Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program

Carlton SWCD Coastal Nonpoint Technical Assistance Project

By: Brad Matlack Carlton SWCD Manager

June 30, 2008

Project Number 310-04-07

Contract Number B03582

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.
Summary

The Carlton SWCD provided 314 hours (117 of grant reimbursed time and 197 hours of grant
match time) of technical assistance to landowners in the Lake Superior Basin portion of the
county through this project. The MN Lake Superior Coastal Program grant funding allowed the
SWCD to focus this assistance within the grant period of October 2007 through June 2008 to
address this workload in a timely manor. Coastal program funds were used to provide planning
and supervisory assistance on all projects; no construction activities were funded by the grant,
although the planning/assistance from the SWCD allows for increased implementation of
planting/construction projects with outside funds (state Clean Water Legacy grants, State cost-
share, etc,).

Coastal Program funding also helps the SWCD leverage other state funding such as state cost
share and Clean Water Legacy Act funds. Together these funds help the SWCD provide the
needed technical and financial assistance to implement priority projects within the Lake
Superior Basin. Some projects listed in this report would likely not have been accomplished
without this funding to focus these technical resources in this area of the county.

Often projects take 2 – 3 years to evolve from the planning stage through construction or
installation. That is one reason continued MN Lake Superior Coastal Program funding is so
critical to the Carlton SWCD. Projects planned under past coastal implementation grants have
been installed under this grant. Project priority throughout the planning and implementation
stages of conservation work is important to landowner confidence and participation.

Assistance provided by the SWCD included planning, contract management, project

implementation, and project certification for conservation practices on forest and urban land,
and water resources of the county.

Category 2 Forestry

General
With almost half the land in Carlton County in forest and over half of that in private ownership,
forestry issues are important to water quality in the county. The SWCD provided assistance to
groups, individuals and small municipalities within the Lake Superior Basin to assist them in
planning and preparation for implementing Forestry BMPS.

Projects
Eight individuals and groups received planning and installation technical assistance for tree
establishment and wildlife habitat improvement. Additionally 3 tree planting projects were
inspected for compliance totaling 72 acres of tree establishment and 20 acres of timber stand
improvement.

Riparian Forest Buffers were planned in a targeted watershed with in the Lake Superior Basin.
The Midway river has documented temperature and sediment issues. In 2007 the SWCD
received funding for riparian tree establishment efforts in this watershed. 24,407 feet of stream
bank totaling 79.3 acres have been planned and as of the end of this grant period 8,235 feet or
7.6 acres have been planted. The Coastal program funds helped in planning this project while a
Clean Water Legacy grant was used to provide cost share to landowners.

Two cities within the Lake Superior Basin where engaged in urban forestry projects. Coastal
funding helped the SWCD provide these cities with technical assistance in planning these
projects.

The City of Carlton worked with the SWCD, DNR and UMES to plan and implement a tree
establishment project in the Munger Trail Park in Carlton. The Carlton SWCD assisted in
planting plans, ensuring that only native species were used, and soil/land use conditions were
taken into account for tree types. The trees will provide shade in the park, serve to improve
energy conservation for residents, and help users of the park relate to forestry on a larger scale
in the community. Carlton HS students and other community residents volunteered for the tree
planting day.

Tree Planting in Carlton City Park

HS students (below)
City of Carlton staff and community
volunteers (right)

The Esko Tree Board has planted 150 disease resistant elms throughout the city of Esko.

Elms planted along a

safety trail for students
walking from school
to athletic fields. Other
tree planted around the
city (not pictured)
Category 3.1 Urban/Rural Runoff
Assistance was provided for review of 1 minor subdivision in the Lake Superior Basin.

4 projects including roadside erosion control and earthen dam repair received planning
assistance during this grant period.

Two other water quality projects are continuing during this grant period. One feedlot runoff
improvement project and one well sealing project are proceeding through the planning process.

Category 5.3 Stream Bank and Shoreline Erosion

The SWCD along with its Joint Powers engineering department completed one lakeshore
protection project in this grant period. One hundred fifty feet of rock riprap was installed on
Chub Lake along with revegetation of disturbed areas. The SWCD provided technical
assistance in planning the planting and contract management for financial assistance to the
landowner from the SWCD’s state cost share program.

Category 6 Wetland, Riparian Areas, and Vegetated Treatment Systems

The Carlton SWCD is not the LGU for the States Wetland Conservation Act, and therefore
receives only a small amount pass through funding to carry out its responsibilities to the act.
However, staff time far exceeds the amount of pass through funding. Coastal Program funding
helps supplement pass through and fee for service funding to help the SWCD provide technical
assistance to landowners with wetland issues.
Assistance was provided to 17 individuals or groups in wetland protection and creating
restoration plans.

Education
Education is an important investment the SWCD makes in Conservation awareness. Although
time spent in this category does not lead directly to projects on the ground, changing the
public’s attitude towards conservation issues can be key to longer-term conservation benefits.

The SWCD worked with several schools in the Lake Superior Basin to provide conservation
education materials and learning opportunities for school students. The SWCD also provide
education materials to Lake association members on weed growth, use of copper sulfate, and
algae control issues. This assistance was provided both individually and in a group meeting.