Elm Creek Watershed (Upper Mississippi River Basin) Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy

Several streams and lakes within the Elm Creek Watershed are impaired for aquatic life use, aquatic recreation use and have high levels of E. coli bacteria. Agricultural runoff, stormwater runoff and stream bank erosion are having negative effects on the watershed's water quality. Agricultural and livestock activities and urban development in the watershed have resulted in runoff that carries excess phosphorus, sediment, and bacteria into bodies of water that degrades water quality and is harmful to aquatic life. The intent of this Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) report was to develop a scientifically-based restoration and protection strategy for the Elm Creek Watershed. This WRAPS summarizes past efforts to monitor water quality, identifies impaired water bodies and those in need of protection, and identifies strategies for restoring and protecting water quality in the watershed. The strategies included in this report target point and non-point sources of pollution and include installing buffers, stabilizing stream banks, reducing in-lake nutrients, improving stormwater management and livestock management to help improve water quality in the watershed.