other project endeavors

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The Yellow Medicine One Watershed One Plan (YM1W1P) was developed as one of five pilot One Watershed One Plan projects in Minnesota. The goal of the program is to allow counties to transition from county-based water management planning to watershed based planning and allowing LGUs to work collaboratively toward the common goals. Ten local governments entered into a Memorandum of Agreement to develop the Plan with Grant Administration/Coordination and fiscal management provided by the Area II.  Once the Plan was adopted, these responsibilities were transferred to the Yellow Medicine River Watershed District (YMRWD). The LGUs consist of:  Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon and Yellow Medicine Counties, their respective SWCDS, YMRWD and Area II. The mission of these organizations, along with the state agencies that cooperated in developing this Plan, is to work together with citizens to restore and protect the water resources of the Yellow Medicine River Watershed.

This plan addresses three priority concerns: (1) mitigate altered hydrology and minimize flooding; (2) minimize the transport of sediment, excess nutrients, and bacteria; and (3) protect and preserve groundwater quantity and quality. These priorities were established as the result of an extensive process in which stakeholders identified their priority concerns and the potential threats to the resource if these three goals were not addressed. In addition, prioritizing implementation efforts was determined to be based on projects that offer multiple benefits and that are cost effective. It was also determined that implementation efforts that address mitigating altered hydrology and minimizing flooding will address the other priorities as well.

The YM1W1P is a 10-year plan (2017-2026) that is reviewed biennially. Watershed Based Implementation Funding (WBIF) is provided to the Plan for members to help meet the goals.  For more information, please contact the YMRWD at …(link)…

 The Lac qui Parle-Yellow Bank One Watershed, One Plan began in September 2020 with Grant Administration/Coordination provided by the Lac qui Parle SWCD and fiscal management provided by the Lac qui Parle-Yellow Bank Watershed District. 

The counties of Lac qui Parle, Lincoln and Yellow Medicine, their respective SWCDS, Lac qui Parle-Yellow Bank Watershed District and Area II comprise the 8 members of this agreement.

Houston Engineering, Inc. has provided consultant services to draft the Plan document and guide the partners through the process to prioritize subwatersheds and target best management practices and activities that will result in measurable quantities.  

The draft Plan will be in internal review August-September 2022, formal 60-day review in October-November 2022 with a public hearing in December 2022. The member boards will approve of the plan in early 2023 with BWSR Board approval in March-April 2023. Within 120 days following BWSR approval, the member board will voluntarily adopt the Plan and begin implementation.

The Cottonwood-Middle Minnesota Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan began in April 2023 with planning grant funds awarded by BWSR, through the One Watershed One Plan program, in late August of 2022. Grant Administration/Coordination and Fiscal Management is being provided by the Redwood-Cottonwood Rivers Control Area. 

The counties of Brown, Cottonwood, Lyon, Murray and Redwood, their respective SWCDS, Area II MN River Basin Projects, RCRCA and the City of Springfield comprise the 13 members of this Memorandum of Agreement (link). Blue Earth County and SWCD, and Yellow Medicine County and SWCD have opted out of the planning due to having <5% of their counties within the watershed boundary. The Policy Committee (link) meets the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 2:00 PM at the Springfield Area Community Center. Information pertaining to the Policy Committee can be found below. 

Houston Engineering, Inc. was selected to provide consultant services to draft the Plan document and guide the partners through the process to prioritize subwatersheds and target best management practices and activities that will provide measurable results.  The anticipated timeline for planning can be found here, with Plan approval by BWSR tentatively slated for February 2025 and local adoption by the members by June 2025. 

 Coming soon - Redwood-Cottonwood Rivers Control is being awarded   1W1P planning grant for Redwood River Watershed.  Logo needs to be updated when it is chosen.

Alta Vista 27 Road Retention - Grant $586,813.  This is the existing condition. Soil boring will be done prior to construction to ensure soils are suitable.

Alta Vista 27 Road Retention - Grant $586,813. Initial planned area for the road retention project.

Alta Vista 27 Road Retention - Grant $586,813. Initial planned area for the road retention project.

Redwood Falls 8/9 Grade Stabilization/Terraces - Grant $140,214 - Grade Stabilization Project should be completed by December 2023.  Conditions before construction. The Terraces are another phase of this project

Redwood Falls 8/9 Grade Stabilization - Grant $140,214 -   The Grade Stabilization project was completed December 2023.

Redwood Falls 8/9 Terraces - This is another phase of the Water Quality/Storage Grant  - Project area and location.

Area II is providing surveying and engineering services to replace the outlet. Lincoln County is funding the construction which will be completed in 2023. 

The Outlet Restoration is complete.

Area II provided the engineering and construction staking and inspection for 3 sediment ponds upstream of Del Clark Lake at Canby, MN to capture sediment and nutrients.  The project was funded by a Clean Water Fund grant.

The 3 projects reduce the incoming sediment by 82%, capturing 667 Tons/Year!(that's nearly 49 dump trucks...)

Pictures were taken with a drone.

Lake Benton covers 2,875 acres and is famous for its walleye fishing. It is ranked among the 10 best walleye lakes in Minnesota. The lake was created in 1915 by a concrete dam structure that consisted of three separate pours. Over time, the concrete has begun to crack and deteriorate, causing the lake level to lower and the loss of game fish to downstream waters. In 1985, repairs were made to the dam by the MN DNR in cooperation with the City of Lake Benton. 

With drought causing lower than usual lake levels in 2020 and 2021, locals could visually see the damage and extreme deterioration to the dam structure. Lincoln County provided the funding for restoration while Area II was requested to provide engineering, project and construction management, as well as construction staking and inspection. The concrete dam was completely removed except for the wing walls, and was replaced by a steel sheet pile weir with riprap on the downstream side of the weir.  Ownership of the structure has now been transferred from the City of Lake Benton to Lincoln County.