Spring 2024 Newsletter
Navigating Drainage + Water Quality
Welcome to Rural Waters, ISG's e-newsletter dedicated to supporting rural drainage, lakes, streams, rivers, agriculture, and the environment.
With a balanced approach, ISG designs surface water systems that use current technology, mitigating flood damage and maintenance costs while enhancing yields, efficiencies, and water quality, delivering multi-benefit solutions.
RURAL DRAINAGE STUDIES
Martin County Ditch 28 Drainage Systems + Water Quality Improvement | Martin County, MN
ISG has served as Martin County's trusted drainage engineer for over two decades. In response to landowners' requests, ISG assessed the feasibility of opportunities and anticipated challenges of improving the Martin CD 28 drainage system. Stakeholders stressed the importance of integrating water quality elements into the project due to concerns about elevated nitrate levels in drinking water and harmful algal blooms in Amber Lake, part of the Fairmont Chain of Lakes. ISG helped to secure $880,000 in Clean Water Funds and designed a nutrient treatment train to reduce nitrate and phosphorus levels and mitigate sediment runoff.
Learn more about this innovative treatment train approach and how stacking projects translates to cost savings for landowners.
Benefits of Right-Sized Rural Drainage Systems During Flood Events | Southern MN
A significant rainfall event hit southern Minnesota in May 2023, recording over 10 inches of rain within four days in some areas. Using real-time drone footage, National Agricultural Drainage Expert, Chuck Brandel, PE, demonstrates the benefits of a rightsized agricultural drainage systems to protect crop production and the environment.
ISSUES FACING RURAL DRAINAGE
Designing Drainage to Protect Outlets
Rural drainage in Minnesota is under scrutiny, with many groups increasingly involved in examining drainage improvement projects across the state. Governed by Minnesota Statute 103E, Minnesota's drainage efforts now incorporate environmental considerations for different types of drainage projects, such as system upgrades, lateral enhancements, and the installation of new systems and laterals. One key aspect of these considerations involves assessing the adequacy of drainage outlets, a topic that has sparked considerable debate and discussion.
ISG maintains a longstanding policy of aligning drainage improvements with outlet conditions. Over years of collaboration with state agency staff, ISG has developed a comprehensive set of practices to ensure drainage projects meet the needs of sustainable farming, while protecting outlets into Minnesota's lakes, streams, and rivers—including the Minnesota River. These implementation strategies include a range of best management practices (BMPs) such as storage ponds, nutrient treatment wetlands, wetland restorations, in-channel storage, two-stage ditch design, alternative side inlets, and water quality inlets, among others. By taking a systemwide approach, these projects can effectively address the requirements outlined in Statute 103E while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
DRAINAGE INNOVATION
Drainage Water Recycling: Multi-Purpose Benefits to Producers and the Land
Unlocking agricultural potential in unpredictable weather patterns takes innovative water management. ISG and partners are designing and implementing drainage water recycling across Iowa, storing excess water for irrigation to boost crop yields and improve water quality. Civil Engineer, Spencer Pech, PE, discusses this emerging practice and its benefits to the agriculture industry.
LET'S CONNECT: UPCOMING CONFERENCES
The Future of Southern Minnesota Lakes 2024 Conference | Saturday, April 13, 2024
Registration is still open for the second annual Future of Southern Minnesota Lakes Conference. This event brings together local voices and technical experts who are actively involved in discovering and implementing practical solutions to enhance the health of Minnesota lakes.
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Agricultural Drainage + Future of Water Quality 2024 Spring Field Tour | Thursday, May 30, 2024
The Spring Field Tour is an extension of ISG’s annual Agricultural Drainage + Future of Water Quality Workshop. This year, we will visit projects that have been recently constructed. All projects are associated with a public drainage project and will highlight BMPs, including a wetland restoration, the world's largest bioreactor, two 2-stage ditches, and a nutrient treatment wetland. The tour bus will pick everyone up at the Golden Bubble in Wells, Minnesota, and visit each site. Attendees are welcome to join us for a social hour following the field tour.
FUNDING + GRANT UPDATES
ISG's funding specialists excel in securing grants, having obtained over $21.3 million in public and private funding across the Midwest. Our connections with local, state, and federal agencies ensure swift, tailored grant applications that meet criteria and boost acceptance rates. Continuously updated on federal and state funding, our team navigates evolving programs, guiding clients toward optimal opportunities. With a focus on legislative awareness, we maximize funding, leveraging every available dollar for impactful projects.
Check here for upcoming funding opportunities, success stories, and resources on navigating the complexities of grant applications for your drainage and water quality initiatives.
Minnesota Grant Focus
Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) | Water Quality Grants Multi-Purpose Drainage Management
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MnDNR) | Habitat Grants Conservation Partners Legacy
Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council (LSOHC) - Outdoor Heritage Fund
ISG HAPPENINGS
In November 2023, Chuck Brandel, PE, assumed a new role as ISG's National Agricultural Drainage Expert, leveraging his watershed management expertise with a focus on building new client relationships across the country.
Water Business Unit Leader, Julie Blackburn, CFM, sat down with Chuck to discuss how this change is positively impacting ISG's leadership in rural drainage:
This is a new role within ISG. How did this position evolve and why now?
In 2022, I attended the International Drainage Symposium as a speaker and was part of a panel discussion to open the conference. During and after that conference it became apparent that ISG is a leader in agricultural drainage and water quality practices in the United States and beyond. This led to discussion that this position is a natural progression for me to continue to grow our presence in and out of the Midwest. Other factors included my ongoing leadership as the Chair of the Policy Committee for the nationwide Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition and ISG becoming a go-to drainage engineering expert for many universities.
Rural drainage is facing significant issues due to climate changes. Now is the time we need to look at alternative solutions to balance agricultural production, the systems needed to maintain that production, and protection of our nation's natural water resources while maintaining our food chain.
You bring over two decades of experience in agricultural drainage and water quality practices. How does this combined perspective better support our clients?
ISG has been the leader in designing and implementing water quality features related to agricultural drainage. We've had clients allow us to try things that worked and failed. Throughout this, we have a unique perspective of sitting in the farmer's seat as they plant, while making sure we account for and try to control changes to our downstream waters through BMPs that work and are cost-effective.
How do you see this new role aligning with the overall goals and objectives of the Water Business Unit?
A primary goal of ISG’s Water Business Unit includes expanding beyond our current reach in Minnesota and Iowa to be recognized as a national market leader in agricultural drainage and water quality. By taking this national approach, we can share our knowledge with other high producing agricultural areas and build alliances with leading research institutions.
There is a growing recognition of the need to balance the benefits of drainage for crop production with potential environmental impacts. What is your message to landowners, districts, and environmental groups on the path forward?
Currently, our laws demand that the producers pay for anything that affects drainage projects. Water quality benefits are typically not experienced by the producer but by those downstream. We need to take a broader perspective of how to practically fund practices, so we create better designs for drainage systems while protecting and enhancing our public waters. If we can find the balance to cost-share these practices, all of us will benefit from increased food production for our growing population and cleaner waters for people and the environment.