Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program

Technical Assistance, Planning, and Public

Outreach Measures to Reduce Nonpoint Source

Pollution in Cook County

Author’s Name and Affiliation:

Rebecca Wiinanen, District Manager

Cook County Soil and Water Conservation District

Date of Completion: January 31, 2009

Project No. 310-04-08

Contract No. B16339

This project was funded in part under the Coastal Zone Management Act, by
NOAA’s Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, in cooperation with
Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program. The County of Cook and the Cook
County Soil and Water Conservation District provided additional cash and staff
contributions.

Cook County

Soil & Water

Conservation District
Technical Assistance, Planning, and Public Outreach Measures to Reduce
Nonpoint Source Pollution in Cook County

♦ Introduction – Cook County landowners call or drop by the Soil & Water office
for help with natural resource concerns. Staff assist in an array of ways such as
design consultations on erosion and storm water issues, field reviews,
explanations of land use ordinances, printed maps of minor watersheds, and
guidance in maneuvering various government offices. Assistance is provided on
a “need-to-know” basis, which is particularly effective. In addition to landowner
assistance the staff work with the elected Soil & Water Board to identify trends
and conditions in order to identify future work projects. Soil & Water workloads
continue to increase. County lands within the coastal zone are on steep hillsides
of thin soil and rock outcrop requiring extensive storm water controls. Recent
record-breaking rainstorms (Oct07 and Jun08) caused considerable damage and
emphasized the need for storm water protection and restoration projects.

♦ Work Completed and Results – During this grant period Soil & Water Staff
provided an enhanced level of technical assistance. The Board provided
oversight and leadership. Following is a summary of the types of assistance.

Technical Assistance:

(MLSCP Performance Measurement – Water Quality)

Technical Assistance and Field Reviews. Staff provided technical assistance

regarding land disturbances causing nonpoint pollution. Assistance included gully
erosion repair, revegetation plans, invasive species identification, seeding
recommendations, drainage and watershed maps, small site storm water designs
streambank stabilization, review of county and NPDES storm water pollution
prevention plans. Staff assisted local government units as well as private
landowners. Results – During this grant period staff performed 13 field reviews
and wrote 12 site review recommendations. This resulted in an increased
understanding of local land and water protection and restoration methods.
Landowners plan to implement on-the-ground improvements at most of the sites.

Comments on Water Permit Applications. During the grant period staff

commented on two local DNR Waters permits, occasionally visiting the site.
Permit applications are listed on the monthly Board agenda. Results – Comment
on one of the applications resulted in improved practices during construction. The
77 subscribers who read the Soil & Water Agendas are aware of the projects
before they are built enabling more comment.

Information and Referrals. Staff fielded 28 citizen reports or requests for

assistance regarding a variety of environmental concerns on local issues. Help
was provided via fact sheets and maps created by Soil & Water. Staff continued
to distribute the “2007 Cook County Grass and Forbs Seed Mixes” to agencies,
landowners, and contractors. Staff referred citizens to the appropriate resource
and helped them maneuver through state and federal agencies. Please refer to
the monthly staff reports and Requests for Technical Assistance report for
details. Staff provided public information on projects previously completed
through the Coastal Program such as the Grand Marais Storm Water
Management Plan, the Cook County Property Owners Resource Guide, the
storm water retention ponds, and the native plantings. Results – Approximately
80 citizen and elected official received assistance at the office and over the
phone. Staff occasionally receive initial contacts outside of office hours while
shopping or attending unrelated community events. An estimated 22 requests
resulted in field reviews recommendations for changes on the land. Dozens of
others contacts resulted in improved behaviors to reduce pollution.

Poplar River Projects (match). In 2008 staff provided additional technical

assistance to plan four projects to reduce sediment loading on the Poplar River.
Results – Four projects were built in 2009 with state funding. Estimated sediment
reduction into the river of these projects is 307 tons per year.

Natural Resource Planning:

(MLSCP Performance Measurement – Coastal Dependent Uses & Community

Development)

Regional Natural Resource Planning (match). Match for this grant includes state-
funded work by the Board and staff. SWCD supervisors voiced local concerns
regarding large development projects, natural resource conservation strategies,
and administrative changes that will affect the implementation of conservation-
related programs. Results – Board supervisors participated in priority planning
1) at three meetings of the 9-county Technical Service Area 3 (TSA3) to direct
the work of a shared conservation engineer and technician, 2) at three meetings
of the Soil & Water Forestry Committee (20 northern MN SWCDs), 3) at three
meetings of the Laurentian Resource Conservation & Development Committee
(five Counties, five SWCDs and the Grand Portage Tribal Council), and 4) at one
meeting of the NRCS Environmental Quality Incentive local committee. Planning
led to the eventual design of 11 projects in Cook County during 2008-09 by TSA3
Engineering staff. Planning of the other committees also resulted in restoration
or protection through forestry work or erosion control.

