JUDICIAL DITCH 11 WETLAND RESTORATION PROJECT

Summary of Project Conditions
This project is located in the south half of the southwest quarter of Section 14 in Winnebago Township (T. 104 N., R. 28 W.).  The State of Minnesota has secured a perpetual conservation easement through the state’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) to facilitate the restoration of the drained wetland basins on the property.  Prior to construction, the Judicial Ditch (J.D.) #11 tile main and three branches of the drainage system existed on the property and were draining the wetland areas within the easement.  These branches of the J.D. #11 main system are Branch 11, 23, and 27.  Also, approximately 2,700 feet of the J.D. #11 tile main is within the easement area.  The total watershed area contributing to the wetland restoration project is approximately 245 acres.

J.D. #11 Improvements for the Wetland Restoration
Three wetland basins have been restored on the easement resulting in approximately 54 acres of wetland habitat.  The adjacent upland areas have been seeded to native prairie vegetation.  One of the main goals of this project is to improve flood control benefits to the J.D. #11 drainage system.  To facilitate the wetland restoration, portions of the J.D. #11 tile main and branches 11 and 23 were modified.  The major modification was centered on the J.D. #11 tile main.  Approximately 2,500 feet of this main was abandoned within the basin and replaced with 3,125 feet of new tile that was re-routed around the basin.  A water control structure was installed on the east end of the easement and was designed to control outlet capacities so as not to negatively impact downstream tile drainage.  An earthen embankment was constructed to protect flooding of the neighboring lands to the south.  To provide continued drainage for lands north of the easement area, a private tile coming from that area was surface outletted into the wetland basin.  Several tile blocks were completed within the easement area to help restore hydrology to the site.  As a result of the restoration, approximately 375 feet of Branch 11 and 660 feet of Branch 23 were also abandoned.  Project construction began on July 9^th and was completed on July 24^th, 2008.