Jack and Okabena Creek Sediment Reduction Project

Final Report

Jan Voit

August 30, 2016

Project Sponsor: Heron Lake Watershed District

Grant Project Summary Project title: Jack and Okabena Creek Sediment Reduction Project

Organization (Grantee): Heron Lake Watershed District

Project start date: October 1, 2012 Project end date:

August 31, 2016 Report submittal date:

August 30, 2016

Grantee contact name: Jan Voit Title: District Administrator

Address: PO Box 345

City: Heron Lake State: MN Zip: 56137

Phone number: 507-793-2462 Fax: 507-793-2253 E-mail: jan.voit@mysmbs.com

Basin (Red, Minnesota, St. Croix, etc.): Des Moines County: Nobles and Jackson

Project type (check one): Clean Water Partnership (CWP) Diagnostic CWP Implementation Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Development 319 Implementation 319 Demonstration, Education, Research TMDL Implementation

Grant Funding

Final grant amount: $20,600.00 Final total project costs: $48,355.56

Matching funds: Final cash: $0.00 Final in-kind: $27,755.56 Final

Loan: $0.00

Contract number: SWIFT 55000 MPCA project manager: Katherine Pekarek-Scott

Executive Summary of Project (300 words or less) The West Fork Des Moines River (WFMDR) and Heron Lake Total Maximum Daily Load Report (Report) addressed 15 turbidity impairments, 15 fecal coliform impairments, one excess nutrient impairment, and one pH impairment. The Report concluded that streambank erosion contributes 12 percent of the phosphorus loading to the WFDMR watershed in a dry year and 33 percent during a wet year. The Report also identified streambank stabilization as a needed practice to address turbidity impairments in the watershed.

The Heron Lake Watershed District (HLWD) believes that providing watershed landowners with opportunities to learn about erosion control methods, as well as demonstrating their economic and environmental benefits, will produce long-term water quality benefits. With those goals in mind, the HLWD sought funding for streambank stabilization efforts in the form of J-hook weirs, to assist in that effort. J-hooks are a sediment reduction technique that is new to southwestern Minnesota. Limited information is available regarding use of this practice in southwestern

Minnesota. A common streambank erosion control method is riprap, which is expensive and does not truly solve the problem. J-hook weirs are natural, effective, relatively inexpensive, and easily implemented. Benefits include streambank erosion control, restoration, stabilization, sediment and phosphorus reduction, habitat gain, and improved water quality.

From December 2012 through September 2015, HLWD staff worked with two watershed landowners to achieve project implementation. During that time three J-hook weir projects were installed through the Jack and Okabena Creek Sediment Reduction (JOSR) Project as shown in Figure 1. It is estimated that these projects reduced phosphorus by 1,272.42 pounds per year and sediment by 1,496.96 tons per year.

Partnerships (Name all partners and indicate relationship to project)

• HLWD: project sponsor, project administration, and inkind contribution • Ken Williams: installed J-hook weir project and inkind contribution • Bob Hartman: installed J-hook weir project and inkind contribution

Picture (Attach at least one picture, do not imbed into this document.)

Jack Creek J-hook weir project, Section 34, Graham Lakes Township, Nobles County

Acronyms (Name all project acronyms and their meanings) • WFDMR – West Fork Des Moines River • HLWD – Heron Lake Watershed District • JOSR – Jack and Okabena Creek Sediment Reduction • MPCA – Minnesota Pollution Control Agency • SWPTSA – Southwest Prairie Technical Service Area • DNR – Department of Natural Resources • SWCD – Soil and Water Conservation District • GPS – Global Positioning Service • MVTL – Minnesota Valley Testing Laboratories • TSS – Total Suspended Solids • TP – Total Phosphorus • SVS – Suspended Volatile Solids • NO2+NO3 – Nitrate-Nitrite • NH₃ - Ammonia • TKN – Kjeldahl nitrogen • OP – Orthophosphorus • E. Coli – Escherichia coli • DO – dissolved oxygen • EQuIS – Environmental Quality Information System • WRAPS – Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies • BMP – Best Management Practice

Contents 1. Work Plan Changes .......................................................................................................... 7

