basic BMPs minimizes risk from these operations:

• Store silage away from any water source.
  
  
• Provide impermeable surface soil around the storage.
  
  
• Install a seepage collection system.
  
  
• Divert clean water away from area.
  
  
• Adequately cover silage.

Regulations That Apply

Owners of feedlots with more than ten animal units are required to have a feedlot permit available from the MN Pollution Control Agency (PCA). Check with local zoning authorities for assistance.

Program Assistance for Agricultural BMPs

Programs are available to help individuals cover up to 75% of the cost of applying BMPs. Many animal owners have used this assistance to apply systems such as the ones shown in Figure 1. They find these practices save time and money. Valuable organic fertilizer is stored for use on fields rather than flowing downstream.

The Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD), the MN Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR), the University of Minnesota Extension Service, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agencies of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Farm Services Administration (FSA) all offer programs to help people plan and adopt BMPs. Through the SWCD, state and federal cost-share programs are available to help people apply these practices. Planning and design assistance is offered at no cost and up to 75% of the installation cost can be covered by cost-share dollars.

Farm runoff blamed for town's contaminated water

by Tom Robertson, Minnesota Public Radio

Hi everyone,

    I guess it is official.  When we come back from Florida in September, we will be listing the cabins on Sharon place with an agent.  I really hate to do this as I love the place, but my husband can not deal with 3 properties and all the rules and regulations Benton imposes on building.  He says he has enough to deal with in Florida as we bought a short sale home and have to clear up all the liens and permits on the property before we move in. Plus our Florida house is 85% finished so that also will require work.  We both had hopes of selling our place in town and building a summer home at the lake but with the ecconomy and the rules in Benton County, we have put that decison on hold. 

     I grew up on a lake a lot like LRL as far as the scenic views.  It was much smaller, but over l00 feet deep in places, and located 7 miles west of Bemidji.  Whenever I sit out by the water at Little Rock, I am reminded of all the wonderful times I had growing up, and most of those memories are around water, friends and family.  I am going to dread leaving the lake, because being there makes me feel that my family is still around, just waiting to jump on a pontoon and go out for a night's fishing.  I see their faces in the campfires and in my vision they are really happy that I am at the lake and that I am trying to do things to improve the water quality.  I really believe in what LRL is trying to do and I feel it is part of my destiny to help in any way I can. 

   My father was one of the first 1`3 research water quality biologists hired by the state of MN when they started the DNR in the late l940's. At that time the DNR was called "Fish and Game." He ended up being the region 8 supervisor of the DNR and as a child I felt a part of what the DNR was trying to do to improve water.  I can remember my dad going out to meetings and talking with Farmers about leaving buffer strips by their fields.  I can remember him being disgusted by the lake shore owners that put out houses right near the water since they were more convenient.   I remember him talking about the crews the DNR had hired to dredge out waterways and make better pathways for boats to go through.  I remember going along when they seeded streams with fingerlings, and I remember how important good water quality was, even back in the 50's and 60's.  In many ways it seems that we have gone backwards, but we now have more people around the lakes, and different farming practices.  Our world is just a lot more complicated ,and sometimes that is not a good thing. 

    Being at the lake gives everyone the chance to bond in ways that you just can't do sitting over a Wii.  I remember the time I was fishing with my father and caught a large bass.  It wrapped it's line around the lily pads and I had to stick my head under the water to grab the broken line and pull it out.  It was a record small mouth, and my dad was so proud of me that he went to the next DNR meeting and told every one about his daughter the fisherman.

    I remember sunsets over the lake, old time pontoons made of oil barrels, s'mores over campfires along the water, swimming around the lake with an innertube hooked over my leg, so my mom wouldn't worry about cramps, friends dropping by after fishing and staying to play cards.  I remember putting an old dock in using a post hole digger and sledge hammer.  I remember working along side my grandparents when we cleared the land to build our cabin, and I remember my brother's wild swimsuit. in the l960's.  In those days they went by the name of "Clam Diggers." They were huge, multi colored, and when you water skiied you had to hold onto your pants at take off.

    I remember launching a canoe with college friends and traveling from our lake down a series of rivers and bogs.  A huge storm came up, lightening crashed into the water and we were very frightened.  The large waves capsized the canoe and we had to swim and push the canoe to shore in the midst of the storm.  We were in a bog, half lake, half weeds. We waded through grass that cut into our thighs until we found a place to bring the canoe out of the water.  We were lost,  in the Itasca Wilderness area, and the only sign of life was a hard packed animal trail. We had no warm clothing, were bleeding and bugs and flies swarmed around us.  We walked for hours in the darkness until we finally found an old dirt road and followed that to a cabin where we got help.  The story sounds rough, but it gave all of us a sense of accomplishment and it made us stronger.  I really feel that being outdoors and living with nature gives all of us something that we need to survive in our crazy, stressed out world.  Psychologically we need our lakes and moments in nature almost as much as we need air to breathe and food to eat. 

