Mustinka River Rehabilitation & Redpath impoundment Groundbreaking
Photo Above (from left to right): BDSWD Board Manager Doug Dahlen, Senator Rob Kupec, Senator Jordan Rasmusson, Red River Watershed Management Executive Director Rob Sip.
Norcross, MN – On September 22, 2023, the Bois de Sioux Watershed District held a groundbreaking ceremony marking the commencement of construction of the Mustinka River Rehabilitation and Redpath Flood Impoundment.
District Attorney Lukas Croaker emceed the event, hosting around 80 individuals including neighboring landowners, Senators Jordan Rasmusson and Rob Kupec, Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen, BWSR Executive Director John Jaschke, DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen, Clean Water Council Administrator Paul Gardner, Senator Amy Klobuchar’s staff support and former Minnesota representative Ben Lien. President Linda Vavra thanked landowners for their commitment to this project. District Engineer Chad Engels provided a description of the construction left ahead: the remeandering of the Mustinka River channel will be completed in 2025. Construction of remaining impoundment levees will be built under Phase 3, and Phase 4 construction is comprised of installation of concrete inlet and outlet structures. The District must secure $13.8 million more in Flood Hazard Mitigation funds to finish the project.
Senator Jordan Rasmusson stayed on-site and received an in-depth tour of the Redpath Impoundment and Mustinka River projects with BdSWD Engineer Technician Troy Fridgen. “Congratulations to the Bois de Sioux Watershed District and their partners for entering the next phase of this important project, “ said Rasmusson. “Protecting our region from flooding is a key priority for me, and I am glad to see significant progress being made." Senator Rasmusson was pivotal during the 2023 legislative session to secure $5,000,000 in flood hazard mitigation funds for the Redpath Impoundment and other Red River Valley projects.
Financial awards have been provided by the State of Minnesota Lessard Sams Outdoor Heritage Council Fund, the State of Minnesota Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources from the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, the State of Minnesota BWSR Clean Water Fund Legacy Amendment Act Projects and Practices and Mutlipurpose Drainage Management and Water Quality & Storage Pilot Program Grants, DNR Flood Hazard Mitigation Program, the Red River Watershed Management Board, and State of Minnesota Lessard Sams Outdoor Heritage Council DNR Conservation Partners Legacy Grant.
notice of
eaw
Notice is hereby given that an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for the Doran Creek Stream Rehabilitation Project, proposed by the Bois de Sioux Watershed District, is available for public comment. The proposed project location is in the following areas of Wilkin County: T132N, R47W, Sections 16, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28, 36 (Breckenridge Township); T131N, R47W, Section 1 (Brandrup Township); T131N, R46W, Sections 4, 5, 6, 7 (Brandrup Township). The proposed project would rehabilitate approximate 19.25 miles of Doran Creek, from the City of Doran at the upstream end to the confluence with the Bois de Sioux River at the downstream end. The portion of Doran Creek in Breckenridge Township is listed as a Public Watercourse. The project will provide flood control in addition to significant natural resource and wildlife benefits.
Comments must be submitted in writing or by email to bdswd@runestone.net , and must be received by the District on or before 4:30 pm on March 7, 2024 for full consideration. A copy of the EAW is available for inspection at the Bois de Sioux Watershed District office located at 704 Hwy 75 in Wheaton, Minnesota 56296 or can be viewed through. this link by clicking here.
Viewers Needed
The Bois de Sioux Watershed District (the “District”) seeks individuals to provide viewing for legal drainage systems. The need for this service is dependent upon the pace of project requests by landowners – currently, the District averages one legal drainage system per year. Viewing is a niche service, and there are opportunities across the state of Minnesota, including those in neighboring counties such as Big Stone, Grant, and Stevens. More information is available here. The BDSWD proudly thanks the Minnesota Legacy Act Clean Water Fund, administered by the Board of Soil and Water Resources, for the grant opportunites to fund the Joint Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan, Lake Traverse Water Quality Improvement Project (Phases 1 - 3), Redpath Flood Impoundment, Mustinka River Rehabilitation, WCD #Sub-1, and TCD #35. Funding for the Mustinka River Rehabilitation project was provided by the Red River Watershed Management Board, Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR),the State of Minnesota Outdoor Heritage Fund Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, and the Legacy Act Clean Water Fund through the Board of Water and Soil Resources. For more information about how the funds are spent by the District please click here and for more information about the LCCMR grant funding source please click here.
Grant Money received!
Office Hours
- Staff are available during regular office hours, Monday thru Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM at 320/563-4185. Currently, there are no delays to permit processing or responding to drainage ditch issues.
NORTH OTTAWA FEATURED
Read about how North Ottawa Impoundment is enjoyed by wildlife and wildlife watchers.
Tile Permits
Tile is an important tool for management of excess water. These projects are regulated through our permit application process -> start here..
LIDAR Map Portal
Looking for topographical and watershed map information?
https://gisapps.iwinst.org/map-portal
And here are some instructions on how to use the portal.
Mustinka River Rehabilitation and Redpath Flood Impoundment
The District has begun Phase 2 construction in 2023. For more information about these joint projects, please watch our informational video on YouTube.
Our meetings
The Bois de Sioux Watershed District Board of Managers meets regularly on the third Thursday of each month, generally for a half of a day starting at 8:00 a.m. April through October and at 9:00 a.m. November through March in the District conference room (unless otherwise noted on the agenda). The public is welcome! .
Click Here for Meeting Notices - Scroll for Committees
LTWQIP
The Lake Traverse Water Quality Improvement Project was recently featured by the Red River Water Management Board. Check-out project details here.