Minnesota Clean Water Partnership (CWP)Resource Investigation Project
Implementation ProjectDoc Type: Proposal
Instructions on Page 5
Proposal Deadline: 4:30 p.m. Friday, August 13, 2010
· Review the 2010 CWP Grant Request for Proposal (RFP) at: http://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/cwp-319.html.
· Review the Clean Water Partnership Proposal Form Instructions on page 5 of this form.
· Submit a copy of this Proposal Form electronically via e-mail to: .
www.pca.state.mn.us • 651-296-6300 • 800-657-3864 • TTY 651-282-5332 or 800-657-3864 • Available in alternative formats
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Project Classification (Choose only one selection per line.)
Check project type: / Resource Investigation ImplementationCheck project category: / Protection Restoration Both
Project Title (Create a unique name that begins with the name of the water body and includes the activity – 50-character maximum.)
Project title: / Kawishiwi Watershed Protection Project Phase 1Sponsoring Organization(Must be a county, city, township, watershed district, watershed management organization or joint powers organization.)
Sponsoring organization: / Lake County Board of CommissionersPrimary contact person: / Matt Huddleston, County Coordinator
Street address: / Lake County Courthouse 601 Third Avenue
City: / Two Harbors / State: / MN / Zip: / 55616
Phone: / 218-834-8320 / Fax: / 218-834-8360 / E-mail: /
Project Budget Projection
Grant funds requested: / $174,500 / Match funds, including cash and in-kind services: / $174,550Loan funds requested / $ / Total project cost (sum of other 3 lines): / $349,050
Project Location
Major Watershed: / Rainy River Headwaters / 8-digit Hydrologic unit code: / 09030001Sub-watershed: / Isabella River
Stony River
Birch Lake
Kawishiwi River
Fall Lake / Hydrologic unit code: / 0903000104
0903000105
0903000106
0903000107
0903000109 / GPS location: / N47.88715 W91.41555
What type of water body does it affect? (check all that apply)
Stream Lake River Other
Water body name(s):
/Farm Lake, Garden Lake Reservoir, South Farm Lake, White Iron Lake, Birch Lake, Isabella River, Stony River, Kawishiwi River
Basin (check all that apply):
Lake Superior Lower Mississippi/Cedar Upper Mississippi Minnesota RainyRed River Des Moines Missouri St. Croix
Is the water of concern a drinking water source? Yes No
If applicable, attach map of project area to proposal.
Project Plan Information
(Indicate Web page address, page numbers and effective dates of plans relating to this project.)
Comprehensive Local Water Plan: / Lake County Local Water Management Plan Update, 2005. Amended June 2010; duration 2011-2015, p. [7] http://www.co.lake.mn.us/vertical/Sites/%7BA88D6CA0-192C-4EBE-8698-70C44B114E79%7D/uploads/%7BE4888E67-B8A8-4F8E-A3E7-BA4602081764%7D.PDF
MPCA-approved TMDL Implementation Plan:
Other plans that refer to this project work: / 1)Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Water Monitoring Section. Lakes and Streams Monitoring Unit and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Section of Fisheries. "Sentinel Lake Assessment Report,White Iron Lake (69-0004)'Saint Louis County, Minnesota" January 2010. http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/download-document.html?gid=8866
2) [Minnesota Pollution Control Agency] "Rainy River Basin Monitoring Plan: Kawishiwi Watershed." March 27, 2006. no web address
3) Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Water Quality Division and Northeast Resgional Office. "Lake Assessment Program, 1996. White Iron, Farm and Garden Lakes (ID# 69-004, 38-0779, and 38-0782). St. Louis and Lake Counties, Minnesota. October 1997. http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/download-document.html?gid=6663
www.pca.state.mn.us • 651-296-6300 • 800-657-3864 • TTY 651-282-5332 or 800-657-3864 • Available in alternative formats
wq-cwp7-35e • 6/8/10 Page 6 of 11
Summary Information (See Instructions on page 5 to assist you in completing the summary
Covering over 1373 square miles, the Kawishiwi Watershed is an important water resource regionally, providing drinking water sources and recreational facilities; nationally, since a large part of the area covered by the Watershed is within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW); and internationally because the waters flow into waters shared between the United States and Canada. Understanding the historic and current condition of the Watershed and its resources will lead to developing a pro-active plan to protect and possibly even improve the waters in the future.
