Water Quality Committee Plans & Activities

The Goal: “Water Quality Trends will be maintained or show improvement over the next ten years.:

Committee Members

Paul Anderson, chair – pauland@sprintmail.com

Lowell Benson - labenson@usfamily.net

Judy & Gene Rose - jsrose@prodigy.net

Dorothy Simpson - dorothynmike@yahoo.com

Water Quality Objectives

· Maintain intact shoreline buffers and re-vegetate areas of known erosion into Lake Miltona.

· The Trophic State Index of Lake Miltona overall will show positive trend (lower numbers in 2020.)

· Douglas County will improve shore land standards to better protect sensitive lake basins.

Status and Accomplishments

August 2009 – To date, in addition to the kick-off planning meeting, two additional sessions have been held and a final session will be held in September. Attendees have included Dorothy Simpson, Judy Rose, Gene Rose, Lowell Benson, and Paul Anderson.

The following structure was used to help committee discussions which were inclusive of relevant watershed activities.

· *Residential

· *Agricultural

· *Commercial/Government

As a starting point, the following categories were used to guide discussions about possible tactics:

· *Measurement

· *Ordinances

· *Technical Assistance

· *Education

The water shed area and associated phosphorus loading is shown in this chart.

Summaries of Planning Group’s Discussions to Date:

1. Measurement – This is a critical category. Measurement is key to highlighting the need for water quality improvement tactics and the success of these tactics. In addition to the traditional water clarity measure, the following measurements should be considered:

· *Chemical analysis (identify specific pollutants)

· *Visual examination of shoreline (portion of shoreline buffered, etc.)

· *Comparisons to MPCA standards (suitability for swimming, etc.)

· *Leachate detection

· *Dye injection testing

2. Ordinances – Communication and training about relevant ordinances is also important. Ordinances designed to improve/protect water quality are only useful if they are followed. The following tactics should be considered:

· *Communicate/train about existing ordinances

· *Monitor Douglas County’s work on relevant ordinances

· *Propose/Lobby for relevant ordinances

3. Technical Assistance – Providing specific technical assistance in regard to water quality practices will help people make informed decisions about practices that affect water quality. These practices include landscaping, septic system maintenance, use of household chemicals, etc. This technical assistance can be in many forms, such as:

· *Websites

· *Lectures

· *Brochures

· *Videos, etc.

4. Education – The key to long term sustained good water quality practices is the general understanding of the need for good water quality and water quality principles. This education needs to be provided in various forms to match the various ways people learn best. The effects of runoff and the importance of shoreline buffers are good initial water quality education topics.

Potential Tactics

Although the water quality planning group has focused on “planning” an approach for the lake association, several potential tactics have surfaced. These include:

· *Distribution of Septic System Brochures

· *Lake-scaping Brochures/Examples

· Use of Douglas County Land & Resource shoreline photographs (to identify areas needing buffers, etc.)

· *Self assessment of water quality knowledge/practices (spring newsletter?)

May 2009 - The committee decided to make septic maintenance information available to property owners. Toward that end, informational brochures were provided at the sign in desks during the 2009 annual meeting and the 2009 fund raiser. This information is also available on line:

· Septic System Owners Guide http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/naturalresources/DD6583.html

· Taking Care of Your Septic System – Management Basics http://www.extionsion.umn.edu/distribution/naturalresources/DD7040.html

· Take steps now to protect your septic system from freezing – http://www.extension.umn.edu/extensionnews/2007/2007ProtectSeptic.html