Collaborative efforts improve water quality in Mississippi River watershed

A recent water quality project at Mississippi Shores in northeast Brainerd featured the restoration of green space to allow for better water drainage. Submitted photo

There are simple things that can be done to keep the waters in Crow Wing County healthy. Projects range from something as simple as filtering rain by planting native grasses and shrubs on the shoreline or making a rain garden to absorb rain, to projects that are more involved and utilize the skills and resources of different organizations or agencies.

As a part of the Mississippi River Brainerd Watershed, Crow Wing Soil and Water Conservation District provides programs that assist area residents as they seek ways to conserve and develop local soil, water, and related resources. The projects undertaken are as varied as the people who implement them.

A recent water quality project at Mississippi Shores, a northeast Brainerd neighborhood, is an example of the SWCD assisting with a local project. The neighborhood layout was designed with a circle drive amid four-plexes and single family homes. The area in the center of the circle was intended to be green space to capture runoff and drain the water, but it wasn’t working effectively.

“The runoff was designed improperly,” said Beth Hippert, project facilitator with Crow Wing SWCD, in a news release. “When the neighbors realized that the green space was anything but green, they contacted us for assistance.”

A contractor came onsite and cleaned it out and installed the right type of rock for proper drainage, but it remained an unsightly wet area.

“We talked to Beth Hippert at SWCD and told her we wanted to make it an attractive focal point in our neighborhood,” said Linda Schuster, resident of Mississippi Shores, in a news release. “Several people in our circle know about […]

Full article: Collaborative efforts improve water quality in Mississippi River watershed