UPPER TREMPEALEAU RIVER
WATERSHED
PROJECT
What is a Watershed?
Water from rainfall or snowmelt that doesn’t evaporate or soak into the soil runs into ditches, streams, wetlands or lakes. The land area where the water drains from is a watershed.
What is the Upper Trempealeau River NR-120 Watershed Project?
The Upper Trempealeau River NR-120 Watershed Project is a local effort to protect and improve streams, lakes, and groundwater in the Upper Trempealeau River Watershed. (Map shown below)
The main goal of the watershed project is to reduce non-point source pollution, which consists of soil erosion from croplands, stream bank erosion, and run-off from barnyards. Improving water quality, reducing sedimentation, and decreasing the bacteria level in the river are additional goals.
The Upper Trempealeau River Watershed is:
Locally run by the Jackson and Trempealeau County Land Conservation Departments.
Targeting “non-point sources” of water pollution - the soil, fertilizer, manure, etc., that wash off our farms and towns every time it rains or the snow melts.
70% state funded, 30% locally funded.
Designed to provide landowners with technical, educational, and financial assistance to put water quality protection practices on their land; i.e. barnyard runoff control systems, grassed waterways.
Voluntary. Landowners are encouraged, but are not required, to participate.
The Upper Trempealeau River NR-120 Watershed Project which includes both Trempealeau & Jackson Counties; covers 101,739 acres. 9,502 of these acres lie in Trempealeau County. The cities which are included in the Upper Trempealeau River Watershed are Blair, Taylor and Hixton. The watershed is bordered by the Middle Trempealeau River Watershed, and also the Pigeon Creek Watershed. The project area includes Lake Henry and ends at the dam along the Trempealeau River.
The Watershed began on October 6, 1994. Sign-up ends December 31, 2003. The Watershed officially ends December 31, 2005.
Since this Watershed was established in 1994 the following accomplishments have been completed year ending 1999.
| Contacts………………........50 |
Manure Storage Structures..................................3 |
| Contracts................................11 | Grassed Waterway........3.33 Acres |
| Contract Revision......................22 |
Streambank Slope & Seed….................1,506 Feet |
| Conservation Plans.....................3,497.6 Acres |
Streambank Protection…...........43,700 Feet |
| Nutrient Management Plans…...................1,256.7 Acres |
Critical Area Stabilization…….....1.0 Acres |
| Riprap..........................1,135 Feet | Diversions.......……615 Feet |
| Trout Structures.....................................2 |
Limited Grazing Plans…….......….181.4 Acres |
| Stream Crossings……………...….…….1 |
Watering Ramp.....................................1 |
| Barnyard
Runoff Control Systems......…........…..10 |
Nutrient Management Plans…............1,256.7 Acres |
As of December 1999, $324,391.01 in cost share funding assistance has been allocated and spent on the Upper Trempealeau River NR-120 Watershed Project.