The Redwood River Clean Water Project is a long term water quality program designed to restore the Redwood River and Lake Redwood through local efforts. The mission of the Project is "to create awareness and appreciation for the value of a clean Redwood River, promote watershed identity, and cooperatively achieve land use changes necessary to restore the River's health."

Goals of the Redwood River Clean Water Project are to reduce sediment and nutrient loadings; expand game fishery habitat and fishing opportunities; reduce peak flows and improve flow stability; and increase awareness of water quality issues throughout the watershed. These goals are accomplished through one-on-one landowner contacts and an extensive information and education program that encourages implementation of best management practices on agricultural land. Landowners who voluntarily choose to implement best management practices receive technical assistance and up to seventy-five percent cost-share to help pay the cost of installing conservation practices. Effects of best management practices on water quality are monitored through a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation program. Activities of the Project are divided into four program elements: Best Management Practices, Monitoring and Evaluation, Information and Education, and Project Administration.

Canoe trip participants, June 1999, 
survived the roaring Redwood River in Marshall, MN.

1999 Project Activities and Findings

Best Management Practices

Engineering technicians are responsible for working with landowners on design and construction of best management practices (BMPs). These practices are the primary means for reducing non-point source pollution in the watershed. Practices are assessed through use of the NRCS Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation and the Inventory Planning Worksheet for Concentrated Flow Erosion. These tools help estimate the amount of soil saved by each individual BMP.

During 1999, eighteen state cost-share contracts were approved and signed. These contracts contain forty-one BMPs that will be designed and implemented on the land. When installed, these practices will potentially reduce soil and phosphorous losses by 3,907 tons per year. Twelve contracts were completely finished (meaning that final payments were made in 1999). The total amount of cost-share paid out from January 1, 1999 – December 31, 1999 was $51,850.93. These twenty-three BMPs have the potential to save 818 tons of soil loss each year and reduce net sediment in surface water by 699 tons per year (see Attachment 1). Attachment 2 reports 1994-1999 work plan objectives and results.

An important aspect of BMP promotion and adoption is targeting. Priority management areas have been selected in the watershed based on their relative contribution of non-point source pollution (refer to Map 1). Within each priority area, appropriate BMPs are promoted to achieve the greatest benefit. To help insure the most cost-effective use of cost-share funds and to compensate for decreases in state funding levels, practices within designated priority areas are subjected to a ranking procedure. The criteria upon which each practice is evaluated reflect important variables affecting surface water quality (e.g., proximity, soil loss reduction, etc.) and are consistent with Project goals and objectives.

Throughout the life of the Project, the direct approach of getting farmers enrolled in programs has yielded success.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Surface water sampling on the main stem Redwood River and two of its tributaries (Clear Creek and Three Mile Creek) continue each growing season (May through September). Monitoring at each of the sites will extend throughout the implementation phase. Samples are collected during two year storm events on a four hour interval. Grab samples are taken from Lake Redwood at monthly intervals. Refer to Map 2 for sampling locations. Data collected at these stations is analyzed and reviewed to identify trends. Water quality data plays an important role in assessing watershed improvements, and is useful for communicating with the general public about Project activities.

The sampling season ended on October 1, 1999. The data collected (Attachment 4) was sent to Laurie Sovell at the Water Quality Division of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. This data was then entered into STORET.

The 1999 sampling season consisted of at least one storm event at each site. Each site was activated by a heavy rainfall, watershed wide, in early May. At least two samples were taken during this storm event from each sampling site. Additionally, Three Mile Creek had another storm event, consisting of three bottles grabbed, in August. Base flow sampling was done once a month in the watershed.

More rain fell in the watershed in the beginning of the growing season. Besides the storm event in May, there was not another significant rainfall in the watershed.

Most of the rain that did fall was in low increments, which did not result in any significant overland flow. The average total rainfall (May through September) recorded at the various precipitation stations around the watershed was 11.25 inches, almost three inches less than what was recorded in 1997 and 1.40 inches less than in 1998. In fact, 1999 rainfall was the lowest recorded amount in the past ten years (see Figure 1 above).

Sediment loading for the Redwood River at station RR1 in 1999 is estimated to be 26,085 tons. Nitrate loading is estimated to be 1,580 tons; total phosphorus is 84 tons; and soluble phosphorous is 56 tons.

As mentioned earlier, both Clear Creek and Three Mile Creek had at least one storm event that resulted in a two year event gauge height. A goal of collecting two event samples per year was achieved at the Three Mile Creek station.

