For Immediate Release:  August 18, 2010                                                

For more information contact:                                                 

Brett Behnke -- 507-377-5785 or Andy Henschel  -- 507-391-2795

Watershed District Clears Key Hurdle for Restoration Project

Albert Lea, MN. A Shell Rock River Watershed District application for state funding was recently granted a hearing by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council (LSOHC).  According to District Administrator, Brett Behnke, “This is a crucial step toward obtaining funds for the acquisition of 257 acres of habitat at the headwaters of the Shell Rock River. We have an option to purchase this property from the landowner and need state assistance to complete the acquisition.”

On Monday, August 16^th the LSOHC selected the District’s project, Shell Rock River Headwaters Restoration Project, as one of 28 proposals to receive a hearing next week. In July, Minnesota conservation organizations submitted 44 requests totaling over $202 million for consideration by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.

According to Director of Field Operations, Andy Henschel, “This acquisition is not only the cornerstone of the entire 206 Restoration Project to be funded by the Army Corps of Engineers but it will provide a significant opportunity to invest in fish and wildlife habitat and create new outdoor recreation opportunities for the public. Now, we are asking for community-wide support for our application and would appreciate any letters or words of encouragement to help with the process.”

The Council anticipates recommending to the 2011 Legislature $86 million in conservation efforts from the Outdoor Heritage Fund.  

The LSOHC was established by the legislature to provide annual recommendations on how the funds from the Outdoor Heritage.  The Outdoor Heritage Fund receives one-third of the money raised by the constitutional amendment creating the Outdoor Heritage, Clean Water, Parks and Trails, and Arts and Cultural Heritage; sales tax dedicated funds. Information about the LSOHC can be found at: http://www.lsohc.leg.mn/index.html. The Shell Rock River Watershed District previously received funds from this source for the construction of three fish barriers in the District.

More information on the Shell Rock River Headwaters Restoration Project is available at the District’s website at www.shellrock.org.

The Shell Rock River Watershed District recently obtained final approval from the US Army Corps of Engineers for the completion of a feasibility report on the restoration of a significant portion of the watershed in Freeborn County. According to Brett Behnke, Shell Rock River Watershed Administrator, “This is exciting news for Freeborn County and the entire river basin”

The multi-year feasibility study is the first step in the restoration of up to 2,720 acres of Albert Lea Lake and related wetlands. Behnke added, “We have been pursuing this opportunity for a number of years and just recently finalized the paperwork to move forward with this federally funded planning process.  This is a tremendous boost to our community-wide effort to clean up and restore our water resources.”

The project is officially called the “Freeborn County Section 206 Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Project” or the “206 Restoration Project” for short. The Project Management Plan provides a roadmap for the SRRWD and US Army Corp of Engineers to complete the feasibility study in 2012.  According to Andy Henschel, the local Director of Field Operations, who is spearheading this project, “Utilizing this federal resource will accelerate our already successful efforts in restoring water and habitat quality in the watershed.  This project will allow us to improve shore land erosion, flood control and overall habitat and water quality.”

The Corps has allocated $100,000 for this first phase and has appointed a 16 person project team consisting of engineers, analysts, a community planner and an archeologist. The feasibility study will address and identify the problems and the objectives of the project.

The Project Management Plan can be obtained from the Shell Rock River Watershed District Office and will be posted on the District website at www.shellrock.org.

A summary of the projects goals are as follows:

 Topsoil conservation and erosion and sedimentation control

 Shore land conservation and restoration

 Development and implementation of lake management plans

 Partnerships to identify and reduce pollution entering Albert Lea Lake

 Maintaining and enhancing fisheries and aquatic habitat

 Maintaining efficient storm water systems

 Implementation of storm water best management practices (BMPs)

 Flood control and floodplain preservation

 Wetland protection, enhancement, and restoration

 Groundwater protection

 Partnerships and data sharing

 Education and public involvement

The overall restoration plan, if implemented, is budgeted at $7.48 million, with $4.8 million from the Army Corps of Engineers and $2.68 million from local funding and/or in-kind services.

