Redpath Groundbreaking

Photo Above (from left to right): BDSWD Board Manager Doug Dahlen, Senator Rob Kupec, Senator Jordan Rasmusson, Red River Watershed Management Executive Director Rob Sip

Norcross, MN – On September 22, 2023, the Bois de Sioux Watershed District held a groundbreaking ceremony marking the commencement of construction of the Mustinka River Rehabilitation and Redpath Flood Impoundment. District Attorney Lukas Croaker emceed the event, hosting around 80 individuals including neighboring landowners, Senators Jordan Rasmusson and Rob Kupec, Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen, BWSR Executive Director John Jaschke, DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen, Clean Water Council Administrator Paul Gardner, Senator Amy Klobuchar’s staff support and former Minnesota representative Ben Lien. President Linda Vavra thanked landowners for their commitment to this project. District Engineer Chad Engels provided a description of the construction left ahead: the remeandering of the Mustinka River channel will be completed in 2025. Construction of remaining impoundment levees will be built under Phase 3, and Phase 4 construction is comprised of installation of concrete inlet and outlet structures. The District must secure $13.8 million more in Flood Hazard Mitigation funds to finish the project.

Senator Jordan Rasmusson stayed on-site and received an in-depth tour of the Redpath Impoundment and Mustinka River projects with BdSWD Engineer Technician Troy Fridgen. “Congratulations to the Bois de Sioux Watershed District and their partners for entering the next phase of this important project, “ said Rasmusson. “Protecting our region from flooding is a key priority for me, and I am glad to see significant progress being made." Senator Rasmusson was pivotal during the 2023 legislative session to secure $5,000,000 in flood hazard mitigation funds for the Redpath Impoundment and other Red River Valley projects.

Viewers Needed

The Bois de Sioux Watershed District (the “District”) seeks individuals to provide viewing for legal drainage systems. The need for this service is dependent upon the pace of project requests by landowners – currently, the District averages one legal drainage system per year. Viewing is a niche service, and there are opportunities across the state of Minnesota, including those in neighboring counties such as Big Stone, Grant, and Stevens. More information is available here.

Petition for Boundary Change

The Bois de Sioux Watershed District and the Upper Minnesota River Watershed District are in the process of responding to a petition to change their shared border. Click here to view a copy of the petition. Click here for a copy of the petition notice.

Construction Season

The Bois de Sioux Watershed District has the following project under construction (financial support described below): Wilkin County Ditch #Sub-1; Phase 3 of Lake Traverse Water Quality Project; Redpath Phase 2: Mustinka River Rehabilitation; Redpath Phase 2: Flood Impoundment; Lightning Lake Outlet Improvements
 

Grant Money received!

The BDSWD proudly thanks the Minnesota Legacy Act Clean Water Fund, administered by the Board of Soil and Water Resources, for the grant opportunites to fund the Joint Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan, Lake Traverse Water Quality Improvement Project (Phases 1 - 3), Redpath Flood Impoundment, Mustinka River Rehabilitation, WCD #Sub-1, and TCD #35.

Funding for the Mustinka River Rehabilitation project was provided by the Red River Watershed Management Board, Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR),the State of Minnesota Outdoor Heritage Fund Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, and the Legacy Act Clean Water Fund through the Board of Water and Soil Resources. For more information about how the funds are spent by the District please click here and for more information about the LCCMR grant funding source please click here.