Nemadji set for a water plan

Carlton County, Pine County, the Carlton Soil and Water Conservation District and the Pine County Soil & Water Conservation District have announced plans to develop a comprehensive watershed management plan for the Nemadji Watershed. The planning process known as One Watershed, One Plan — or 1W1P — aligns local water planning based on major watershed boundaries. The goal is to develop local strategies that are prioritized, targeted and measurable.

As part of the planning effort, a watershed tour and open house will be held Friday, July 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., starting and ending at the Historic Scott House, 1321 County Road 4 in Carlton. Refreshments and lunch will be provided using ingredients sourced from the watershed.

“One of the great things about the Nemadji Watershed is how much food is grown here,” explained Melanie Bomier of the Carlton Soil and Water Conservation District. “Between the many community-supported agriculture farms, beef and pork producers, the Nemadji plays an important role in feeding the region.”

A watershed is defined as an area of land where all the water drains to the same place. The Nemadji Watershed flows northeast from its headwaters in Minnesota to Lake Superior in Superior, Wis. It covers the southeastern portion of Carlton County and the northeastern portion of Pine County.

Residents and those who recreate within the watershed are invited to take the tour to learn more about the Nemadji Watershed and the 1W1P process, and to have an opportunity to provide input on the priorities and concerns within the watershed. Space for the bus tour is limited, so those wishing to attend should call Carlton district office (218-384-3891). Those wishing to attend only the open house lunch starting at 1 p.m. are also asked to RSVP.

The 1W1P program was developed during the Local Government Water Roundtable in 2011, which recommended local governments that were already charged with the water management responsibility develop water plans based on a watershed scale.

For more information, visit the planning website at https://carltonswcd.org/nemadji-1w1p.