1.1. Work Plan Change #1: July 25, 2013 ................................................................................ 7

1.2. Work Plan Change #2: May 12, 2015 ............................................................................... 7

2. Activities and Tasks ......................................................................................................... 7

Objective 1: Jack and Okabena Creek J-hook Weir Project Installation .................................. 7

Task A: Determine Project Sites .................................................................................................. 7

Task B: Jack Creek and Okabena Creek Site Installation............................................................. 8

Obstacles and Lessons Learned .................................................................................................. 9

Objective 2: Education and Outreach ........................................................................................ 9

Task A: Monitor Sites and Collect Documentation ..................................................................... 9

Task B: Website ......................................................................................................................... 10

Task C: Publicize project through newsletter ........................................................................... 10

Task D: Publicize through newspapers ..................................................................................... 10

Task E: Landowner mailing ....................................................................................................... 11

Obstacles and Lessons Learned ................................................................................................ 11

Objective 3: Administration ..................................................................................................... 11

Task A: Complete reporting requirements ............................................................................... 11

Obstacles and Lessons Learned ................................................................................................ 12

3. Measurements ............................................................................................................... 13

4. Products ......................................................................................................................... 13

4.1. Appendix 1 – Landowner Contact .................................................................................. 13

4.2. Appendix 2 – Jack Creek Project Monitoring ................................................................. 13

4.3. Appendix 3 – Okabena Creek Project Monitoring ......................................................... 14

4.4. Appendix 4 – Okabena Creek Project 2 Monitoring ...................................................... 14

4.5. Appendix 5 – Transparency Tube Data .......................................................................... 14

4.6. Appendix 6 – Water Quality Data .................................................................................. 14

4.7. Appendix 7 – YouTube Links .......................................................................................... 14

4.8. Appendix 8 – Promotion ................................................................................................ 14

5. Public Outreach and Education ..................................................................................... 15

6. Long-term Results .......................................................................................................... 15

7. Final Expenditures ......................................................................................................... 16

Figures Figure 1. JOSR Project Locations ..................................................................................................... 8 Figure 2. JOSR Webpage ............................................................................................................... 10

Work Plan Review 1. Work Plan Changes

1.1. Work Plan Change #1: July 25, 2013 HLWD staff met with Katherine Pekarek-Scott, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to review the grant work plan. No funds were moved. The following changes were made to the Work Plan.

• Objective 1, Task A: change date for determining project sites. Southwest Prairie Technical Service Area (SWPTSA) is currently computing pollution reduction estimates for several sites on Okabena Creek. This information will be available at the end of July or early part of August.

• Objective 1, Task B: change date for site installation. After the Okabena Creek site has been selected, it will be necessary to apply for a permit from the Department of Natural Resources. Estimated timeframe for permit issuance is one year.

• Objective 2, Task C: change date for newsletter publication. The newsletter will highlight the projects and their locations. The newsletter cannot be published until the Okabena Creek site has been installed.

• Objective 2, Task D: change date for newspaper article. The newsletter will highlight the projects and their locations. The newspaper article cannot be written until the Okabena Creek site has been installed.

1.2. Work Plan Change #2: May 12, 2015 After discussing grant funds with Katherine Pekarek-Scott, MPCA, it was determined that an additional project could be installed on Okabena Creek.

• Objective 1, Task B: increase number of J-hook projects from two to three. The landowner involved with the Okabena Creek project received funding through the Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program. HLWD staff contacted him and secured an additional project site upstream. Extended the timeframe to complete this task as well.

2. Activities and Tasks

Objective 1: Jack and Okabena Creek J-hook Weir Project Installation

Task A: Determine Project Sites • On December 11, 2012, a landowner database was produced. Mailing labels were

created. The database can be found in Appendix 1. • On December 13, 2012, a memo was sent to Jack Creek and Okabena Creek

landowners regarding the JOSR project. The mailing labels and memo can be found in Appendix 1.

• On February 5, 2013, Ross Behrends met with a potential Jack Creek project landowner. The project site was chosen.

• On June 4, 2013, a spreadsheet listing interested landowners was created. The spreadsheet can be found in Appendix 1.

• Ross Behrends contacted potential Okabena Creek project landowners on July 8, 2013.

• Ross Behrends met with landowners at three potential Okabena Creek locations on July 9, 2013.

• Ross Behrends met with one potential Okabena Creek project landowner on July 10, 2013.

• The Okabena Creek project site was chosen on July 18, 2013. • On January 13, 14, and 27, 2015, Catherine Wegehaupt discussed a potential second

Okabena Creek project with Robert Hartman. • Throughout April and May of 2015, discussion continued regarding the potential

second Okabena Creek site. The project was officially approved through the change order on May 12, 2015.

Task B: Jack Creek and Okabena Creek Site Installation • The Jack Creek project was completed on August 10, 2013. • The Okabena Creek project was completed on August 16, 2014. • The Okabena Creek Project 2 was installed on September 22, 2015.

Figure 1. JOSR Project Locations

Obstacles and Lessons Learned Project construction was scheduled to begin June 16, 2014 on Okabena Creek. Due to excessive rainfall and flooding the stream was not accessible. Project construction was delayed until August 13, 2014.

Ross Behrends resigned his position as HLWD Watershed Technician effective December 31, 2013. Catherine Wegehaupt began her position as HLWD Watershed Technician on January 2, 2014. She met with Ross to review plans for 2014. Several visits were made to get familiarized with the sites.

There were funds remaining after the Jack Creek and Okabena Creek J-hook projects were installed. HLWD staff worked with the Okabena Creek project landowner and MPCA to secure an additional project site upstream. Working with MPCA through the change order process went well.

Objective 2: Education and Outreach

Task A: Monitor Sites and Collect Documentation • On June 5, 2013, Jan Voit reviewed photographic monitoring data. She provided Ross

Behrends with information regarding site monitoring. • Ross Behrends and Amanda Schultz installed permanent photo monitoring stations

were established at all three sites. GPS points were taken at each of the monitoring locations. Jack Creek monitoring data can be found in Appendix 2. Okabena Creek monitoring data can be found in Appendix 3. Okabena Creek Project 2 monitoring data can be found in Appendix 4. Information regarding video footage can be found in Appendix 7.

• Summer interns conducted photo monitoring at the Jack Creek site in July and August of 2013.

• The photo monitoring location on the Jack Creek site was re-established on August 21, 2013.

• In 2013, the following water quality monitoring efforts were undertaken. Three stream sites were sampled 20 times and six lakes were sampled monthly from June through September. All samples taken were sent to Minnesota Valley Testing Laboratories (MVTL) to be analyzed for total suspended solids (TSS), total phosphorus (TP), suspended volatile solids (SVS), nitrate-nitrite (NO2+NO3), turbidity, ammonia (NH₃), Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), Orthophosphorus (OP), and Escherichia coli (E. coli) Field parameters were also taken which included water temperature, conductivity, power of hydrogen within the solution (pH), dissolved oxygen (DO) and a Secchi tube reading. Results were recorded in EQuIS and submitted to MPCA in October 2013. This was repeated in 2014 with 34 samples collected from April through September. In 2015, during the months of May through September, 18 samples were collected. Water quality data can be found in Appendix 6.

• Catherine Wegehaupt reviewed photo documentation requirements on May 13, 2014.

• Catherine Wegehaupt and the summer interns conducted photo and video monitoring and took transparency tube readings at the Jack Creek and Okabena Creek

sites during the summer of 2014, 2015, and 2016. Transparency tube data can be found in Appendix 5.

Task B: Website • The webpage was updated throughout the grant period. Photos, video footage,

transparency tube readings, and reports were added. The HLWD website can be found at http://www.hlwdonline.org/php/index.php/jack-and-okabena-creek-sediment-reduction-project.

• A screen shot from the webpage can be found in Figure 2.

Figure 2. JOSR Webpage

Task C: Publicize project through newsletter • On December 8, 2014, Jan Voit began drafting the project newsletter. The document

was reviewed by MPCA and HLWD staff on December 10, 2014 and forwarded to the printer for formatting. The final version was approved and sent to the publication department on December 17, 2014. The newsletter was distributed on December 22, 2014.

• An article regarding the JOSR Project was published in the MPCA’s Watershed Connections newsletter on June 22, 2016. The newsletters and news releases can be found in Appendix 8.

Task D: Publicize through newspapers • The project news release was drafted and distributed to local news media on

December 10, 2014. • The news release for the JOSR Project was drafted on June 8, 2016. It was sent to

MPCA for review. The document was approved and distributed to local news media on June 15, 2016.

Task E: Landowner mailing • Ross Behrends compiled a database of Jack Creek and Okabena Creek landowners.

The database was completed and mailing labels created on December 11, 2012. The database can be found in Appendix 1.

• Jan Voit drafted a memo and completed a landowner mailing on December 13, 2012. The memo can be found in Appendix 1.

• Fourteen landowners responded with interest in participating. The spreadsheet can be found in Appendix 1.

• On January 3, 2013, a watershed landowner contacted the HLWD office regarding the possibility of participating in the program. Ross Behrends was provided with this information.

Obstacles and Lessons Learned The HLWD Resource Technician accepted another position in April of 2012. This staff person was responsible for video, photo, and transparency tube monitoring, as well as the website. The loss of the staff person will affect the HLWD’s ability to complete project tasks.

Summer interns did not realize that they were supposed to collect transparency tube readings, so that data was not collected from July to August of 2013.

One of the permanent photo monitoring locations was destroyed during the Jack Creek project installation. Site was re-established by the summer interns on August 21, 2013.

Catherine Wegehaupt and the summer interns were unaware that transparency tube readings needed to be taken on each bend every time photo monitoring occurs. Only one transparency tube reading was taken at one bend along the Jack Creek project site in 2014.

Summer interns did not make a new sign when photo monitoring was conducted at the Okabena Creek site on May 19, 2014. The date in the photo does not correspond with the date taken.

The summer interns accidentally deleted the video footage of bend three of the Jack Creek project taken on June 5, 2014.

The summer interns did not take transparency tube readings after the first project was installed on Okabena Creek on August 16, 2014.

Objective 3: Administration

Task A: Complete reporting requirements • On October 15, 2012, MPCA requested that the grant work plan be reviewed. The

narrative and timeline were revised to reflect an October 2012 start. • The grant agreement was approved on November 9, 2012. • HLWD staff met with Katherine Pekarek-Scott, MPCA on July 22, 2013 to discuss grant

work plans. • Change Order 1 was drafted on July 22 and 23, 2013. The change order was approved on

July 25, 2013. • HLWD staff met with Katherine Pekarek-Scott, MPCA to review the work plan on March

31, 2015.

• Discussion was held with Katherine Pekarek-Scott, MPCA on May 6, 2015 regarding a possible change order to add an additional project site on Okabena Creek. The change order was drafted and submitted. It was approved on May 12, 2015.

• HLWD staff met with Katherine Pekarek-Scott, MPCA on July 15, 2015 to review the grant work plan.

• All semi-annual and annual reports were submitted prior to August 1st and February 1st respectively for the entirety of the project.

Obstacles and Lessons Learned The HLWD was notified about the grant award on June 21, 2011. The work plan was drafted and submitted by the due date of July 12, 2011. The grant agreement was not completed until November 9, 2012. Due to the 16 month delay, no landowner contacts were made until after the 2012 construction season ended.

The HLWD and its partners expended more time and effort than is allowed to be accounted in the budget. The contract does not allow documentation of actual expenditures and inkind time above what was estimated in the budget. This process penalizes the Project Sponsor and does not allow for accurate reporting of the actual work that was invested in the project. Currently, an amendment of the contract is required to document inkind expenditures above the original contract amount. Going through the amendment process seems completely unnecessary, given the fact that the funds that are reported do not in any way affect the grant amount. This was later corrected without the need for an amendment.

Grant Results 3. Measurements

In order to present measurable results, extensive documentation must be undertaken. Section 2 summarized the activities completed during the grant period. The measurements are described below by objective and task as presented in the work plan.

