Water quality has become a major priority for the Morton County SCD. Our goal is to protect all waterbodies in the county from nutrient and sediment runoff, as well as other pollutants. To achieve this goal, we have hired a Watershed Coordinator to help producers stay in compliance with local, state and national clean water laws.
319 Big Muddy Watershed Project
The Morton County 319 Big Muddy Watershed Project is a grant funded program designed to provide technical, financial, and educational assistance to agriculture producers and other landowners within select watersheds. The goal of the project is to improve the water quality and restore the riparian habitat of these watersheds by implementing best management practices (BMPs). Please see the “319 Grant” article below for more information.
The map above depicts the watershed area under the project. The numbered sites are the current sample sites that the Watershed Coordinator samples 6 times monthly, May through September. The state lab processes the testing of these samples and results are provided to the ND Department of Environmental Quality.
The project sponsors intend to:
- Provide technical and financial assistance to lands that have the most impact on water quality.
- Track water quality trends over the life of the project to rectify any concerns as they surface.
- Develop educational programs to heighten public awareness of non-point source pollution concerns and solutions, and
- Develop working partnerships in the local community to benefit natural resources.
319 Grant
EPA 319/ND Department of Environmental Quality Grant
Morton County 319 Big Muddy Watershed Project
The Morton County 319 Big Muddy Watershed Project provides technical, financial and educational assistance to agriculture producers and landowners within the watershed.
The goal of the project is to improve water quality of the Big Muddy Creek along with its tributaries. This is achieved through the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) by producers and landowners.
Some of the eligible BMP’s are: Pasture/Hay land Plantings, Permitted Feedlots, Partial Manure Management, Cover Crops, Water Developments and Cross-Fencing. Through the Morton County 319 Big Muddy Watershed Project, producers and landowners will be provided 60% in cost-share dollars for BMPs to the maximum allowed amount per practice.
Involvement in the program is completely voluntary. There is funding available through the program for producers and landowners, with total funding available to the project being replenished annually. Those producers and landowners in the high priority areas of the watershed will be first to receive cost-share assistance.
If you are a producer or landowner in this area and have any questions or would be interested in participating in this project, you can call the Watershed Coordinator of Morton County SCD at 701-667-1163 Ext. #3.
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) is the amount of a particular pollutant that a particular stream, lake, estuary or other waterbody can “handle” without violating state water quality standards.
Once a TMDL is established, responsibility for reducing pollution among both point sources (pipes) and diffuse sources is assigned. Diffuse sources include, but are not limited to, runoff (urban, agricultural, forestry, etc.) leaking underground storage tanks, unconfined aquifers, septic systems, stream channel alteration and damage to a riparian area.
TMDL’s completed in Morton County include:
- Crown Butte Dam
- Sweet Briar Dam
A water quality assessment has been completed for:
- Otter Creek/Harmon Lake
Currently, the Morton County SCD is monitoring:
- Big Muddy, Hailstone Creek Watershed and Danzig Dam