Root River Conservation Drainage Integrated Whole Farm Designs [Mower Soil and Water Conservation District]

This project aims to mitigate flow and nitrate impacts from agricultural drainage to the Root River through the installation of a suite of multi‐purpose drainage management practices. An existing partnership among agencies, land grant institutions, nongovernmental organizations, engineers, landowners and farm managers presented a unique opportunity to demonstrate and expand innovative conservation practices within the headwaters of the Root River Watershed near Grand Meadow, MN. This proposal increases filtration basin storage capacity, treats subsurface flow with managed drainage, and a woodchip bioreactor, and treats surface runoff with rock trench side inlets. Project partners will conduct outreach and evaluate the applicability of these practices throughout the area.