Minnesota BMP CHALLENGESM

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Minnesota BMP CHALLENGESM Water Quality
Credit Trading (WQT) Workshop

• WELCOME!

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THE MINNESOTA RIVER WATERSHED

• All or portions of 38 MN counties
• 13 major watershed management units
• 92 in agriculture
• gt15,000 miles2 in MN, IA, ND, SD
• 335 miles of flow
• Increases MS River flow by 50
• Nutrient Issues?
• Impairments!

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THE MINNESOTA RIVER WATERSHEDNutrient
Impairments PhosphorousFlow-weighted Mean
Concentrations (mg/L)
0.19
0.45
0.16
0.24
0.42
0.41
0.58
0.31
0.28
0.47
EPA Desired Goal 0.1 mg/L Algal Reduction
0.26 mg/l
0.33
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THE MINNESOTA RIVER WATERSHEDNutrient
Impairments NitratesFlow-weighted Mean
Concentrations (mg/L)
2.0
8.4
1.5
5.2
5.0
20.5
8.6
10.3
11.2
11.4
Drinking Water Standard 10 mg/L
10.0
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THE MINNESOTA RIVER WATERSHEDWho do we impact?

• Impacts Phosphorous
• Drinking water quality health/economics
• Freshwater eutrophication
• Toxic algae blooms
• Loss of recreational value
• Impairments e.g., lower MN River DO
• Tied to sediment issues (e.g., Lake Pepin)
• Impacts Nitrogen
• Drinking water quality health/economics
• Blue Baby Syndrome
• Potential link to some cancers/birth defects
• Weight gain suppression in livestock
• Saltwater eutrophication
• Impairments e.g., Gulf of Mexico hypoxia

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THE MINNESOTA RIVER WATERSHEDWho do we impact?

• 1 of the Mississippi River Watershed
• IATP estimated Upper MS basin 50 NO3
• USGS estimatedMN 6-9 NO3
• Up to 8,000 miles2

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THE MINNESOTA RIVER WATERSHEDWhat Needs to be
Done?

• EPA 40 reduction in nitrate-nitrogen
• Voluntary measures FIRST
• Program Support (nutrient trading, BMPs)
• Mandated measures IF NECESSARY
• Farm Bill requirements
• Clean Water Act enforcement
• TMDL

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Resident Perceptions of The Minnesota River Basin

• Results from a St. Cloud State University survey
• Sponsored by

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Minnesota River Survey Why?
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Otter Tail NS

• Counties with lt20 of their land mass within the
  basin were excluded from the surveyNS Not
  Sampled

Grant 7 (1)
Douglas 38 (6)
Traverse NS
Stearns NS
Pope 12 (2)
Stevens 6 (1)
Big Stone 6 (1)
Swift 3 (lt1)
Carver 84 (12)
Chippewa 22 (3)
Hennepin NS
Kandiyohi 43 (6)
Lac qui Parle 13 (2)
Ramsey NS
McLeod NS
Renville 19 (3)
Yellow Medicine 9 (1)
Scott 98 (15)
Dakota NS
Sibley 12 (2)
Lincoln 7 (1)
Le Sueur 40 (6)
Lyon 21 (3)
Redwood 14 (2)
Nicollet 28 (4)
Rice NS
Brown 32 (5)
Cottonwood 13 (2)
Pipestone NS
Murray NS
Steele NS
Watonwan 13 (2)
Blue Earth 53 (8)
Waseca 16 (2)
Martin 17 (3)
Faribault 15 (2)
Freeborn 32 (5)
Jackson NS
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Discussion points

• Not polluted 1
• Somewhat and Very polluted 80

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• How long do you think it will take to clean up
  the Minnesota River?
• Less than 5 years
• 5-10 years
• More than 10 years
• Dont Know

N 570
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• How long do you think it should take to clean up
  the Minnesota River?
• Less than 5 years
• 5-10 years
• More than 10 years
• Dont know

N 570
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Discussion points

• 80 think clean-up will take gt5 years
• Respondents want faster clean-up

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• Do you agree that you have a responsibility to
  protect water quality for future generations?
• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Disagree
• Strongly disagree
• Dont know

N 671
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Discussion points

• gt50 strongly agree
• 96 agree/strongly agree

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• What do you think is the single greatest source
  of pollution to the waters of the Minnesota river
  and nearby lakes/streams?
• Agriculture
• Industry
• Shore land development
• Municipal runoff
• Wastewater
• Untreated sewage
• Something else

N 673
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Discussion points

• Agriculture (20)
• Industry (16)
• Combinations of sources 34

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THE MINNESOTA RIVER WATERSHEDProgress is being
made..

• State Funded BMPs include
• Residue Management - 52,768 Acres
• Nutrient Management - 26,977 Acres
• Conservation Crop Rotation - 15,527 Acres
• Critical or Sensitive Area Protection - 2,717
  Acres
• Wetland Restoration - 1,134 Acres
• gt227 miles - drainage, buffer, windbreak
  improvements

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THE MINNESOTA RIVER WATERSHEDOpportunities for
improvement..

• Alternative Crops cellulosic ethanol production
• Certified Crop Consultants expertise
• Field-specific applications
• Soil Testing
• Prudent manure mgmt
• Crop rotations
• Application timing
• Nutrient Trading
• Credit Trading (Point-Point trading)
• Future for Non-Point Point Trades?
• Nutrient application reduction demonstrations
• BMP Challenge
• Minnesota Nutrient Management Initiative

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Minnesota BMP CHALLENGESM Water Quality
Credit Trading (WQT) Workshop

• You can make a difference!