     Until I sell, I will continue to work to improve the lake.  In some ways it may be one of  the most important things that I do with my life.  We are all guardians of what has been created, and those of us lucky enough to live along a lake may be aware of that more than most.

     I attended a buffer strip planning meeting at Benton Beach in early May.  We were presented with facts that showed how important it was to have a buffer zone to collect run off before it entered the lake.  They also spoke about how important it was to plant native plants to the area so that we did not get invasive species that took over from the good plants that we had. Planting buffer zones is more effective than rock shorelines, and if planned correctly they can be beautiful additions to your property.  Both the president of LRLA and the vice president attended the planning session as well some board members.  There were 3 or 4 members of the lake association also at the meeting and they are hoping for lake grants to put in buffer zones.  If you are interested contact Tiffany or the lake association. We continue to hope that you watched the DVD that the lake association mailed out.

     I was unable to attend the May meeting, but my sources tell me there was a great discussion about how to get more members and incentives are planned.  The goal is to get 85 % membership in the association so that we can get more grants. There was also talk of the picnic.  I believe that Annie Felix will be presenting a lot of information at the picnic concerning William Walkers findings.  That will be extremely interesting for our lake association, so hopefully we will have a record turnout.

    On a lighter side, the pelicans came back to Little Rock in Record numbers and seem to be nesting around the area.  They continue to drop fish on the point where I have my cabin. Last week I was mowing lawn, hit a bull head and got stinky fish ooze all over my pant legs and shoes...YUK.  I wish they would learn to hold unto their catches a little better.  I was able to get some fabulous pictures of them over at Benton Beach.

Good Morning:

     I just got back from the LRLA meeting.  The meeting was informative, but I enjoyed the wild rice soup and commentary after the meeting  even more. For those of you who have never gone to a lake meeting, you really should.  The meeting lasts l hour and starts at 11 at Rumors. After the meeting, people sit around catching up on lake news, discussing ideas concerning lake improvements and simply enjoying getting together.  It's a great way to learn about the lake and meet your neighbors...and did I mention...Rumor's Chicken wild rice soup was really, really good!

    Here's a brief summary of what went down.

    It seems we are doing well getting grant moneys, but we can do even better.  In order to be taken seriously by the politicians that make change happen, we must have a magic number of at least 75% membership. Right now we are improving but we are only at about 35%.  We have to do something about that and the sooner the better.  We all know times are tough right now but a $25.00 membership seems cheap when it might help you improve the value of your property.  Heck we'd be better off giving away some memberships just so that we could improve our odds, but then the people who have paid would complain that they paid and others did not.  We also decided that we need to change the bi-laws concerning our membership due dates.  Right now it is confusing to people and they are not exactly sure when they should pay their dues.  That will be addressed at the next meeting.

    Anyway we have received grants, mainly because we are putting in a buffer zone around the pond at Benton Beach.  It will cost about 6,000 dollars to put in the pond but the pond helped generate grant money that can be used for education, workshops on buffer zones and even communications such as newsletters.  There will also be money available to cabin owners who want to put in their own buffer strip.   It's a good thing and the board has worked really hard to get this going.  Many members on the board also agreed to go to the buffer zone meetings and help others put buffer zones on their own property, because they felt this was so important.  Maureen said they recently recived $5000 as well from the Initiative foundation.  With the grant money we currently have, most of you could apply to put in a buffer strip and the cost would be almost completely paid for. We will be having workshops that teach what type of buffer strip to put in.  Some will be shrubby in nature, others grass like or composed of natural flowers.  The hope is that people around the lake will see the 3 types of buffer strips at Benton Beach and then select one that will work on their property.  Please check out the DVD's that the board will be maililng out.  You will be pleasantly surprised to find out just how much possitive affect a buffer strip can have on the lake.  Tiffinay Dieterman said she already has two LRLA members who have applied to put in buffer zones and sshe hopes more will fill out the forms.  Besides the two workshops that will be offered in May and June, there will also be a free workshop for those people who already have buffer zones but want more information on weed control. More information will come out about these workshops in the March newsletter, which will be out the end of the month.