The 1999 sediment loading for Clear Creek is estimated at 288 tons. The nitrate loading is estimated to be 249 tons; total phosphorus is 1.6 tons; and soluble phosphorous is 1 ton.

The estimated sediment loading for Three Mile Creek in 1999 is 3,035 tons. The nitrate loading is 347 tons; total phosphorus is 8 tons; and soluble phosphorous is 5 ton. Attachment 5 summarizes loadings at each of the sampling stations.

The eight year average loading of total suspended solids (TSS) for the Redwood River (1990-1998, excluding 1993) was 115,075 tons per year. Sediment loading continues to drop, with the nine year average loading of TSS at approximately 104,302 tons in the Redwood River. The average flow rate went up from a low of 90.13 cubic feet per second (cfs) in 1998 to 216.22 cfs in 1999. Attachment 6 summarizes average total flow at each of the three stations.

Clear Creek’s eight year average loading of TSS is 10,869 tons, compared to the nine year average of 8,637 tons.

Three Mile Creek’s eight year average loading of TSS is 12,408 tons per year, compared with the nine year average 9,174 of tons.

On February 23, 1999, sediment depth measurements were taken in Lake Redwood. Staff from RCRCA, Southwest Prairie Joint Powers Organization, and the City of Redwood Falls took sediment measurements from specific holes drilled in the ice. Figure 2 (shown below) shows a comparison between cubic yards of sediment calculated from the1976, 1991 and 1999 surveys. Attachment 7 reports results from each hole drilled, and compares the data from 1991 and 1999.

Information and Education

The Northwest Area Foundation funds continued to augment and complete the information and education component of the Redwood River Clean Water Project. 1999 was an exciting year of new and old activities. As we gain experience, we have continued successful programs and events trying to fine tune them to the interests and needs of watershed residents, while incorporating new events and programs to keep the dynamic focus growing.

We continued the very successful "Coffee on the Project" program. Using a local café in Vesta, Minnesota, we bought coffee and rolls for about 95 people while giving them information about the Redwood River Clean Water Project. This effort has gained a dedicated following of river watchers. Each year people join us waiting for a river update. We combined the "Coffee" program with two canoe trips on the Redwood River for a fun Redwood River Clean Water Project Week. The canoe trips were located on two different stretches of the River and they illustrated the vast differences that appear on a prairie river to the participants. There were about 55 people who participated and were excited to continue the canoe experience next year.

Coffee on the Project, Vesta, MN, June 1999.

Educators in the Redwood River Watershed had the opportunity to gather for several events this past year. We co-sponsored a workshop to share resources and possibilities available to non-formal and formal educators. Over 60 educators participated and learned more about Project WET, WILD and Learning Tree, Office of Environmental Education, MNAqua program, Prairie Ecology Bus, and many more. A second opportunity was held in August when a Project WET, WILD and Learning Tree workshop was held due to interest gathered at the spring event. Sixteen people attended the workshop. The 1999 Minnesota River Basin Summer Conference was a third opportunity co-sponsored by the Redwood River Clean Water Project. Educators could spend a day on the river in a canoe and learn activities that correspond with water quality in a river setting.

An annual report was compiled, printed and distributed to correspond with our Annual Meeting held in March 1999. The report is available to anyone interested and was used as an integral part of our information packet. We focused on news releases to educate people about the complexities of water quality and the time commitment to actual change. During the year, numerous interviews helped residents identify who we are and what we do. Radio became an even larger part of our outreach program. We worked with local stations to produce every-other week radio interviews. The listening audience has responded with comments and the program will be continued.

Again we assisted with the Minnesota River Basin Summer Conference. The conference planning gave us the opportunity to be a partner in the planning and staging of the conference. There were two components to the event. A youth conference was held in conjunction with the regular conference. The attendance was close to 350 people including about 30 children.

Project staff was involved with several schools to provide assistance with water quality sampling. We also displayed information at numerous gatherings, festivals, conferences and workshops. While working toward water quality and a clean Redwood River, Project staff has been involved with a variety of presentations and meetings across the watershed.

Project Administration

Administration of the Redwood River Clean Water Project includes the fiscal management of funds, completion of necessary reports, supervision of Project staff, and the coordination of all activities relating to the program elements.

Expenses incurred for the reporting period of January 1 through December 31, 1999 are identified in the Program Element Expenditure Report.

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Redwood-Cottonwood Rivers Control Area (RCRCA)
1241 East Bridge Street
Redwood Falls, MN 56283
Phone:  507-637-2142, ext. 4
Fax:  507-637-2134
E-mail:  rcrca2day@yahoo. com