After an intense drought in 1977, Minnesota began the process of developing Comprehensive Local Water Management Plans, which were required for all counties by 1985. These plans were drafted for each county, but if you think about it, water does not follow county lines. In the 2010s, the state shifted focus to the One Watershed, One Plan approach. The vision for this approach is to align the local water planning on major watershed boundaries with the state strategies towards prioritized, targeted, and measurable implementation plans. With this approach, Rice County is part of three management plans for the watersheds of the Cannon River, Zumbro River, and Lower Minnesota River.
The first of the plans approved for Rice County was the Cannon River Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan in 2020. The Cannon River Watershed encompasses a large portion of Rice County, and the watershed has many lakes and streams within its boundaries. Some of the main priorities for the watershed include protection and impaired lakes, impaired streams, drinking water protection, soil health, flooding of communities, and education. Some activities that have been completed are: SSTS inventory, well sealings, native plants workshop, field erosion structures, and cover crops. To find out more information on the Cannon River Watershed plan and who to contract, the website for the watershed is www.cannonriverwatershedmn.gov.
The very southeast part of the county is covered by the Greater Zumbro River Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan. The plan was approved in 2021, and the goals of the plan are to address water quality and quantity, groundwater, drinking water, habitat, recreation, and other issues. Projects that have been completed so far include: Ag Waste storage, cover crops, erosion structures, well sealings, well testing, and education. To find out more information on the Greater Zumbro River Watershed, the website can be found at https://storymaps.arcgis.com/collections/e1099a1b459a4fb1a5dd5a2cf7d133da.
The last plan for the county that was approved in 2024 was the Lower Minnesota River East Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan. This watershed covers the very northwest part of Rice County, and the goals of the plan are to protect water resources, education and outreach, and to assist with statewide programs. Current activities that are being implemented are erosion control structures, urban stormwater management practices, shoreline protection, well sealings, well screening clinics, and education and outreach for smart salting and stormwater ordinances. Information on this plan can be found at https://www.lowermnrivereast.org/.
Since each watershed is unique, each plan is unique and has different resource concerns and activities identified. The Rice SWCD office can help you identify what watershed you are in and what opportunities may be available for you based off your concern for your land and what you are trying to achieve. Activities being completed are also changing, and priorities are being reevaluated as progress is being made in the watershed. For more information, feel free to contact our office at 507-332-5408.
