City official says progress advancing in Firesteel watershed, mayor announces formation of committee

Mar. 4—MITCHELL — Progress is being made in the Firesteel watershed.

That was the message city officials were echoing to the Mitchell City Council on Monday night during an in depth update on the projects taking place in the 350,000-acre watershed that unloads phosphorus and sediment into Lake Mitchell.

Public Works Director Joe Schroeder said three wetland projects have been completed in the watershed, which cover a combined 150 acres of land. A 101-acre wetland restoration project north of Plankinton is also in the development stages, Schroeder added.

"Currently in development, we have 436 acres for restoration and 730 acres for easements," Schroeder said.

The list of projects in the watershed are being funded through the $1 million North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant the city secured several years ago.

Steve Donovan, a wildlife biologist, was tabbed to administer the grant funds. Donovan has been tasked with forming agreements with landowners and producers in the Firesteel watershed to allow wetland projects and other runoff reduction methods to take shape on their land.

Donovan was not in attendance during Monday's council meeting. In October, Donovan said progress in administering the grant funds had been slower than he hoped and placed blame on volatile crop prices.

The local grain market has declined significantly since October, when corn was getting $4.58 per bushel and soybeans were at $12.05. At the end of last week, corn was at $3.74 and beans at $10.57 per bushel. The drop may have led producers to look elsewhere such as incentives in conservation practices for financial benefit.

Despite the challenges Donovan has faced, Schroeder said he anticipates the $1 million NAWCA grant will be spent within a year. As of now, a little over $700,000 of the grant has been spent.

"He (Donovan) is confident in seeing the path forward in getting this grant completed after a lot of roadblocks and frustrations due to commodity prices being very high," Schroeder said.

In addition to the NAWCA grant, the city's 37-acre wetland project along Firesteel Creek will begin construction in August. The estimated completion date of the $583,997 is slated for the fall, Schroeder said.

The stretch of Firesteel Creek in between the former Kelley property that abuts the west end of Lake Mitchell could also be seeing a large-scale project in the near future, Schroeder indicated.

"That area includes a spot that I'm hoping to bring an additional project forward on next month. We are having Barr Engineering looking at this area. It's a very crucial point for Lake Mitchell," Schroeder said, noting that sediment traps are being explored for the stretch of the creek adjoining the lake.

Mitchell Mayor Bob Everson joined the discussion to inform the council that a committee dedicated to projects within the Firesteel watershed will be formed by the end of March.

"We're looking at working with producers in the watershed as well as pinpointing projects in the watershed. We are going to work with USDA to get programs in front of producers that would help the watershed," Everson said.

The city is seeking out members to appoint to the Firesteel watershed committee. Everson encouraged residents who are interested to contact him or city officials.

While the proposed $25 million Lake Mitchell dredging project has been the primary topic and plan being discussed among the council over the past several months, city leaders haven't lost sight of the need to reduce the phosphorus and sediment flowing into the lake via the Firesteel watershed.

Several council members opposed to the dredging project believe more progress needs to be made in the Firesteel watershed before taking on a multimillion-dollar in-lake restoration project.

According to a 2018 Lake Mitchell strategy plan memo drafted by Fyra Engingeering, one recommendation to drastically reduce phosphorus loads included restoring 10,400 acres of pothole wetlands in the watershed.

Monday's update on the Firesteel watershed sparked very little discussion among the council compared to past discussions on Lake Mitchell restoration projects.