Getting to the Bottom of Buffers

What exactly is going on in the water flowing beneath the surface from fields into waterways? Smith Partners Sustainability Fellow Katherine McLellan is digging up the answer.  Ms. McLellan and her colleagues at the University of Minnesota Water Resources Center are getting to the bottom of how buffers and alternative practices can help Minnesota attain water quality goals. 

One hot topic in the buffer conversation is whether we can identify sound alternatives to buffers.  Mc. McLellan is investigating the sources of nitrate to shallow groundwater in riparian zones of the Cottonwood River in southwestern MN.  “I hope to be able to determine the relative amounts of nitrate from various water sources such as tile drainage, deep groundwater, and precipitation,” she reports.  “If we can calculate the amount of nitrate that is taken up in the riparian zone before it reaches the stream, this information will help to determine which sources of nitrate are most in need of BMPs or alternative management practices.” 

Model Buffer Rules for Watersheds

Most watershed districts in Minnesota have taken a cautious approach in deciding whether to assume a role in local enforcement of Minnesota’s buffer law.  If the Legislature approves state funding for local buffer implementation and enforcement, that may affect their decisions. For watershed districts that decide that a local watershed approach to buffer enforcement is preferable to state enforcement only, a model watershed district rule for buffers is available.  The Board of Water and Soil Resources and the Red River Watershed Management Board retained Smith Partners to draft a model rule, guidance document, and memorandum of understanding.   BWSR is continuing to update these materials.

 

Assessing for Runoff or Sediment?

There is growing interest among water resource managers to find an alternative means to assess for drainage system maintenance and repair costs.  The Red River Watershed Management Board, the International Water Institute, and BWSR have been hard at work to develop a practical, transparent, science-based and cost-effective GIS application for use by drainage authorities to assess maintenance/repair costs for public drainage systems based on each parcel’s relative contribution of runoff and sediment to the system. They asked Smith Partners to assess the legal authority for this alternative approach and provide suggestions for legislation.  The BWSR Drainage Work Group is continuing to work on these issues.

Reduced Salt Diet

Smith Partners presented a model snow and ice management policy, guidance document, and model contract exhibit to the Freshwater Society’s 16th Annual Road Salt Symposium. As Minnesota waters struggle with the permanent pollution from chlorides, the Freshwater Society and Fortin Consulting asked Smith Partners to develop the model policy to manage the liability risk of cities and counties that want to take environmental, cost, and social considerations into their road salt application decision making.