Snake River Watershed Project in Milaca
Local dairy farmers Todd Hoffman and Kent Hoffman, owners of Hoffman Dairy in
Milaca, have recently completed a major water quality improvement project with
help from the Snake River Watershed Management Board. Hoffman Dairy is located
in the Snake River Watershed which made them eligible for funds to help them
construct a large manure stacking slab and vegetated buffer.
The Snake River carries high sediment and phosphorus loads
during the growing season from rainfall driven polluted runoff that occurs
throughout most of the watershed. The stacking slab that Hoffman Dairy built
prevents nutrient laden runoff from running into the already overloaded Snake
River. The slab diverts any runoff to a vegetated buffer that will slow down,
filter and absorb the polluted runoff. 
The Snake River Watershed Management Board was able to
contribute about 32% of the cost of this project but for a limited time,
eligible projects can receive up to 90% cost-share on qualifying projects.
The SRWMB is a four county, non-regulatory joint powers
organization whose purpose is to develop and implement water quality improvement
projects in the Snake River Watershed. Funding is available to local landowners
to restore shorelands, plant vegetated buffers, install rain gardens, upgrade
septic systems, control erosion and install Ag waste management systems.
Local Soil and Water Conservation Districts provide the
assistance necessary to landowners implementing projects. SWCDs in turn, tap
the vast resources of other professional conservation organizations. For
example, the Natural Resources Conservation Service partnered on the Hoffman
Dairy project and provided funding as well a professionally engineered design
and project leadership. Additional landowner assistance is available from Snake
River Native Vegetation Restoration Specialist, Nick Solomon who is available to
design and install rain gardens, shoreline
restorations and buffers. The overall goal of all involved agencies is to help
landowners improve and maintain water quality in the Snake River Watershed.
If you need more information or are interested in
implementing a water quality project in the Snake River Watershed, please
contact Teresa Bearce, SRWMB Coordinator @ 320-679-6456 or Lynn Carter, Mille
Lacs SWCD @ 320-983-2160.
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