2004-08-19_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

2003 NiA~WD f`;JARDS MAl/VD Program of the YearAward District Public Involvement and Education (PIE)---education with action Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District The challenges for watershed stewardship PIE include 1. Deter- mining who will be receptive to what kind of message under what kind of circumstances; 2.Crafting relevant PIE to target audiences so that it fits into their view of the world, values and issues; or crafting messages that will jolt them into a new per- spective; 3. Establishing lasting watershed stewardship programs designed and operated by the target audiences as a result of the PIE so that reverting to the old behaviors ultimately becomes so- cially unacceptable. A long range, broad strategy is needed to meet these challenges. The goal and or purpose of the program included a Sustainable PIE Program Visionary Goal. In every target audience leaders emerge who influence their circle of friends and associates and create or modify their own program or practices in watershed stewardship. The following objectives can be met through different target audiences and a relevant and long-range educa- tion program: ,iF ~~ -f` Accepting for RWMWD are Roger Lake, Robert Johnson, Jack Frost, C1iffAichinger and presenter, MAWD president Tom Ebnet. Sustainable Education Program Objectives: 1. Protect resources through construction and MS4 permits. 2. Identify and consolidate community resource people interested in watershed stewardship 3. Foster interest in and community civic leadership for watershed stewardship. 4. Raise the general watershed and habitat awareness and values. Maintain District staff education on the state of the art in tech- nology and education. (Continued on page 18) MAT~'D Project of the YearAward Dalen Coulee Water 1Vlanageent Project Wild Rice Watershed District The Dalen Coulee is a natural waterway located in Norman and Clay Counties, within the Wild Rice Watershed District (WRWD). Land use within the Dalen Coulee drainage area consists primarily of cultivated land in agricultural production. As perceived by landowners the problem is basically one of farming the land which experiences frequent flooding. Landowners along the Dalen Coulee believe the efficiency for transporting water has decreased due to sediment accumulation and encroachment of vegetation into the coulee. Others, including agency representa- tives believe the problem is more related to land use practices and farming too close to the coulee. The goal of the project was to develop a solution that maintains the ecological integrity of the coulee and yet reduces agricultural flood damages. The WRWD was the lead agency responsible for the implementa- tion of the project. The project components included the following features: 1. Flow diversion structure, reducing runoff into the Dalen Coulee 2. One and one-half miles of sinuous channel construction/reconstruction 3. Selective channel cleaning, clearing and grubbing 4. Wetland detention structure, creating 82 acres of permanent pool and wildlife enhancements 5. Structure removal, replacement and low water crossings 6. Over 470 acres of land set-aside, wildlife habitat, and flood easements n i ~~ >€ ..... -.; Accepfing for RCWD are Jerry Bennett, Jim Skaurud, Diane Ista, Warren Seykora and presenter, MAWD president Tom Ebnet. The Dalen Coulee Water Management Project will have a direct economic benefit to landowners in actual payments for land set- asides, thereby reducing agricultural losses for future flood events. Land outside of the set-aside areas will see increased productivity from the restoration of the coulee, restoring historic flows at County Ditch No. 6 and incorporating flood storage within the watershed. The project will also restore natural function of the coulee enhancing one of the few remaining natural watercourses in the valley floor of the Red River Basin due to the dominance of agriculture in the area. The project will increase functions and values for natural resources, by increasing grasslands, providing continuous riparian buffer area for the seven-mile course, and creating a large wetland complex for a variety of wildlife species. Both of the project goals, 1) reducing the frequency of flooding caused by repeated crap loss and, 2) enhancement to the natural resources by reducing erosion and improving both water quality and habitat have been achieved by the project. 21