​Stutsman County, North Dakota
Soil Conservation District
& 319 Watershed Projects
319 Watershed Projects and the
North Dakota Outdoor Heritage Fund
A Little Background information on 319 from the
North Dakota Department of Health
Mission
In North Dakota there is a Nonpoint Source Pollution Management Program through the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality whose mission is "to protect or restore the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the waters of the state by promoting locally sponsored, incentive based, voluntary programs where those waters are threatened or impaired due to nonpoint sources of pollution".
Administration
Section 319 of the Clean Water Act defines the scope of the NPS Pollution Management Program. In North Dakota, the Department of Health administers the program with input from the North Dakota NPS Pollution Task Force. The task force is comprised of representatives from state and federal natural resource agencies, commodity/producer groups, tribal councils, and private wildlife/natural resource organizations.
Funding
Annually, federal funds are appropriated by the United States Congress to the US Environmental Protection Agency for NPS pollution management. These "Section 319 Funds" are available to individual states based on an allocation formula. Section 319 funds in North Dakota are awarded to local projects through a competitive grant application process. Approved local projects receive 60% federal funds with a 40% local funding match requirement.
Targeted Funding
The funds awarded through the grant application process are aimed at addressing waterbodies impaired by NPS pollution or projects addressing a major NPS issue in the state. Given the size of the agricultural industry in North Dakota, a majority of the states' Section 319 funds have been directed toward locally sponsored projects promoting voluntary NPS pollution control on agricultural lands. These funds have generally been used to implement various information/education activities and/or provide the necessary financial and technical assistance to landowners implementing best management practices (BMPs) on their land.
Sponsors
The North Dakota NPS Pollution Management Program is a voluntary program directed toward local project sponsors which may include soil conservation districts, water resource boards, city councils, resource conservation and development councils, nonprofit organizations, and other natural resource-focused groups.
Current 319 Watershed Project
Jamestown Reservoir Watershed Project
The main goal of the Jamestown Reservoir watershed project is to minimize the occurrence of harmful algal blooms(HABs) and improve recreational opportunities in the Jamestown Reservoir by reducing the delivery of nutrients from the watershed immediately adjacent to the reservoir.
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The four sub-watershed highlighted in the picture to the left are our focus points. We are trying to implement practices that will capture the nutrients on the landscape and not allow them to run off. Doing this will protect the water bodies in the watershed and also save producers by not having to put as many nutrients down in the field. If anyone interested in the highlighted sub-watersheds or even in the bigger blacked outline should call or stop in to visit with Dustin.
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We are utilizing (PTM0App) to prioritize, target, and map, applications to target the areas we would like to implement Better Management Practices (BMPs). There are many types of practices we can use including nutrient management, no-till, cover crops, grass waterways, fencing, water, and rotational grazing to name a few. The practices are known for capturing phosphorus, nitrogen, and sediment and not allowing them to make it to the reservoir.
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Pipestone Watershed Assessment
​This assessment project focuses on the three Pipestem Creek watersheds in Stutsman County, identifying areas to focus on for future implementation work. The Pipestem Watershed Assessment aims to gather water quality data that can be used to plan for implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs), promoting water quality and soil health in the watershed, and minimizing the occurrence of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and improving recreational opportunities in Pipestem Reservoir.
Collect water quality samples from 4 stream sites and 1 lake site within the Pipestem Creek watershed to assess current water quality conditions in the watershed.
Spiritwood Lake Watershed Project
Spiritwood Lake Hypolimnetic Drawdown System
A hypolimnetic drawdown system was installed at Spiritwood Lake using the southeast outlet. A stop‑log structure from Agri Drain was placed at the outlet to regulate discharge elevations. Approximately 2,100 feet of pipe were laid across the lake, reaching a depth of 50 feet. A six‑foot protective intake cage was constructed at the terminal end of the pipe to prevent sediment intrusion and maintain system function.
Monitoring and Water Quality Assessment
The Stutsman County Soil Conservation District is currently conducting water‑quality sampling at the deepest point of the lake following installation of the drawdown system. This monitoring effort is focused on evaluating the system’s effectiveness in removing nutrient‑rich hypolimnetic water and tracking resulting changes in overall lake conditions.
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