Water Quantity and QUALITy:   
103D Projects & programs

The Bois de Sioux Watershed District has many active projects in various states of development and construction, authorized by Minnesota Statute Chapter 103D.  The District uses the Flood Damage Reduction Work Group's Project Team approach to design and develop projects.

The Red River Basin Technical and Scientific Advisory Committee (BTSAC) Briefing Papers have been developed by a collaborative team and provide shared technical standards utilized by the Bois de Sioux Watershed District and other Red River Basin watershed districts. 

Water Quantity, Storage & Impoundments

  • Redpath Flood Impoundment (Phased Construction)
  • North Ottawa Flood Impoundment (Operation & Maintenance)
  • Elbow & Samantha Lake Outlet Controls (Development, Operation & Maintenance)
  • Lightning Lake Outlet Improvement (Construction)
  • District Ring Dike Cost Share Program
  • District Culvert Sizing Cost Share Program
  • Winter Melt/Spring Flood Emergency Response Program
  • Water Quality & Sediment Control

  • Lake Traverse Water Quality Improvement Project No. 1 Phases 1 & 2 (O & M)
  • Lake Traverse Water Quality Improvement Project No. 1 Phase 3 (Construction)
  • Grant County Mustinka River Corridor Cost Share Project
  • Traverse SWCD Lined Outlet Cost Share Program
  • Wilkin SWCD Cover Crop Cost Share Program
  • District Clean Water Cost Share Program
  • River Watch Monitoring Program
  • Regional Water Quality Projects - Land in the Bois de Sioux Watershed District participates in a regional watershed levy that funds projects both inside and outside of the Bois de Sioux Watershed District, to benefit the Red River Basin. More information about recent water quality improvements is available in this report.
  • Multi-Benefit Stream/River Rehabilitations & Restorations

  • Doran Creek Stream Rehabilitation Project (Development)
  • Fivemile Creek (Study & Modeling)
  • Twelvemile Creek (Study Modeling)
  • Mustinka River Fish and Habitat Corridor Rehabilitation (Construction)
  • Impoundments

    Impoundments are an important tool to provide water storage during flood events, reducing damages to roads, bridges, drainage systems, businesses, homesteads, and agricultural lands. Impoundments are also an opportunity to provide habitat to migrating species, and provide a tourist destination for bird watching. Although packed with benefits, impoundments are complicated projects, involving many landowners, many permitting agencies, and many funding partners.

    The Bois de Sioux Watershed District has completed one impoundment project (North Ottawa Flood Impoundment), and is in the process of finishing a second (the Redpath Flood Impoundment and associated Mustinka River Rehabilitation Project). This projects are significant bird and wildlife watching destinations.  The Mustinka River Rehabilitation Project is complete and open to the public.  This project was supported with funds from a variety of sources, including:  Clean Water Fund Board of Soil and Water Resources; the Red River Watershed Management Board; Legacy Amendment Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources; Legacy Amendment Lessard Sams Outdoor Heritage.        

    Letters of Support:

    North Ottawa Flood Impoundment

    The North Ottawa Flood Impoundment Project began in 1989; construction was completed in 2016. This facility provides storage for spring floods, and is utilized year-round to provide natural resource enhancements - including unique opportunities for bird and waterfowl watching.

    More information about the North Ottawa Impoundment (and visiting) can be found here. A printable version is available here.A description of how the cells were used in 2022 is available here.

    Directions: Located at 45.992261, -96.255545 https://goo.gl/maps/wZYVpxijhQR8p9AV8

    From I-94: Take Exit 100, and head west on State Highway 27. Drive approximately 36 miles to Herman. At the four-way stop in Herman, take a right/head northwest onto State Highway 9. Drive 14.5 miles. Take a right/head east onto Grant County 95 for 2.5 miles.

    From Wendell: Take County Road 11 south out of Wendell for 2.6 miles. Take a right/head west onto Grant County 42. Drive 7.5 miles.

    From Fargo/Moorhead: Take Highway 75 south. Just before Doran, MN, follow the split for State Highway 9 and continue along State Highway 9 for 18.2 miles. Turn left/head east onto Grant County 95 for 2.5 miles.

    Redpath Flood Impoundment & Mustinka River Rehabilitation Project

    For years, the Mustinka River in Traverse and Grant County, Minnesota has been the source of significant flooding caused primarily by spring snowmelt events. These floods have resulted in extensive damage to infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and culverts, and threatened rural homes and agricultural land. Since 2008, the Bois de Sioux Watershed District has been working toward a multi-purpose solution known as the Redpath Impoundment & Mustinka River Rehabilitation Project. After years of study, permitting, and land acquisition, the Watershed District is thrilled to announce that project construction is nearing completion.

