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Interlakes Water Quality Committee Proposes Forming

A Water Project District

For the past two years the Interlakes Water Quality Committee has conducted a monitoring program of the quality Brant, Herman and Madison and neighboring lakes. The Committee was formed by members of the Madison and Brant Lakes Development Associations as well as lake area residents interested in improving the quality of the regions lakes. Financial support has been provided by the two associations, City of Madison, Lake County as well as contributions from private individuals.

The committee developed a monitoring program to assess sediment, coliform bacteria (to include E. coli, an indicator of animal pollution) and nutrient loads within these lakes. The committee has contracted Dakota State University to conduct the bacterial and chemical analyses as well as East Dakota Water Development District’s Water Watch Program. These studies have indicated the major factors which lead to the poor quality of these bodies of water. For example the high levels of phosphorus entering the lakes are no doubt the cause for the algal bloom that occurs during the summer months. The committee efforts are ultimately aimed at implementation of management practices on the watershed to address these problems.

Owning to the expanse of the necessary multi-year implementation program the committee has developed a strategy to address the long term quality of Brant and Madison Lakes. The Board of Directors of the Lake Brant and Lake Madison Development Associations have endorsed the formation of a Water Project District. The proposed district would provide lake residents with a governmental structure through which to raise money and implement projects to preserve and enhance water quality in the lakes included in the district and the lakes’ watersheds. The proposed district would be governed by an elected board of directors and would roughly include the areas comprised in the current Lake Brant and Lake Madison Sanitary Sewer Districts. There are successful water project districts operating within the state for the purpose improving lake water quality. Current water project districts include Lake Kampeska, Lake Pelican and Lake Poinsett as well as several river based projects. (See related article “Defining a Water Project District” below)

The committee will be circulating petitions to the residents in the defined areas as the first step in the developmental process. Following a successful petition drive the County Auditor will hold meetings and conduct elections. Final approval will be required by the State Water Board.

In an effort to explain the rational in forming a Water Project District the committee will conduct an informational meeting open all residents of Lake County on August 5, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in the Science Auditorium on the campus of Dakota State University.

Defining a Water Project District

State governments, including South Dakota, have provided laws to create special purpose governmental districts to address specific needs. Examples of such special purpose districts are: school districts; fire protection districts, rural ambulance districts, sanitary sewer districts road districts, irrigation districts, water user districts, watershed districts and water project districts.

Special purpose districts have three common components:

• They all have elected governance;
• They all have specific legal powers to carry out their purposes; and
• They all have the power to levy taxes, receive grants and borrow money for funding their projects.

Water Project Districts

In 1984, the State of South Dakota authorized the formation of water project districts with the following legislative findings:

“Conservation, management and development of the state’s water resources are vital to the public’s interest, welfare, convenience, and necessity and require, in some circumstances, the creation of water project districts for the purpose of sponsoring and implementing water projects for the conservation, storage, distribution, and utilization of water and for the prudent management of water resources.”

The proposed district would provide lake residents with a number of benefits:

• Allow for the creation of a comprehensive watershed surface water management plan.
• Be a legal government structure through which to raise money, apply for grants and implement projects to preserve and enhance water quality in the lakes.
• Provide lake residents with a voice and point for citizen input in water quality policy.
• Projects are planned and carried out by elected representatives from the district.
• Costs are shared by all who benefit from efforts to improve water quality.

The types of projects or work the district might undertake.

• Reducing sedimentation and runoff of nutrients into the lakes and the streams and tributaries within the district and its watershed.
• Constructing grass waterways, restoring stream banks and creating filter strips around the lakes and the streams and tributaries entering the lakes in order to control erosion and runoff that degrades water quality.
• Repairing and constructing small dams, dikes, culverts or other projects to manage water flow and reduce sedimentation and runoff.
• Reducing storm water runoff that contributes to sedimentation and water pollution.
• Monitoring water quality in the lakes, streams and tributaries in the district and its watershed.
• Reducing the level of E. coli and coliform bacteria to levels safe for recreational use of the waters in the district.
• Conducting activities to educate the public on ways to improve water quality in the lakes and streams.

For more detailed information on the proposed water project district click here.

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