Hours: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm   |   (320) 589-4886 Ext 109   |   12 Hwy 28 E. Ste 2, Morris MN 56267

Conservation Practices

Rain Gardens

Rain gardens help reduce the amount of urban storm runoff entering surface waters. Their design diverts water from a building’s downspouts and/or captures runoff from steep or impenetrable areas like parking lots or sidewalks. The water is diverted into shallow basins planted with native plants, which allow the water to slowly penetrate the ground.

91 Rain Gardens Installed since 2010

Alternative Title Intakes

Surface inlets are sometimes used to remove excess water in agricultural fields. However, this creates a direct path for sediments and nutrients to enter surface waters. An alternative tile intake is buried under sand and gravel, which allows particulates to be filtered out of the water.

205 Alternative Tile Intakes Installed since 2010

WATER AND SEDIMENT CONTROL BASINS

Water and Sediment Control Basins (WASCOBs) are used to fix gully erosion on agricultural fields. Essentially, the gully is filled in and a dam structure installed. On the upslope side of the structure, a special tile inlet is placed to slowly drain any water collected by the newly constructed basin. This allows particulates to settle out and prevents the water from running across the surface of the field.

167 WASCOBs have been installed within the Pomme de Terre Watershed

SHORELINE RESTORATIONS

Native plants go a long way in protecting our lakes. Planting native species along shorelines mitigates bank erosion and reduces the amount of pollutants entering the lakes. Native grasses and wildflowers also provide food and habitat for birds and wildlife. That’s why the Pomme de Terre River Association provides cost-share for the restoration of shorelines around lakes. It is very important to keep nutrients and sediment where it belongs – on the shoreline, not in the lake. 

17 shorelines and streambanks have been restored or protected to date with the help of PDTRA

STREAM BARBS

Stream barbs are low profile, sloping stone sill projecting out from a stream bank. Their purpose is to redirect the stream currents away from an exposed, eroding bank, and they also protect riparian vegetation.

The Stone’s Mill Stream Barb was constructed in 2012 with Clean Water Funds

CATTLE EXCLUSIONS

In areas where livestock have easy access to surface waters and may impact water quality, a livestock exclusion fence can aid in keeping cattle away from the water. By implementing an exclusion fence and providing another water source for cattle, critical shoreline areas benefit from reduced soil erosion, less sedimentation running into the water, and lower E. coli levels.

11 cattle exclusions have been constructed to date by PDTRA

FILTER STRIPS AND WETLANDS (CRP & CCRP)

Some of our grant funds are used to recruit landowners into enrolling in federal programs, such as the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CCRP). These programs temporarily retire cultivated/agricultural land and provide beneficial buffers and wildlife habitat to the watershed. For more information on these federal programs, visit the USDA Farm Service Agency website here.

6,753 acres have been enrolled into these programs!