Water-quality gains in Dobbins watershed focus of new federal initiative
$123,750 could support about 6 projects treating runoff from 1,300 acres
AUSTIN, Minn. — Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018 — Stormwater runoff from nearly 1,300 acres in the Dobbins Creek watershed northeast of Austin will be treated in future years by numerous projects on farmland thanks to new federal funding.
U.S. Department of Agriculture now has $123,750 available as financial assistance on projects in the Dobbins Creek watershed — one of two Minnesota watersheds selected — that flows into the Cedar River on Austin’s east side. The funds will support about six projects with agricultural producers who already have worked with local conservation staff on plans to rebuild or build new grass waterways; water-and-sediment-control basins; and grade-stabilization structures as well incorporate cover crops.
These projects will reduce the sediment and pollutants reaching Dobbins Creek from stormwater running off farmland.
“Given the backlog of projects in the Dobbins area, this funding is crucial for allowing these good conservation practices to happen without further delay,” Hanson said. “These projects will compliment our numerous other investments of resources and funding in the Dobbins watershed.”
Dobbins Creek — which has north and south branches that form a subwatershed within the Cedar River watershed — continues to be targeted by CRWD with projects and funding from the local, state and federal levels due to its propensity for flash flooding, which stems from the terrain and current land-management practices not offering much for natural water storage.
Cover cropping involves planting a second, unharvested crop in coordination with regular cash crops, such as corn and soybeans. The soil-health practice can help reduce soil erosion and stormwater runoff; increase stormwater infiltration in fields; and keep excess nutrients from leaving the soil, among other benefits.
CRWD and Mower County’s USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) field office will administer projects through the National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) with the federal Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Applications need to be submitted by Feb. 2.
“This funding will support projects on the land that strengthen ag operations while also assisting landowners in improving water quality,” said Brian DeVetter, district conservationist with the Austin-based NRCS office for Mower County.
Through NWQI, farmers, ranchers and forest landowners get personalized advice and financial assistance through EQIP to address a broad range of natural resource concerns, including water quality.
EQIP is a voluntary program providing financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers. These contracts provide financial assistance to help plan and implement conservation practices that address natural resource concerns and for opportunities to improve soil, water, plant, animal air and related resources on ag land and non-industrial private forestland.
Applications for EQIP are accepted on a continuous basis; however, NRCS establishes application acceptance or submission deadline dates for evaluation and ranking of eligible applications.
Dobbins Creek — listed by the state as “impaired” for aquatic life and turbidity (cloudiness) — has north and south branches converging at Austin’s Jay C. Hormel Nature Center. A large dam on it forms East Side Lake before it flows into the Cedar River.
Overall, the Dobbins Creek watershed totals more than 25,700 acres. About 71 percent of those acres are used for intensively farmed row crop ag land, with most being prime farmland that continuously produces high-grain yields.
CRWD is highly focused on Dobbins, especially through its nearly $8.4 million, five-year Capital Improvement Project initiative launched in 2016 to improve water quality by constructing 25 water-retention structures on farm fields, mostly in upland or headwater areas. A large majority of the projects are planned for the Dobbins watershed.
In 2014, CRWD also launched a $2.1 million project mainly funded by the state to partner with the University of Minnesota in implementing projects in the Dobbins watershed while extensively testing for water quality and aquatic life. A $1.5 million state grant enabled CRWD to implement a full suite of projects that fit nearly any landscape in the watershed.
Under that project, CRWD has taken a “treatment train approach” that has involved addressing upland field erosion; holding water and sediment before entering Dobbins; treating nutrients between the fields and creek; stabilizing eroding streambanks; and restoring critical in-channel features that support aquatic life.
Cedar River Watershed District
In 2007, state and local officials formed the Cedar River Watershed District in response to the Cedar River Watershed’s worst-known floods occurring in 2000 and 2004. CRWD’s top priorities are aimed at reducing flooding and improving water quality within the Cedar River Watershed.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250–9410, or call toll-free at (866) 632–9992 (English) or (800) 877–8339 (TDD)or (866) 377–8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845–6136 (Spanish Federal-relay)
Cedar River Watershed District 1408 21st Ave. N.W., Austin, MN, 55912 (507) 434–2603 www.cedarriverwd.org