     Tiffany Dieterman spoke at the meeting.  She will be coordinating the buffer zone workshops as well as the grant money.  The March Newsletter will give information on how to contact Tiffany.

     That was about it!  We all enjoyed our first wonderful day of spring.  After having -13 below zero on Thursday, it was fabulous to have 40 degree weather on Saturday.  Everyone was in great spirits and the general discussion at lunch was that we thought this was going to be a wonderful year on the lake.  The ice cover has been thick and we are expecting cleaner waters this spring.

Long Lake  gets government money to fix problem, creates Long Lake Daze event.

By Rodika Tollefson (Contact)
Thursday, August 7, 2008  ( this contact did not go through to the paper but you can google it under Long Lake Daze or Long Lake clean up.)

Courtesy Photo

I included this because if we decide to go educational in nature, we might want to skip the fish tournament and have a Little Rock Lake Educational Day.  We could still call it the Carp Rendezvous and center it around fish.  I'm not sure we would get the turnout of people though if we were to offer mainly information about lake clean up.  We need something fun to get people to come out to the lake and see how nice it can be, then they may help push for more government funding.   It might be better to use a bit of what they did along with our concept of a fish tournament.  We could still have educational booths showing Green products so that people quit using phosphorous, but once more without government enforcement laws, people buy the soap that is the cheapest and works the best.  We really just need people to come out and see the lake on a day in the fall when it is beautiful.  I think the lake will sell itself if we get people to enjoy it.

Before: Long Lake at its worst, in summer 2005, was covered with algae bloom and, according to residents, ?had an awful smell.?

Photo by Mindi LaRose

Long Lake is no longer an abandoned area, thanks to the grass-roots efforts of local residents.

When Ken Spohn moved his family to the Port Orchard area about eight years ago, he thought one of the best features of the new neighborhood was a lake ? Long Lake. His first attempt to take the kids to the lake failed: It was closed due to algae blooms (which, at the time, was an annual occurrence).

?I called and complained to anybody I could think of,? said Spohn, who is a lieutenant with a King County fire district. He got the same answer: There was no money to clean the lake, which, at its worse, looked emerald green, and smelled just as bad.

?As he built a network of new friends and acquaintances, Spohn launched a grass-roots effort to clean up the lake, and Citizens for Improvement of Long Lake was born. Several years and a substantial grant later, the goal has been largely achieved: The clarity of the lake has been doubled, and they now only have to control one of the invasive plant species, he said.

?Long Lake Park was practically deserted for years,? said local resident Lori Barth. ?It?s so much nicer now, and it?s crowded.?

The lake was plagued by two problems: noxious weeds and algae blooms, thriving thanks to excessive amounts of phosphorous. Invasive species were taking over, making parts of the lake unsafe. The algae bloom, which can be toxic, caused frequent closures.

The small group got the late Sen. Bob Oke on board, asking him to secure $1.1 million in state funding for a cleanup plan.

Local property owners were willing to put in their own money, as much as $300 per year, to show their support. They took their fight all the way to Gov. Christine Gregoire in 2005 and even wrote Congressman Norm Dicks. The governor, accompanied by legislators from the 26th District, toured the site in March ?05, and that May, she signed Senate Bill 5699 into law that added $3 to the boat license fees to help lakes like Long Lake fight algae and invasive plants.

Oke was successful in obtaining $750,000 in that first year; the state grant is managed through Kitsap County. ?Bob Oke, (Sen.) Derek Kilmer, (Rep.) Pat Lantz and (County Commissioner) Jan Angel went to bat for us. Without them, we couldn?t do it.?

The 10-year plan included a one-time application of alum to remove phosphorous, and use of specific pesticides for the noxious plants. The plan worked. ?We?re in management mode now,? Spohn said.

Part of that plan was education. To accomplish that mission, the association created Long Lake Daze, a day with guest speakers, kids? games, vendors and a barbeque. ?It?s an effort to educate people about keeping the lake clean and to celebrate,? said Barth, who is the event coordinator.

The event tries to build awareness about using more environmentally-friendly products, especially those that are phosphate-free. Phosphates are used for common household products ranging from laundry detergent to fertilizer, and eventually the phosphates make their way into the lake. Spohn said often time after a rain, they could see soap bubbles in the lake.

The phosphate treatment will last 10 years, which means the association must look to the future. They estimate the next 10-year plan to cost $2.2 million, and are continuously working on new sources of funding.

In the meantime, association members invite the community to stop by the park and help celebrate the progress achieved. ?It?s a family, fun event and we try to sneak in a little education on the side,? Spohn said.