1004-002 Rathbun Lake Watershed Final Report

(2014) 1004-002 Rathbun Lake Watershed Final Report. Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Preview

PDF 1004_002_RathbunLake FINAL Report.pdf File Size:30kB

Abstract

The Rathbun Land and Water Alliance and partners have undertaken a highly effective approach to water quality protection through the Rathbun Lake Special Project. This approach is achieving a significant reduction in the sediment and phosphorus that impair water quality in Rathbun Lake and its tributaries as a result of the targeted application of best management practices (BMPs) for priority land in the watershed. This application proposes to assist landowners to construct five large sediment retention basins that will reduce sediment and phosphorus delivery from priority land in targeted sub-watersheds. The Alliance, with previous WIRB support, demonstrated that construction of these basins at strategically selected sites is one of the most cost effective measures to reduce sediment and phosphorus delivery to Rathbun Lake. Features of this project are: (1) use of geographic information system (GIS) analysis to identify potential basin sites; (2) assistance for landowners to construct 5 basins that will reduce the annual delivery of sediment by 1,500 tons and phosphorus by 5,000 pounds; (3) evaluation of the benefits from basin construction using GIS analysis and water quality monitoring; and (4) watershed outreach activities that encourage landowners to apply BMPs including sediment retention basins to protect water quality.