Waseca County Projects

This listing is produced by the Minnesota State Lottery from information provided by project managers and the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources. While we attempt to provide the most current information, specific project locations and allocations do change. Information on projects for the current biennium, in particular, should be regarded as preliminary.

Diversifying Agriculture for Environmental, Economic, and Social Benefits – 1999-01 biennium. Researchers at the University of Minnesota Southern Experiment Station in Waseca conducted field experiments with new strains and planting schedules of cover crops, evaluating their ability to suppress weeds, recycle nutrients, control disease, decrease erosion, and increase wildlife habitat. Projects in other parts of the state examined the use of Illinois Bundleflower and False Indigo for livestock grazing and hybrid hazelnuts as a crop alternative. The diversification of agricultural products shows great promise for improving both the state’s environment and its farm economy.

Minnesota River Basin Initiative: Local Leadership – 1999-01 biennium with an extension to June 30, 2002. The Minnesota River has been the subject of many studies and many projects over many years. This project, administered by the Minnesota River Basin Joint Powers Board, was designed to encourage local leadership within each of the 13 major Minnesota River watersheds, implement projects on a cost-sharing basis to improve the river’s water quality, and display the results on the Minnesota River Basin Data Center Web site. In Waseca County, Trust Fund money was used to help finance the construction of three sediment basins in Alton Township and 3,200 feet of new waterway in Freedom Township to prevent gully erosion and reduce the sediment flowing into the Little Cobb River. Visit http://mrbdc.mnsu.edu/index.html for more information about this project.

Mussel Resource Survey − 1999-01 biennium. During the first two years of this project (this biennium), biologists and other staff from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources sampled 886 sites in 32 Minnesota rivers, 64 tributaries and 12 lakes, including 16 sites on the Le Sueur River in Waseca County during September of 1999.

According to the website for this project, http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ecological_services/nhnrp/mussel_survey/index.html, freshwater mussels, commonly called clams, occur throughout the world but reach their greatest diversity in North America where about 300 species are found. Unfortunately, within the last 100 years mussel communities have declined in abundance and diversity due to dam construction, stream channelization, water pollution and sedimentation, over harvesting and the recent introduction of the exotic zebra mussel. In response, groups such as the American Fisheries Society and The Nature Conservancy have identified mussels as the most imperiled group of animals in North America. The primary goal of this project is to build the information base necessary to sustain freshwater mussels in Minnesota. Building this base of information is expected to take about six years to complete.

Crop Management to Minimize Pesticide Use - 1997-99 biennium. Controlling agricultural pests can be done using chemicals, other organisms or crop management strategies, which is what the University of Minnesota and the Waseca Agricultural Experiment Station is studying with this grant. The University is researching the effects that organic mulching, crop rotation, green manure and animal grazing have on potatoes, soybeans, wild rice and strawberries.

Minnesota Rare Mussels Conservation - 1997-99 biennium. This University of Minnesota project is attempting to improve freshwater conservation and protect them from invading Zebra mussels. In Waseca County, mussel life history research will take place.

Cannon River Watershed Strategic Plan: Integrated Management - 1995-97 biennium. The Cannon River in southeast Minnesota and some of its tributaries are being cleaned up. The Board of Water and Soil Resources is working with the Cannon River Watershed Partnership to improve water quality by reducing pollution and erosion, protecting sensitive areas and encouraging agricultural practices that do not affect the environment. In Waseca County, a management plan was implemented.

Minnesota River Implementation Project - 1993-95 biennium. This project works with landowners and governmental agencies to reduce the high amounts of pollution in the Minnesota River. The goal is to use land management practices that reduce the amount of pollutants and runoff that empty into the river from a 30-county area. The project includes an educational program being used by 15 high schools that brings attention to water quality. Lead agency: Pollution Control Agency.

RIM Critical Habitat Match - 1993-95 biennium. This Department of Natural Resources’ program provides matching funds to those who want to buy or improve critical fish, wildlife and native plant habitats. In Waseca County, 110 acres were added to the Moonan Marsh Wildlife Management Area northeast of Waseca.

Minnesota River Basin Water Quality Monitoring - 1991-93 biennium. This project sought to identify the sources of nonpoint pollution threatening the water quality and uses of the Minnesota River and its tributaries including the Sleepy Eye and Cottonwood Rivers. The results are used to direct state and local pollution programs. Lead agency: Pollution Control Agency.

South Central Minnesota Surface Water Resources Atlases and Data Bases - 1991-93 biennium. This project gathered data to produce the following maps: general land survey, surface hydrology, weather station locations, point source pollution, incorporation of new land-use maps, population data from the 1990 census, county soil maps and cancer and epidemiology maps. The Waseca County project developed surface hydrology atlases and a database. Lead agency: Mankato State University.