JD1 Subwatershed Analysis for Targeted Implementation     

     The District is seeking to further its goals of meeting multipurpose drainage management requirements under its obligations as a 103E drainage authority. In order to meet the requirements, the District needs to plan ahead to identify locations that could provide environmental and water quality benefits ahead of proceedings for drainage projects. Judicial Ditch 1 is the largest system in the District, and proportionally one of the largest contributors of sediment and nutrients to the downstream reaches of the North Fork Crow River. The goal of this project is to target opportunities for projects and practices in the Pope-Stearns Judicial Ditch 1 (JD1) watershed that provide measurable improvements to the public drainage system management by reducing peak flows, erosion and sediment, and nutrient loading. The project includes the development of a Targeted Implementation Plan (TIP) that leverages and refines existing hydrologic conditioned LiDAR-derived DEM data and PTMApp to target practices that provide the most cost-effective path to managing sediment and nutrients within the project area. The District will work with Houston Engineering, acting as the appointed District engineer for repairs on this drainage system, to complete the proposed project. Results of the proposed projects will be incorporated into the current landowner petitioned repair plan, scheduled to be bid and completed in 2017-2018.

     The goal of this project is to target opportunities for projects and practices in the Pope-Stearns Judicial Ditch 1 (JD1) watershed that provide measurable improvements to the public drainage system management by reducing peak flows, erosion and sediment, and nutrient loading. This project works towards the water quality restoration and protection goals in the project watershed as well as downstream on the North Fork Crow River (NFCR), Rice Lake and Lake Koronis. Completion of this project also has the added benefit of reducing long-term drainage system maintenance costs by following the principles of multipurpose drainage management required under M.S 103E.015. The project includes the development of a Targeted Implementation Plan (TIP) that leverages and refines existing hydrologic conditioned LiDAR-derived DEM data and PTMApp. The results will enable the NFCRWD to target practices that provide the most cost-effective path to managing sediment and nutrients within the project area. The results will allow the NFCRWD to undertake a multipurpose drainage management approach, changing the way conservation is implemented in the JD1 watershed and potentially across the entire NFCRWD in the future. It is envisioned that locations for a wide range of project and practice types will be targeted through the PTMApp analysis to develop an effective and efficient TIP for achieving sediment and nutrient reductions. Lastly, the TIP will include an evaluation of the preliminary engineering feasibility of medium to large retention opportunities in the watershed, allowing flow reductions to be measured. After this project is completed, the drainage authority can engage landowners with the results to accelerate the implementation of practices. The TIP will transform the practice implementation process currently in-place which does not target practice implementation on an effectiveness-based analysis.

     The enhanced PTMApp data developed through this project will enable the NFCRWD to target problem sites where practices could be implemented to yield the most effective and efficient, measurable, water quality benefits, while enhancing public drainage system management (i.e., Multipurpose Drainage Management). In other words, the outputs will ensure that on-the-ground practices are providing the largest “bang for your buck”. These outputs will include specific and feasible practices, such as medium to large water retention opportunities, that are ready for on-the-ground implementation. Installing practices in these locations provides the most effective and efficient means for improving water quality and managing water quantity to meet goals set by the State, the North Fork Crow Watershed, and the NFCRWD. Load reductions can be estimated from actions implemented within the TIP, so NFCRWD and watershed partners can track progress locally and towards North Fork Crow River 1W1P measurable goals.

     This approach accelerates on-the-ground implementation of practices in strategically important locations which will provide the most cost-effective measurable water quality benefit and enhance the JD1 public drainage system.