Martin Soil and Water Conservation District

923 N. State Street, Suite 170, Fairmont, MN  56031

(507) 235-6680
 

MARTIN COUNTY LOCAL WATER PLAN

2006-2016

WATER PLAN
 

Quality, cleaner, safer, and more abundant water are the goals of Martin Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and the State of Minnesota.  Martin County has plentiful water resources above what is typical for a southern Minnesota County.  We fully comprehend the imminent need to be better stewards of our resources and made it a priority to protect them to maintain and enhance the quality of life, productivity of agriculture, recreation and the business climate we now enjoy.

 

The Martin SWCD is a unit of government that provides land and water conservation services to owners of private lands.  Martin County is located in South Central Minnesota with Iowa bordering the county to the south.  The county had a population of 21,394 in 2002 which is currently in a declining trend.  Fairmont is the largest city within the county, and the county seat.  The land area is approximately 464,640 acres, with about 95% of that being in an intensive agricultural use.

 

Located within Martin County are 149 lakes over 10 acres in size with 53 of them being over 100 acres in size.  These lakes for the most part are very shallow, eutrophic lakes and can have severe algal blooms in the mid and late summer.  Many of the larger lakes, especially the chain of five lakes in the City of Fairmont, receive a lot of recreational use.

 

Martin County drains to four different minor watersheds that include:  the Blue Earth River, the Watonwan River (Minnesota River Basin), the East Fork of the Des Moines River and the West Fork of the Des Moines (Missouri River Basin) River watersheds.  In Martin County there are 17 waters, with 32 impairments, listed on the Pollution Control Agency Impaired Waters {303d} List proposed for 2006.  (See Appendix A) 

 

Recently, the Martin County Local Water Management Committee developed a Priority Concern Scoping Document in accordance with the changes to the Comprehensive Local Water Management Act; Statutes 103B.304-103B.355.  The list of identified priority concerns include:

  • Impaired Waters and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL):  Several water bodies are listed as impaired waters.  With additional monitoring of other water bodies we would probably find that the list of impaired waters in Martin County increase.

  • Drainage System Management:  There are over 200 public Drainage Systems that consist of about 189 miles of open ditches and thousands of more miles of underground tile.  While this drainage has made the land in Martin County some of the most productive farmland in the state, it also is a major component of the county’s water resources.  The age of some of these drainage systems and the continued addition of more drainage is causing problems in a lot of areas.

  • Promote the use of Best Management Practices (BMP’s):  This management tool is to protect and improve the water resources.  One area, in particular, that will be focused on is Nutrient Management.  We will promote methods that enhance conservation and environmental concerns by offering educational forums and financial incentives.  The BMP’s that will be discussed include both agricultural BMP’s and urban BMP’s.

  • Wetland Protection and Restoration:  Before settlement Martin County was a mosaic of wetlands and prairie.  Since then the county has been extensively drained to allow for farming.  While this drainage has enabled us to farm some of the most productive soils in the world it has also removed over 90% of the wetlands from our landscape.  It is imperative that we protect the wetlands that remain and promote the restoration of wetlands in the appropriate places.

  • Water Quality in Area Lakes:  We have a substantial number of lakes and the City of Fairmont has a chain of five lakes within its city limits.  One of those lakes is the source of the City’s drinking water and they are all used regularly for recreational purposes. 

  • Promote Low Impact Development in Impaired Watersheds:  Some of the JOBZ are located in watersheds that are currently listed as impaired waters.  These waters being listed could have an adverse impact on any businesses that may wish to develop in these areas.
 
For more information:  contact Rich Perrine at (507) 236-6680 or email:   richard.perrine@mn.nacdnet.net. 
 

To view the Martin County Water Plan in its entirety please click here.
 

HOME
 

All contents are the property of Martin SWCD. The District's goal is to provide quality and accurate information. All information within this site is subject to change and should only serve as a guideline for the District's services and procedures. For the most current and accurate information, please contact the District at (507) 235-6680.