For more information, call Brett Behnke at 507-377-5785 or Andy Henschel at 507-391-2795

US Army Corps of Engineers Project Management Plan - Freeborn County Section 206 Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration

Important facts for Albert Lea area Ice anglers:

1. This winter dissolved oxygen levels on Fountain and Albert Lea Lake are being monitored weekly. 
2. Fish begin to become stressed if dissolved oxygen levels dip below 6 mg/l. 
3. Fish will begin to die at a dissolved oxygen level of 3 mg/l.
4. The aeration permit from the MN DNR allows the SRRWD to deploy their aerators at 6 mg/l dissolved oxygen in Albert Lea Lake. 
5. If the ice gets thick enough and there is a lot of snow, no amount of aeration will stop some southern MN lakes from winterkilling.
6. The most important feature that can add dissolved oxygen to Albert Lea Lake is flow spilling over the Fountain Lake Dam. 

12/29/09

DO on Fountain Lake at Hatch Bridge was 13.29.  Albert Lea Lake at Frank Hall Park (Channel) was 12.89.

1/8/10

Fountain Lake at Hatch Bridge was 9.95.  Albert Lea Lake at Frank Hall Park (Channel) was 10.86.

1/15/10

Fountain Lake at Hatch Bridge was 8.43.  Fountain Lake at Brookside Park was 8.30.  Albert Lea Lake at Frank Hall (Channel) was 10.20.

1/20/10

Albert Lea Lake at Frank Hall Park (Channel) was 10.43, ice thickness is 18”.  After sampling in the channel, District staff worked their way East towards the Interstate 35 bridge, sampling 8 times between the channel and the bridge.  The further East you go, the lower the Dissolved Oxygen gets, reaching its lowest point of 6.12 at the bridge.  The plume of oxygenated water flowing over the Fountain Lake Dam, thru the channel and out into the western basin of Albert Lea Lake is very evident at this time.

Between the boat landing on South Shore Drive and NY Point 3 samples were taken, the lowest reading was 5.12 at NY Point by the ice houses and 6.18 about half way between the boat landing and the point.  Ice thickness at NY Point is 21”.

1/21/10

Today 3 different tributaries of Fountain Lake were sampled where they enter the lake.  Brookside Park (Bancroft Creek) was 8.56.  Wedge Creek (by the new SRRWD fish barrier) was 12.00.  Fountain Lake, where Dane’s Bay enters was 8.63.  Fountain Lake at Hatch Bridge was 8.39. 

2/2/10

Albert Lea Lake at Frank Hall Park (Channel) was 9.53.  By the old wastewater treatment plant it was 9.05.  After sampling by the point 7 samples were taken between there and the I35 Bridge.  The DO numbers in the west basin of Albert Lea Lake were very similar to the sampling done on 1/20/10.  The lowest sample of 5.02 was the closest to the bridge and the highest samples were further west.  The plume of oxygenated water flowing over the Fountain Lake Dam, thru the channel and out into the western basin of Albert Lea Lake is very evident at this time. 

See attached map.

Summer Tour 2009 Photo Gallery

Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts

Summer Tour

Thursday, June 25 – Saturday, June 27, 2009

The Shell Rock River Watershed District
hosted the Minnesota Association of Watershed District's Summer Tour
on Thursday, June 25 – Saturday, June 27, 2009.

During the tour the Shell Rock River Watershed District highlighted their funding – Local Option Sales Tax and projects implemented: Mud Lake Electrical Fish Barrier, South Industrial Park Flood Mitigation Project, Main Street Stormwater Park Project, Rain gardens, Albert Lea Lake cruise on Pelican Breeze, Edgewater Park Reclamation Project and our guests heard about the water monitoring program.

There were informational workshops Saturday morning on “Management of Carp in Minnesota Lakes” and the “Impacts of Internal Phosphorus Loading in Lake Systems”.

A welcome reception was held Thursday, June 25, 2009- 8:00 pm at America’s Best Value Inn (formerly The Ramada).