WATERSHED RESTORATION & PROTECTION (WRAP)
- THIEF RIVER WATERSHED
WRAP INFORMATION:
- Sub-navigation
- Project Introduction
- Schedule
- Public Participation
- MPCA Contacts
- Technical Advisory Committee
THIEF RIVER WRAP:
- Project Description & Objective
The Thief River Watershed Restoration and Protection (WRAP)project is a watershed wide assessment of the water quality, biotic integrity (fish, aquatic macro-invertebrates), and stream channel stability in the Thief River and its tributaries. The primary goals of the project are the completion of a watershed-based Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) report (restoration plan) and a Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) report (restoration and protection for all waters within the watershed). There are several objectives (biological monitoring, stream channel stability assessments and civic engagement) that take this project beyond a typical TMDL study. Civic engagement is an enhanced version of stakeholder involvement that is being incorporated into WRAP projects throughout the state. The Thief River WRAPS and TMDL Reports have been completed and approved. They are both available, along with other reports, on the MPCA's Thief River Watershed website.
Previous water quality studies in the Thief River Watershed have already led to stream bank stabilization, grade stabilization, and best management practice (BMP) implementation projects. This project will broaden our knowledge of the watershed and the completion of official TMDLs will open doors to additional funding sources for water quality improvement projects. See MPCA's Watershed Approach to Restoring and Protecting Water Quality
Thief River Watershed Restoration and Protection Project Documents
- Thief River Watershed Monitoring & Assessment Report
- 2015 Thief River Watershed Fluvial Geomorphology Report
- Thief River Watershed Total Maximum Daily Load Report (currently in draft status and ready for an EPA review)
- Thief River Watershed Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies Report (currently in draft status and ready for public comment)
Thanks to the Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has been able to provide the Red Lake Watershed District and other organizations with funding for watershed restoration and protection (WRAP) projects. The Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment has also recently funded the collection of additional data to guide assessment, restoration, and protection efforts through the surface water assessment grant (SWAG) for water quality monitoring projects. See MPCA's Watershed Approach to Restoring and Protecting Water Quality.