Objective 1: Jack Creek and Okabena Creek J-hook Weir Project Installation • One J-hook weir project was installed on Jack Creek. • Two J-hook weir projects were installed on Okabena Creek. • It is estimated that the three J-hook weir projects will reduce:

o phosphorus by 1,272.42 pounds per year and o sediment by 1,496.96 tons per year.

Objective 2: Education and Outreach • Photos, video monitoring, and transparency tube readings were collected at each site

as described in Objective 2 Task A. • Photo, video, and transparency tube monitoring data was uploaded to the website as

described in Objective 2 Task B. • The newsletter was published and distributed as described in Objective 2 Task C. • News releases were drafted and sent to the Daily Globe, Tri County News, and Fulda

Free Press as described in Objective 2 Task D. • The landowner mailing was completed as described in Objective 1 Task A. • For the 2013, 2014, and 2015 water quality monitoring seasons, average

concentrations were calculated. The summary data can be found in Appendix 6.

Objective 3: Administration • Semi-annual and annual reports were submitted and approved as described in

Objective 3 Task A.

4. Products There have been several products produced through this grant. Below is a list of the products created and the appendices in which they are located.

4.1. Appendix 1 – Landowner Contact • 01 Memo to landowners • 02 Riparian landowners • 03 Jack Creek mailing labels • 04 Okabena Creek mailing labels • 05 Interested landowners

4.2. Appendix 2 – Jack Creek Project Monitoring • 01 Jack Creek before photo July 10, 2013 • 02 Jack Creek photo documentation May 14, 2014 • 03 Jack Creek photo documentation June 5, 2014

• 04 Jack Creek photo documentation July 1, 2014 • 05 Jack Creek photo documentation August 4, 2014 • 06 Jack Creek photo documentation May 21, 2015 • 07 Jack Creek photo documentation June 9, 2015 • 08 Jack Creek photo documentation July 20, 2015 • 09 Jack Creek photo documentation August 10, 2015 • 10 Jack Creek photo documentation September 2, 2015 • 11 Jack Creek photo documentation May 23, 2016 • 12 Jack Creek photo documentation June 6, 2016 • 13 Jack Creek photo documentation July 18, 2016 • 14 Jack Creek photo documentation August 1, 2016

4.3. Appendix 3 – Okabena Creek Project Monitoring • 01 Okabena Creek before photo May 19, 2014 • 02 Okabena Creek photo documentation August 14, 2014 • 03 Okabena Creek photo documentation May 21, 2015 • 04 Okabena Creek photo documentation June 8, 2015 • 05 Okabena Creek photo documentation July 20, 2015 • 06 Okabena Creek photo document August 10, 2015 • 07 Okabena Creek photo documentation September 2, 2015 • 08 Okabena Creek photo documentation May 24, 2016 • 09 Okabena Creek photo documentation June 6, 2016 • 10 Okabena Creek photo documentation July 18, 2016 • 11 Okabena Creek photo documentation August 1, 2016

4.4. Appendix 4 – Okabena Creek Project 2 Monitoring • 01 Okabena Creek Project 2 construction September 22, 2015 • 02 Okabena Creek Project 2 photo documentation October 7, 2015 • 03 Okabena Creek Project 2 photo documentation May 24, 2016 • 04 Okabena Creek Project 2 photo documentation June 6, 2016 • 05 Okabena Creek Project 2 photo documentation July 18, 2016 • 06 Okabena Creek Project 2 photo documentation August 1, 2016

4.5. Appendix 5 – Transparency Tube Data • 01 JOSR Transparency Tube Readings

4.6. Appendix 6 – Water Quality Data • 01 2013 Water Quality Summary • 02 2014 Water Quality Summary • 03 2015 Water Quality Summary

4.7. Appendix 7 – YouTube Links • 01 YouTube Links

4.8. Appendix 8 – Promotion • 01 JOSR Newsletter • 02 JOSR News Release 2014 • 03 JOSR News Release 2016

• 04 Watershed Connections article

5. Public Outreach and Education Public outreach and education efforts were undertaken through this grant. These included one-on-one contact with landowners and contractors, as well as providing information to the general public through newsletters and news releases.

