Water Quality Reductions in Hawk Creek Water Quality Reductions in Hawk Creek Watershed and Land Retirement In Watershed and Land Retirement In

Renville CountyRenville County

Joe M. Stangel - Renville SWCDJoe M. Stangel - Renville SWCD

Patrick Baskfield - MPCAPatrick Baskfield - MPCA

Hawk and Beaver Creek Hawk and Beaver Creek WatershedsWatersheds

Between 1999 and 2006, substantial Between 1999 and 2006, substantial reductions in flow weighted mean reductions in flow weighted mean

concentrations of several water quality concentrations of several water quality parameters have been documented for both parameters have been documented for both Hawk and Beaver Creeks located the Upper Hawk and Beaver Creeks located the Upper

Minnesota river BasinMinnesota river Basin

West Fork Beaver Creek Hawk Creek near Maynard

Le Sueur River

Reductions have occurred with both Reductions have occurred with both sediment and phosphorus; what sediment and phosphorus; what

happened?happened?

West Fork Beaver Creek 6/2/2004

Blue Earth River

Watonwan River

Total Suspended Solids (TSS) Flow Total Suspended Solids (TSS) Flow Weighted Mean ConcentrationsWeighted Mean Concentrations

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Year

TS

S C

on

cen

tra

tio

n (

mg

/L)

Hawk Cr.

Beaver Cr.

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Year

TS

S C

on

cen

trat

ion

(m

g/L

)

Hawk Cr.

Beaver Cr.

45-50% reduction in sediment concentrations

TSS surrogate value for noncompliance with State turbidity standard (58 mg/L for WCBP ecoregion)

Total Phophorus (TP) Flow Total Phophorus (TP) Flow Weighted Mean ConcentrationsWeighted Mean Concentrations

0.00

0.10

0.20

0.30

0.40

0.50

0.60

0.70

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Year

TP

Co

nce

ntr

atio

n (

mg

/L)

Hawk Cr.

Beaver Cr.20 to 25% reduction in total phophorus concentrations

Nitrate nitrogen flow weighted mean Nitrate nitrogen flow weighted mean concentrations show an increasing concentrations show an increasing

trendtrend

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Year

Nit

rate

Co

nce

ntr

atio

n (

mg

/L) Hawk Cr.

Beaver Cr.

Nitrate nitrogen concentrations increased 20 to 30%

SummarySummary

Monitoring data from 1999-2005 show 45-50% Monitoring data from 1999-2005 show 45-50% reductions in sediment flow weighted mean total reductions in sediment flow weighted mean total suspended flow weighted mean concentrations suspended flow weighted mean concentrations and 20-25% reductions in phosphorus flow and 20-25% reductions in phosphorus flow weighted mean concentrations (conservative weighted mean concentrations (conservative estimates)estimates)

Nitrate nitrogen flow weighted mean Nitrate nitrogen flow weighted mean concentrations have increased 20 to 30% during concentrations have increased 20 to 30% during this same time period.this same time period.

Where is Renville County?Where is Renville County?

Renville County Agricultural Renville County Agricultural Statistics 2005Statistics 2005

#1#1 Corn for GrainCorn for Grain #1#1 Green PeasGreen Peas #1#1 Sweet CornSweet Corn #3#3 SoybeansSoybeans #5#5 Sugar BeetsSugar Beets #5#5 Dry Edible BeansDry Edible Beans #5#5 Pig CropPig Crop

575,177 Cropland 575,177 Cropland AcresAcres

Renville County Conservation Renville County Conservation Program Statistics 2006Program Statistics 2006

CREP 9,501.4 CREP 9,501.4 RIM 4,922.7RIM 4,922.7 CCRP 3,579.1CCRP 3,579.1 CRP 2,044.7CRP 2,044.7 WRP 1,513.0WRP 1,513.0 RIM/WRP 311.3RIM/WRP 311.3Total Private Lands Total Private Lands

Conservation, 21,872.2 Conservation, 21,872.2 acresacres

Or 3.8% percent of total Or 3.8% percent of total county area.county area.

Easements in Renville County and Beaver Creek Watershed

Water Quality Problems Abound!Water Quality Problems Abound!

Water Quantity IssuesWater Quantity IssuesMinnesota River Flood 1997Minnesota River Flood 1997

Easement HistoryEasement History

MotivationMotivation

Direct MarketingDirect Marketing

Mass MailingsMass Mailings Land Specific QuotesLand Specific Quotes One on One ContactsOne on One Contacts Landowner ExampleLandowner Example Indirect MarketingIndirect Marketing Easement HistoryEasement History Square Things UpSquare Things Up

Tax BreakTax Break PaymentsPayments Investment for futureInvestment for future Lender ReferralsLender Referrals Hunting LandHunting Land LegacyLegacy Marginal Land TargetMarginal Land Target

Outside InfluenceOutside Influence

Freedom to Farm ActFreedom to Farm Act Economic ClimateEconomic Climate Competitive Competitive

PaymentsPayments Easement HistoryEasement History

Hard Work = SuccessHard Work = Success

Ultimate Goal!Ultimate Goal!

Beaver Creek WatershedBeaver Creek Watershed126,631 acres126,631 acres

Beaver Creek ReachesBeaver Creek Reaches

BufferBuffer 40%40% ½ Buffer½ Buffer 10%10% No BufferNo Buffer 50%50%

176 Easements (RIM, CREP)176 Easements (RIM, CREP) 6,561 acres6,561 acres

GIS SkillsGIS Skills

Thanks to:Thanks to:

Shawn Weick - NRCSShawn Weick - NRCS

Jason Ewert - MPCAJason Ewert - MPCA