This agreement provides support to the state of north dakota to implement its nonpoint source management program, focusing on watersheds with water quality impairments caused by polluted runoff from…

This $6,778,334 Formula Grant award from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 8, provided under the Nonpoint Source Implementation Grants program (CFDA 66.460), supports the State of North Dakota's efforts to address water quality impairments caused by nonpoint source pollution.

The grant funds a variety of projects and activities, including agricultural best management practices, watershed planning, water quality monitoring, technology demonstrations, and education/outreach programs. Key focus areas include reducing total suspended solids and bacteria in the Big Muddy Creek watershed, restoring recreational uses in the Knife River tributaries, implementing livestock pollution prevention measures statewide, and expanding a rancher mentoring program to improve land management practices and water quality. Several sub-awards were made to state agencies, universities, soil conservation districts, and non-profit organizations to collaborate on these initiatives across North Dakota.

Description

This agreement provides support to the state of north dakota to implement its nonpoint source management program, focusing on watersheds with water quality impairments caused by polluted runoff from nonpoint sources. Nonpoint source implementation projects include a variety of structural and non-structural best management practices (bmps), watershed planning, monitoring, technology demonstrations, and a variety of education/outreach programs.activities:the proposed work in this agreement includes: 8 projects that will support ND's nonpoint source goals including agricultural bmps, outreach and education, farmer mentor programs and other nutrient reduction efforts and coordination with other partner agencies in targeted watersheds.subrecipient:subawards: 1) big muddy watershed project: the primary goal is to improve aquatic life and recreational uses of the big muddy creek in morton county (10-digit hucs 1013020304 and 1013020303). This will be accomplished by promoting and implementing BMP that are effective at reducing in-stream concentrations of total suspended solid (TSS) and e. Coli bacteria. The bmps have varied in scope and objective with most relating to converting cropland to perennial grass cover, water developments, grazing infrastructure, and rotational grazing systems. A secondary goal is to also reduce mean annual nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations at storet site 385078 2)knife river - nine townships watershed: the primary goal of the project is to restore and maintain the recreational uses of the knife river tributaries within the project area (HUC 1013020106 and 1013020107). As a secondary goal, the project will also benefit recreational uses in the mainstream of the knife river downstream from the project. The project goal will be accomplished by reducing e. Coli bacteria concentrations to state standard levels in the knife river tributaries and indirectly, the knife river. Livestock grazing management practices that utilize infrastructure and timely rotations should be promoted and installed to improve and maintain a robust and diverse vegetative community along the riparian corridors and in the upland pastures. Additionally, concentrated winter-feeding areas along the creeks should be identified and addressed by implementing on-site manure management systems or winterfeeding rotations that prevent manure accumulations and access to riparian corridors. 3) improving water quality with rancher mentoring and outreach - phase III*: the primary goal of this project is to improve water quality, soil health and conserving natural resources by enhancing land management practices through peer-to-peer mentoring and complementary programming. Drawing from an existing multi-generational pool of ranchers, including many young couples and families who have agreed to participate in the mentoring program, the ndglc mentoring network has the capacity to reach existing ranchers, new and start-up ranchers, and women/minority ranchers desiring to conserve and protect north dakota's natural resources, including water quality. Subsequently bmps will be implemented statewide to support nonpoint source pollution management efforts. 4) livestock pollution prevention program - phase x: the goal of the program is to deliver a statewide program that will reduce water quality impairments associated with concentrated livestock feeding areas. This will be accomplished by assisting livestock producers to design and install manure management systems. Some of the practices to be installed include diversions, dikes, fencing, holding ponds, vegetative buffers, and settling basins. 5) stockmen's environmental services program - phase VIII: the goal of the program is to deliver a statewide program that will reduce water quality impairments associated with concentrated livestock feeding areas. This will be accomplished by assisting livestock producers to design an