In August of 2018, the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) selected the Shell Rock and Winnebago Watersheds for funding their One Watershed, One Plan (1W1P) planning document. BWSR’s vision for One Watershed, One Plan is to align local water planning on major watershed boundaries with state strategies towards prioritized, targeted and measurable implementation plans.

The entities included in the 1W1P for the Shell Rock and Winnebago watersheds include the City of Albert Lea, the Freeborn County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Shell Rock River Watershed District and Freeborn County.

Plans are comprehensive; they address water quality and quantity, groundwater, drinking water, habitat, recreation and many other issues. They also identify and prioritize resources and issues and set measurable goals. Plans also describe programs and future partnerships that will implement the plan projects. Stay tuned for progress updates once the plan gets underway!