Environmental Stewardship
Minnesota Co-op Takes on Erosion
A Minnesota electric cooperative is helping keep the Des Moines River clean by using a grant from a state clean water fund to control stormwater drain-off coming from its property.
Before: A Minnesota co-op won a grant to address severe erosion on its property caused by stormwater runoff. (Photo By: Andrea Christoffer)
Federated Rural Electric, Jackson, received more than $25,000 to build an underground system that will collect rain and control runoff coming from the co-op’s warehouse, office and parking lot.
“The outcome will be a significant decrease in sediment and energy in the discharge water, eliminating active gully erosion that was occurring in two areas,” said Andrea Christoffer, marketing and communications manager at Federated Rural Electric. “This will provide stormwater storage and slow down stormwater discharge to the Des Moines River.”
The runoff had resulted in a significant erosion problem that “looked nasty,” said Christoffer, and created a gully, 3 feet wide, 2 feet deep, and nearly 4 feet long. And it was getting worse.
“Anytime you have scouring or active erosion, the material travels somewhere,” said Chris Bauer, a district technician at the Jackson County Soil and Water Conservation District, which helped the co-op apply for the grant.
“I wouldn’t say [the erosion was] ‘dirtying up’ the Des Moines River. But the eroded material eventually makes its way into our waterways.”
Completed late last month, the underground system acts as a conduit that prevents runoff from mixing with gravel in the co-op’s pole yard—runoff that eventually heads into the river after heavy spells of rain.
After: The grant paid for an underground system to control drain-off. (Photo By: Andrea Christoffer)
The Jackson district praised the co-op’s “forward thinking” on the project. “They saw a problem and have been proactive in resolving a water-quality issue,” said Brian Nyborg, district manager at the Jackson County district. “The project will serve as a great example for others. We all have a stake in clean water.”
Two other public agencies, in addition to the Jackson County district, submitted a joint application on the co-op’s behalf to Minnesota’s Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, which set up a clean water fund paid for by a voter-approved sales tax increase. The co-op also provided 25 percent in matching funds.