On December 13, 2012, a memo was sent to eighty-one Jack Creek and Okabena Creek landowners. The purpose was to inform them of the opportunity to participate in streambank stabilization efforts through the JOSR project.

A webpage devoted to the grant was developed for the HLWD website in 2012. Each year the semi-annual and annual reports were uploaded to the site. Photo and video monitoring information, as well as transparency tube data were uploaded as well.

In August of 2013, 2014, and 2015, the HLWD annual newsletter contained information regarding the JOSR Project. The newsletter was sent to approximately 3,400 watershed residents, agency personnel, and legislators each year.

The HLWD annual reports in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 contained a summary of the JOSR Project. These reports were distributed to two nonprofit organizations, three watershed districts, eight city councils, 24 townships, 24 SWCD managers and supervisors, 20 county commissioners, eight county staff and four county auditors, 18 state agency staff, nine federal agencies, two legislators, five HLWD managers, and three HLWD staff.

In 2014 and 2016, press releases were drafted and sent to the Tri County News, Fulda Free Press, and Daily Globe for publication. The main coverage for the Tri County News is Jackson and Nobles County. Subscriptions total about 575, with about 150 store copies available for purchase at various locations in the immediate area. The Fulda Free Press coverage area is mainly the Fulda school district in Murray County with circulation of approximately 1,050 weekly copies. The coverage area for the Daily Globe is Nobles, Rock, Jackson, Pipestone, Murray, and Cottonwood counties in Minnesota and Lyon, Osceola, and Dickinson counties in Iowa. The circulation is approximately 8,000 daily copies.

An article about the JOSR Project was published in MPCA’s Watershed Connections newsletter in June of 2016. There are 2,497 email addresses on the subscriber list.

6. Long-term Results

The following information comprises the long-term results of the project.

• While new partnerships were not established with non-profit groups or agency personnel, the working relationship with those entities continued. New partnerships were formed with the landowners implementing J-hook weir streambank stabilization projects. If a project of this type were to be undertaken in the future, the same process for contacting landowners would likely be done. Mailings, followed by personal contact were found to be the best methods for ensuring project installation.

• In addition to the implementation of three J-hook weir projects, success of this grant can also be attributed to increased landowner interest. Several landowners have contacted

the HLWD to inquire about J-hooks and other streambank stabilization projects. One streambank stabilization is scheduled for installation in the fall of 2016. Funding for the project was made possible through the Environmental Quality Incentive Program, the HLWD general operating levy, and the landowner. Interest in cedar revetments, another form of streambank stabilization, has also increased.

• In 2015, Phase 2 of the Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies (WRAPS) was undertaken for the West Fork Des Moines River (WFDMR) watershed. The HLWD is the lead agency for this effort. Several inventories will be conducted, one of which may be streambank erosion. The outcome of the WRAPS will be a set of complete watershed management strategies to address restoration of impaired and protection of unimpaired waters. This information will provide an improved understanding of the watershed and the ability to prioritize project implementation for water resource protection and restoration activities.

• The HLWD is currently implementing the West Fork Des Moines River Targeting and Prioritizing Endeavor through a Clean Water Partnership grant. The outcome of this project will be Geographic Information System datasets, summary maps, a technical memorandum describing the suitability for best management practices (BMP) placement, the effect of implementation on priority resources, and the measurable cost-effectiveness of pursuing opportunities to implement BMPs. All of these methods are complimentary to implementation, restoration, and protection strategies identified within the WRAPS process and will aid local civic engagement efforts.

• The final report for the JOSR Project will be submitted to local and state agency personnel, advisory committee members, and legislators. It will also be posted on the HLWD website. Making this information available provides an opportunity to show that J-hook weir streambank stabilization efforts improve water quality.

• In order to make the best use of general operating funds, the HLWD will continue to put forth extensive efforts to obtain outside funding to assist with water quality improvement efforts.

7. Final Expenditures

Final expenditures for the JOSR Project grant are: $20,600 grant cash and $27,755.56 inkind match. Total project costs were $48,355.56. Detailed expenditures can be found in the attached budget.