Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program

N. St. Louis SWCD Implementation of

Coastal Nonpoint Program

North St. Louis SWCD

August 20, 2008

Project No. 310-03-07

Contract No. B03581

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 mission of the North St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District is to provide leadership and
programs that protect our natural resources by uniting people and organizations to overcome obstacles
while protecting and maintaining the diversity of our environment.
 North St. Louis Soil and Water
Conservation District
Northland Office Building
307 1st St. South, Suite 114
Virginia, MN 55792
(218) 742-9505

August 20, 2008

Coastal Implementation Grant

Project # 310-03-07
Contract # B03581

Introduction:
The grant funding for these projects was intended to implement nonpoint source technical
assistance to both private landowners as well as local units of government by providing
recommendations and technical assistance with issues such as erosion control,
shoreland/riparian planting, nutrient runoff management, habitat enhancement and wetland
conservation. An enhanced level of field reviews was made possible by the utilization of a
Global Positioning System (GPS) and a Geographic Information System (GIS) in
coordination with each other. These tools provided an improvement in tracking nonpoint
source pollution as well as the ability to define riparian buffer zones. A YSI 556 multi-
parameter water sampler purchased with this grant was used to assist two Lake Associations
and the Minnesota DNR in lake sampling.

Work Completed:
24 private landowners, four city governments and St. Louis County were assisted for non-
point pollution prevention. A YSI 556 multi-parameter water sample tester was purchased
and used to assist two area Lake Associations and the Minnesota DNR in sampling. Data was
recorded and archived to both the DNR and the EPA Storet data libraries. An educational
brochure with two sections, one for wetlands and another for shoreland best management
practices was designed and 500 copies printed.

Results:
Area lakes were sampled 24 times. This will continue in the future, adding data
necessary for long term monitoring
Wetland determinations were completed and mapped efficiently. 7 landowners were
assisted over the phone or in the office by accessing pertinent data via GIS rather than
onsite visits.
Home and driveway construction. Site visits were made to discuss best possible
locations, and wetland sequencing was performed.

The mission of the North St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District is to provide leadership and
programs that protect our natural resources by uniting people and organizations to overcome obstacles
while protecting and maintaining the diversity of our environment.
 Screening plan assistance provided to landowners on how best to reestablish native
vegetation on shorelines, specifically within the shore impact zones/buffer zones. Site
visits were made and maps were created to assist with recommendations.
Technical assistance was given for Shoreland alterations. Best management practices
were discussed as well as how to revegetate the shoreline using native species.
The educational brochure aims to educate the public on both Wetlands ecological
benefits and law, and Shoreland best management practices.

Conclusion:
With the Non-Point grant funding, the North St. Louis SWCD was able to provide an
enhanced level of field reviews and technical assistance to property owners within the Lake
Superior Basin that otherwise could not have been accomplished. With the knowledge and
information the individual landowners learned from the site visits and recommendation
reports, they should be able to implement the conservation strategies on their own with
minimal technical assistance. When needed, the SWCD will continue to offer assistance to
individual property owners, Area Lake Associations and other Stakeholders.
.

The mission of the North St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District is to provide leadership and
programs that protect our natural resources by uniting people and organizations to overcome obstacles
while protecting and maintaining the diversity of our environment.