Blue Earth County Soil and Water Conservation District Homepage

Tuesday, May 13th 2008



Cobb clean-up Landowners in the Cobb River watershed can get 75 percent of a environmental project paid for thanks to a new program. "We want to put some best-management practices in the watershed to help clean up the Cobb River," said Tom Gile with the Blue Earth County Soil and Water Conservation District. Projects could include things such as grass buffer strips, grass waterways to cut erosion in fields, buffers around open-field tile intakes, wetland restorations or improvements to animal feedlots. The program grew out of the Greater Blue Earth River Basin Alliance, which applied for a grant through the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. About $200,000 will be available for projects in the 195,000-acre watershed. The Cobb is listed as an impaired waterway and is the top pollutant contributor to the Le Sueur River, which eventually empties to the Minnesota River. Gile said the program will provide 75 percent of a project's cost with a limit of $25,000 per project. Interested landowners should apply for the grants by Sept. 31 and can contact their county SWCD office and tell them they're interested in the Cobb River program or contact Gile at 345-1051, Ext.117, or thomas.gile@mn.nacdnet.net. People who apply do not automatically qualify. They will get a site visit from program staff who will prioritize the various proposals. Counties and townships in the watershed include: Blue Earth County: Beauford, Decoria, Danville, Lyra, Mapleton, Medo and Rapidan townships. Waseca County: Byron, Vivian, Freedom and Wilton townships. Freeborn County: Freeborn, Carlston, Hartland and Manchester townships. Faribault County: Minnesota Lake and Dunbar townships. "The Cobb has very high sediment loads and pollutants in the river. We hope this will help clean it up," Gile said. Source: Tim Krohn, The Free Press

Any Questions or Comments please contact: Thomas Gile, Big Cobb Technician Contact Information 507-345-1051 Email: thomas.gile@mn.nacdnet.net