Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program

Providing Technical Assistance in Implementation of the

Coastal Nonpoint Program (2008 – 2009)

R.C. Boheim
South St. Louis Soil & Water Conservation District

August 17, 2009

Project No. 310-07-08

Contract No. B16235

This project was funded in part under the Coastal Zone Management Act, by NOAA’s Office of
Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, in cooperation with Minnesota’s Lake Superior
Coastal Program.
Introduction
The South St. Louis SWCD requested $15,400 in Coastal Nonpoint Implementation funding.
This funding assisted us with the implementation of Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal
Nonpoint Pollution Control Program by providing engineering, educational, and technical
assistance throughout the Lake Superior Basin.

The grant provided funding for engineering and technical assistance in Carlton, Cook, Lake,
North St. Louis and South St. Louis SWCDs. It also provided for increased implementation of
the nonpoint programs in the South St. Louis SWCD.

Work Completed
Task 1 Proposed:

Provide private landowners with conservation engineering, forestry and other technical

assistance throughout the Lake Superior Basin and Coastal Boundary

This project will addressed the following priority management measures as identified in

Minnesota’s Coastal Nonpoint Program for the Lake Superior Watershed.

Task 1 Completed:

Engineering assistance was provided for 27 different projects. The project addressed the

following Coastal Program elements:

Category 5.3: Streambank and Shoreline Erosion, f) Eroding Streambanks and Shorelines, C)
Nonregulatory Approach, 1) Economic Incentives & 2) Information Technical Assistance
Category 3.1: Urban/Rural Runoff, a) & c) New Development & Site Development, C) Nonreglatory
approach, 2) Information Technical Assistance

Task 2 Proposed:
Implementing Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Nonpoint Program by providing public
information/educational activities throughout the Lake Superior Coastal Zone. Specific activities
will include:
Organize and hold one stormwater workshop or tour

Organize and hold at least two wetland and erosion and sediment control workshops for
contractors and local governments

Produce one newsletter and distribute via newspaper

Produce one mailing aimed directly at contractors - Contractor News

Task 2 Completed:
Organize and hold one stormwater workshop or tour

This was not done. This was not completed because as we have held these tours over the past
few years there has been less interest. More effort was directed towards providing technical
assistance

Organize and hold at least two wetland and erosion and sediment control workshops for
contractors and local governments

This was not done. More effort was directed towards providing technical assistance.
Produce one newsletter and distribute via newspaper

One newsletter was completed and distributed via the Duluth News Tribune Sunday paper and
Duluth Budgeteer in Mid-February. 64,000 copies were distributed.

Produce one mailing aimed directly at contractors - Contractor News

This was not done. More effort was directed towards providing technical assistance

Results
This project allowed shared engineering staff to provide assistance for 27 projects in the Coastal
Boundary and Lake Superior Basin.

Landowners/Projects assisted:
Carlton
Karp Pond Restoration
Roper
Oleson
Blackhoof Township

Cook
Lutsen Erosion Control
Uller Gully
GM Rain Gardens
Creechville Stormwater Pond assessment
Camp 20 Culvert
Lutsen Golf Course
Haney Streambank

Lake
Nelson
Soiseth
Upgard
Jacobsen
Walker
Silver Bay Ditch assessment
Two Harbors Golf Course
Two Harbors Landfill
Erickson's lakeshore

South St. Louis

22nd Ave. West
Amity Creek
Energy Plus
Lakeside Stormwater Project
Jumbo Gully
Irresistable Ink
Zenter
Results of outreach activities are difficult to measure, however it is anticipated that more
awareness will lead to more effective nonpoint source pollution control projects. The Spring
newsletter was distributed to 64, 000 household in the winter of 2009.

The SWCD believes that the results of this project were positive. Several people were provided
direct assistance and many more were provided some information about SWCD programs and
nonpoint sources pollution.

Leveraged Dollars
Coastal Nonpoint Program funds were used to enhance delivery of Nonpoint Source Pollution
Reduction Programming in Lake Superior’s Coastal Boundary and Lake Superior Basin. Many
other funding sources were leverage through the use of this funding:

State of Minnesota Nonpoint Polluation Assistance Program - $96,000

State Of Minnesota SWCD General Service Grant - $22,000
Private landowners implementing SWCD recommendations - Unknown

Conclusions
The project was effective sharing and utilizing shared technical services to deliver nonpoint
source pollution reduction technical assistance. The SWCD believes that the goals of the Coastal
Nonpoint Program will best be met through continued cooperation between Minnesota’s Lake
Superior Coastal Program and Soil & Water Conservation Districts.

Performance Indicators
Government Coordinator and Decision-Making
The project included the distribution of education material. 64,000 newsletters were distributed
to area households via the Duluth News Tribune and Duluth Budgeteer.