The Blue Earth River Watershed Plan was approved Monday at the Blue Earth Ag Center following a public hearing. Covering over 1 million acres across seven counties, 86% of it cropland, the plan aims to create a unified water management strategy.
Rachel Olm of Houston Engineering presented the One Watershed, One Plan approach, which shifts water planning from local boundaries to a hydrologic scale. Collaboration among county officials, conservation districts and city representatives has shaped the plan, supported by public input gathered since a May 2024 kickoff event.
Committees have spent the past year setting goals, outlining implementation steps and revising the plan based on a 60 day public and agency review. Feedback was largely supportive and helped ensure the plan meets Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) requirements.
The plan identifies high priority issues such as erosion, sedimentation, nutrient loading, soil health, flooding, drainage maintenance and drinking water protection. Thirteen lakes and one stream currently have nutrient impairments; Budd Lake in Fairmont was noted for elevated nitrate levels.
Twenty one lakes are targeted for measurable improvement within 10 years. In Martin County, several lakes are listed for protection due to limited nutrient issues, while others – including Fox, George, Sisseton, Budd and Hall – are slated for restoration. The goal is a 4% reduction in phosphorus and nitrogen loading.
Medium priority concerns include bacteria, invasive species, stormwater, wildlife habitat, aquatic connectivity and groundwater quality.
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