The project proposal builds upon the work plan for a grant from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment (CWLLA), currently in the contract development phase, to enhance the activities for which the White Iron Chain of Lakes Association (WICOLA) is seeking funding under the Clean Water Partnership grants. There is a synergy between the two groups of activities, providing efficiencies in the use of staff and integration of tasks and work load to create a comprehensive water management plan. Even with the CWLLA grant, there are still gaps in the overall project, notably for paleolimnology work, for GIS analysis, for septic system inventory, and for working with data not currently represented in STORET. This proposal will bridge these gaps and provide a more complete analysis of the Kawishiwi Watershed. The budget for this proposal indicates the objectives proposed for funding by the CWLLA and those for which we are seeking additional funds.
1. What is the condition of the water bod(ies) being addressed?
Administrative rule 7050 lists, in addition to the protected waters of the BWCAW in the Watershed, multiple lakes and streams in the Watershed, including White Iron, Farm, and the Kawishiwi River from its source to Fall Lake as having special classifications, notably 1B and 1C as drinking water sources and 2A and 2Bd, as suitable for aquatic life and recreation and protected as a source of drinking water. Many of the lakes and rivers in the Kawishiwi Watershed are on the MPCA 303d list for mercury in fish tissue, thus restricting consumption of fish caught. None are on the list for other reasons.
Although there are no known instances of the water not meeting the beneficial uses for which they are designated, the project strives to discover historical and current reasons why the quality of the water has changed in the past or might become degraded in the future, including the possibility of moving from being unimpaired to impaired, an ongoing concern with at least one of the lakes.
Many of the lakes and streams both outside and within the BWCAW have Secchi disk readings being taken on a regular basis by individuals and organizations such as the MPCA, the Northern Tier High Adventure Camp, Minnesota Power, and United States Forest Service (USFS). Monitoring on the major chain of lakes outside the BWCAW, the White Iron chain, includes:
Lake Water Clarity (Secchi) / 1976-77, 1984, 1994-date / Readings have decreased on an average from six feet to five feet in 15 yearsLake Water Quality / 1976-77, 1980-81, 1995-96. 2006-date / White Iron is meeting the Northern Lakes and Forest Ecoregion (NLF) Class 2B nutrient standard.
Heavy Metals / 1976-77; 2007 / 2007 study requested and paid for by WICOLA
2. How does the proposed project demonstrate a high potential for success as it relates to project goals and objectives, work activities, budget, organization, and management structure?
The general outcome of the project will be a compilation of data and information necessary for the development of a comprehensive and sustainable watershed management plan with parameter-specific thresholds that maintain or improve water quality for the Kawishiwi Watershed. Data collection and analysis will help identify the most effective steps for maintaining and enhancing water quality, incorporating best management practices, and achieving an environmentally and economically healthy watershed.
The following objectives and expected outcomes will ensure success in obtaining the data necessary for the development of a comprehensive plan synthesizing information developed by both the CWLLA and the CWP grants, each part enhancing the other:
OBJECTIVE / EXPECTED OUTCOMESContinue and expand current water monitoring programs / Builds upon the extensive water monitoring program in the CWLLA grant to provide laboratory data, additional training of and monitoring by volunteers, enriching the knowledge base about the Kawishiwi Watershed, including access through STORET
Integrate and coordinate water monitoring activities / Creates more accessible and efficient source of data collected by all agencies, research institutions and organizations for planning and implementation, locating and integrating older data for access through STORET or a public website
Build a long term water quality record / Investigates the paleolimnology of selected lakes to create a record upon which data analysis is performed and information developed to use in considering possible direction and future trajectory of environmental trends and to determine remediation needs; creates a publically available database of data and information for further research
Perform an inventory of subsurface sewage treatment systems (SSTS) / Surveys the number of existing systems and status to determine replacement needs and sensitive areas where onsite wastewater treatment is inappropriate; coordinates inventory with findings of the study of the effect of SSTS on surface waters in the CWLLA grant; presents findings to appropriate authorities within the Watershed
Assess and survey aquatic invasive species (AIS) / Trains volunteers to monitor for AIS; educates the public about prevention of AIS; conducts an assessment of public knowledge about AIS; and participates in the “Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers” program of the Great Lakes Sea Grant Network
Conduct a geographic information system (GIS) analysis of land based potentials and threats / Conduct GIS analysis of land based potentials and threats.Determines sensitive areas, areas in need of restoration, land use, and areas suitable for development within the watershed. Creates printed maps of these areas also accessible on a public website.
Development of an implementation plan / Creates a written implementation plan which integrates the findings from the CWLLA and the CWP grants with implementation actions for phase 2
Conduct public outreach and education Activities / Informs members, public, and partners about critical issues and project research through educational events, newsletters, media presentations, and other outreach methods
3. How does the proposed project include coordination and cooperation of federal, state, local agencies, and units of government for water quality protection or restoration?
Many of the partners with which WICOLA will be working on this project (Minnesota Power, USFS for instance) have done testing over the years, some of which is not reflected in STORET. Part of this project will be to identify, locate, and coordinate this data into an easily available online resource and to work with the partners to ensure the continuance of the resources created. Several project objectives require small groups across the partnership to work together to accomplish the desired outcomes. WICOLA will also continue its partnership meetings to ensure continued input and participation.
4. How does the proposed project complement other local, state, and federal efforts?
The Kawishiwi Watershed Protection Project will complement and incorporate ongoing efforts within the Watershed. WICOLA has requested $225,000 in the CWLLA grant (in contract development ) for appointing a Project Coordinator, continuing and expanding water monitoring activities, conducting a beneficial use study; determining the impact of aquatic invasive species (AIS) and the public’s knowledge about AIS; performing a comprehensive study of subsurface sewage treatment systems on surface water, conducting public outreach and education, and developing the implementation plan for the portion of the work supported by the CWLLA grant. Some of these activities are stand-alone within the CWLLA grant and are not included in the budget; some integrate with the objectives to be fulfilled with the Clean Water Partnership grant and are so noted in the budget. The overall project supports several goals in the MPCA Strategic Plan, including helping Minnesotans support healthy ecosystems, assessing the condition of Minnesota’s ground water systems, assessing the integrity of Minnesota’s lakes, and protecting and improving that condition.
WICOLA has contacted and worked with many stakeholders and received numerous offers of support. WICOLA members have committed substantially: $25,500 of hard cash and $49,000 of in-kind contributions, totaling over 20% of the proposed CWP grant budget. We will receive a $10,000 in-kind grant from the University of Minnesota (NRRI) and also $15,000 of in-kind support from the Department of Natural Resources through their Deep Lakes Habitat/Sentinel Lakes Project.
Minnesota Power collects data as part of their FERC permit to operate the Winton Hydroelectric Project. The paleolimnology study expands upon the work to be done by the DNR for the mutual benefit of this project and the Deep Lakes Habitat portion of the Sentinel Lakes Project. The project will integrate the U.S. Forest Service Stony River project. It will incorporate current data from a wide variety of sources not currently represented in the STORET as well as obtain historical data for the watershed, to provide direction to the implementation plan.
5. How does the proposed project demonstrate a high potential for project success based on broad-based community support and involvement with the project area, and the project sponsor’s and cooperator’s local capability and organization?
WICOLA has demonstrated effective means of partnering with other agencies to determine common concerns and goals within the Watershed. For the past 6 years, WICOLA has sponsored well-attended partnership meetings. In cooperation with Lake County Soil and Water Conservation District and the MPCA, WICOLA has developed the Kawishiwi Watershed Project as a collaborative effort. The Lake County Board of Commissioners, Fall Lake Township, and Stony River Township have formally supported the project. Offers of involvement have come from Lake and St. Louis County agencies, the Vermilion Community College water program, organizations, businesses, and individuals who share a common understanding that water quality protection is key to the quality of life within the watershed and the stability of the BWCAW. Continued partnership meetings and volunteer commitments will demonstrate on-going community support for the project. The MPCA itself has placed great faith in this project and its potential for success by including the project in its 2010 CWLLA grants.
WICOLA has over 200 household members with an active Board of Directors that meets monthly. The WICOLA Board has appointed an Oversight Committee of volunteers who have committed hundreds of hours to prepare grant proposals and work plans. They will coordinate the Watershed Project along with a Project Coordinator who will provide management support. Volunteers will be recruited to support the activities of this project and obtain the background needed to continue many of the activities. WICOLA members are committed to the continuation of practices that maintain water quality after project completion. In 2009 the members voted unanimously in favor of this project.