Aitkin, Cass, Carlton and Itasca counties request comments on the proposed Upper Mississippi-Grand Rapids Comprehensive Watershed Plan

The Itasca Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and planning partners request public comment on the proposed Upper Mississippi-Grand Rapids Comprehensive Watershed Plan.

To view the Plan, visit https://itascaswcd.org/programs/1w1p.

Written comments will be accepted until Sept. 24 at 4:30 p.m. Comments can be submitted to Itasca SWCD for all Upper Mississippi-Grand Rapids Watershed residents in Aitkin, Cass, Carlton, Itasca, and St. Louis counties.

E-mail comments to matt.gutzmann@ItascaSWCD.org or mail to Itasca SWCD, ATTN: Comments, PO Box 990, Grand Rapids, MN 55744.

After nearly two years of collaborative planning, the comprehensive watershed management plan is nearly complete. This watershed plan aligns water planning along watershed boundaries and enhances existing county water plans. It sets goals and actions for the next 10 years to help prioritize and fund projects with the purpose of maintaining and improving water quality in this area.

Facts about the Upper Mississippi – Grand Rapids Watershed:

• Covers more than 1.3 million acres of land.

• Over 625 lakes and 2,000 miles of streams connect the watershed.

• Primary communities include Grand Rapids, Cromwell, McGregor, Remer and portions of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Reservation.

• Parts of Aitkin, Carlton, Cass, Itasca, and St. Louis Counties.

This voluntary program is administered through the Board of Water and Soil Resources. Aitkin, Carlton, Cass and Itasca Counties, Aitkin, Carlton, Cass and Itasca County SWCDs teamed up to develop this plan. A voluntary technical advisory committee helped develop the Plan.

Partners will complete plan action items that are measurable and trackable to improve and protect soil and water in this area.

For more information on the plan and map of the watershed, visit https://itascaswcd.org/programs/1w1p. Contact Itasca SWCD at (218) 999-4435 or matt.gutzmann@ItascaSWCD.org

Program funded through the Board of Water Soil Resources One Watershed One Plan and the Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment.