PUBLISH

(July 15, 2018)

Cottonwood and Redwood River Watershed Assessments

The Cottonwood and Redwood River watersheds are currently being assessed as part of the Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies (WRAPS). This assessment begins with intensive water quality monitoring of lakes and streams, followed by identification of stressors upon these systems, and ultimately, the development of a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for pollutants to these systems. Once the TMDLs are determined, strategies will be developed to reduce pollutants to more tolerable levels. Funded by the voter-approved Clean Water Legacy Act (CWLA), the MPCA and partners use a ‘watershed approach’ to restore and protect Minnesota’s rivers, lakes, and wetlands.

The watershed approach focuses on a watershed’s condition as the starting point for water quality assessment, planning, implementation, and measurement of results.

Public informational meetings have been scheduled to inform watershed residents and interested others of the assessment process and the scientific data being collected in the watersheds. The TMDL/WRAPS process will be outlined in more detail.

All sessions will have the same presentation/

information and will take place:

Wednesday, July 18

1:00 PM Walnut Grove Community Center

Thursday, July 19

7:00 PM Sleepy Eye – Brown County REA Building

Tuesday, July 24

1:00 PM Lake Benton – Hole in the Mountain Park Chalet

Wednesday, July 25

3:00 PM Marshall – Marshall/Lyon County Library

Thursday, July 26

7:00 PM Redwood Falls Area Community Center

Any questions regarding these informational meetings or the TMDL/WRAPS projects should be directed to:

Kerry Netzke

Redwood-Cottonwood Rivers Control Area (RCRCA)

1424 E. College Drive, Suite 300

Marshall, MN 56258

(507) 532-1325

kerry.netzke@rcrca.com