    COMPLETED AND FUTURE WORK
    As seen in the project map below, significant construction progress has occurred since the first bid letting in 2022. Construction is over half complete. Remaining tasks include 2 ½ miles of levee construction along the south perimeter, inlet channel, and structures.

    STATE FUNDING REQUEST
    To date, $36.5 M has been spent on this $61.0 M project, including $9.9 M from the Minnesota Flood Hazard Mitigation (MNFHM) program. An additional $13.7 M in funding is required through the MNFHM program to bring this project to completion and protect the region’s economy, citizens and natural resources from future flooding.

    The Redpath Flood Impoundment and Mustinka River Rehabilitation Projects are located in Traverse and Grant Counties, northwest of Norcross, Minnesota.  Over five miles of the Mustinka River has been re-meandered within a two-stage constructed flood corridor channel.  The design recreates a natural river sinuosity with flow controls that stabilizes the channel and protect it from future erosion. Materials excavated from the rehabilitated Mustinka River two-stage channel have been used to build the north, east and west levies of the Redpath flood impoundment.  This project has received widespread support (from landowners, Grant & Traverse Counties, and state agency representatives).

    PROJECT BENEFITS
    The completed project will:
    • Protect rural communities and agricultural areas from devastating floods.
    • Prevent costly damage to roads, bridges, culverts and other infrastructure.
    • Mitigate economic losses from flood-related disruptions.
    • Establish vast natural resources enhancements open to the public.
    • Improve water quality within the Mustinka River and receiving waters.
    • Address climate change to create a more resilient future.

    Phase 1 (2022) is done! Phase 2a (2023/2024) is done! Phase 2b (2024/2025) is nearly done!

     

     

    Financial Awards:

    Financial awards have been provided by the State of Minnesota Lessard Sams Outdoor Heritage Council Fund, the State of Minnesota Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources from the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, the State of Minnesota BWSR Clean Water Fund Legacy Amendment Act Projects and Practices and Mutlipurpose Drainage Management and Water Quality & Storage Pilot Program Grants, DNR Flood Hazard Mitigation Program, the Red River Watershed Management Board, and State of Minnesota Lessard Sams Outdoor Heritage Council DNR Conservation Partners Legacy Grant.

    If you are interested in the design of these projects, please watch this video by District Engineer Chad Engels, explaining project phases in more detail - https://youtu.be/B6gN-HOX8dg

    Outlet Projects

    Controlling outlet elevations and ensuring outlet channel stability are important tools to control lake elevations and downstream conditions. The Bois de Sioux Watershed District is cooperatively working with township, county, and state agency representatives on two outlet projects. Development continues for connected Elbow and Samantha Lakes. Construction will likely begin in 2023 on replacement of the Lightning Lake Outlet. This project is supported in part by a State of Minnesota Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Counsil and Partners Legacy Program Grant.

    District Cost Share Programs

    Ring Dike Cost Share Program

    Ring Dikes are an important tool to provide protection to property during flood events. Landowners interested in building a ring dike should first fill out a permit application. Outside funding may be availabe. Please review the Ring Dike Cost Share Policy and Cost Share Agreement.

    Culvert Sizing Cost Share Program

    Culvert sizing can be used to reduce peak flood flows and direct excess flows to temporary distributive storage. The District has implemented a Culvert Sizing Cost Share Program, described here.

    Water Quality and Sediment Control

    LAKE TRAVERSE WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NO. 1

    A landowner meeting was held on September 19, 2019 at 1 pm at the Wheaton American Legion to present project costs and possible project funding streams. Landowners had an opportunity to ask questions and provide project feedback. Pictures available here.

     

    An extreme weather event in the mid 1900's cut a deep channel through the sandy hills surrounding Lake Traverse.  Over the past 50 years, the channel has deepened, and the current has carried sediment into Lake Traverse - creating a penninsula at the outlet.


    In response to landowner requests, Bois de Sioux Watershed Board Managers have made this project a top priority. Phases 1 and 2 are complete. The final phase - Phase 3 - was completed in 2024.

    Financial Awards:

    Financial awards have been provided by the State of Minnesota BWSR Clean Water Fund Legacy Amendment Act Projects and Practices and Watershed Implementation Fund Grants, the Red River Watershed Management Board, and State of Minnesota Lessard Sams Outdoor Heritage Council DNR Conservation Partners Legacy Grant.