Local Natural Resource Planning (match). Supervisors and staff work with local
organizations such as the Poplar River Management Board (8 members, 2
meetings), the County Planning Commission (7 members, 3 meetings), the Local
Water Advisory Committee (7 members, 4 meetings), and other initiatives as they
surface. Results – The elected supervisors gain a “big picture” understanding of
problems, needs, and site-specific plans around the County, enabling informed
decisions.
Public Outreach:

(MLSCP Performance Measurement –Government Coordination and Decision-

Making (DCDM)

Presentation. Soil & Water’s Conservation Technician gave a presentation to the

Grand Marais Recpark Visioning Committee developing a Master Plan. He
suggested protection the wetland areas, low-cost information kiosks with
information on the park’s water resources, the overall ecosystem, and adding
water quality enhancers such as increased pervious surfaces, rain gardens and
stream buffers. Results – This presentation to the Committee and 40 members of
the community along with many other community comments influenced the
Recpark Board decision the following summer 1) to delineate the Recpark
wetlands, 2) to include the historic (filled) wetland areas on the Master Plan map,
and 3) to construct trail erosion controls over the summer.

Web Site Upgrade. Staff worked many hours to expand and enhance the Soil &
Water website. The upgraded web pages are housed on the new county website.
Results – Soil & Water now displays services and educational information in an
organized, logical style. It is expected that the posted reports and photos of
completed projects will increase transparency and understanding of Soil & Water
work and conservation practices. An average of 15 per day use the site.

Reclassification of Portions of Lakes (match). During the grant period four lakes
were partially surveyed for frog count, type of vegetation, lake depth, bottom
substrate, shoreline cover type, and presence of wetlands. Results – As of
December 2008, data was collected along the shorelines of shallow bays of four
lakes. At the completion of this state-funded project in June of 2011 the data
collected will be used to justify a recommendation to the County Board to change
the classification of portions of four lakes from “Natural Environment” to “Special
Natural Environment”, a classification regulating more protection.

♦ Leveraged Dollars – Match for the nonpoint source pollution initiatives

included: MN Board of Water and Soil Resources 2009 General Services funds
for staffing and Board ($4422), MN Clean Water Legacy 2007 funds ($2558,
Poplar River Sediment Reduction projects), MN Clean Water Legacy 2008 funds
($591, Lakes Reclassification), and County in-kind support ($1389, office space,
information technology and legal support).

♦ Conclusions – Progress in prevention of nonpoint source pollution is relative to

both the volume of contacts and the quality of the information. When a citizen
comes to the office with questions on how to fix their problem, education is highly
effective. On-site assistance results in greater implementation of voluntary best
management practices as well as adherence to regulated permit requirements.
Smaller, landowner-built projects are effective in engaging the public and as
demonstration in neighborhoods. Supporting and designing these projects
requires substantial, but well-spent staff time. Thank you to MLSCP for
supporting this work.
♦ Appendices –
A. Field Review Summaries, Examples
a. Flood Damage Repair Recommendation for Trout Stream Culvert
Replacement
b. Shoreline Buffer and Revegetation Recommendation
c. DNR Waters Permit, Trout Stream Bank Stabilization Comment
B. News Herald Article Nov 2008, “…Envision Future of Recreation Park”
C. Record of Technical Assistance Database Report
D. Request for Technical Assistance Database Report
E. Sample Map, Lakeshore Ecological Sensitivity Analysis -Bigsby Lake
F. New Website

♦ Digital Products

Technical Assistance, Planning, and

Public Outreach Measures to Reduce
Nonpoint Source Pollution
in Cook County
Cook County
01/31/2009, CNP 310-04-08
Soil & Water Conservation District Soil & Water
Cook County, Grand Marais, MN Conservation District

A. Field Review Summaries, Examples

a. Flood Damage Repair Recommendation for Trout
Stream Culvert
b. Shoreline Buffer and Revegetation Recommendation
c. DNR Waters Permit, Trout Stream Bank Stabilization
Comment
B. News Herald Article Nov 2008, “…Envision Future of
Recreation Park”
C. Record of Technical Assistance Database Report
D. Request for Technical Assistance Database Report
E. Sample Map, Lakeshore Ecological Sensitivity Analysis -
Bigsby Lake
F. New Website