Project Highlight: Wetland Creation with Cokato
- Ella Goede
- Apr 4
- 2 min read
Wright Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) mission statement is to be the trusted leader in natural resource conservation in Wright County. One way we influence the wise use of natural resources in Wright County is by putting together projects to protect and improve water quality in our lakes, streams, and rivers.
Wetlands are an important piece to protecting and improving water quality by filtering sediments and chemicals, they reduce flooding, and they recharge ground water. The below highlight shares the benefits from a "man-made" wetland south of Cokato.
Wright SWCD in partnership with the Wright County Drainage Authority and the City of Cokato addressed significant sediment erosion and provided peak flow reductions at the outlet to County Ditch 7, immediately prior to entering Joint Ditch 15. This project included installing a 3.65 acre wetland and 0.5 acre sediment forebay adjacent to Joint Ditch 15 that will reduce sediment and nutrients leaving County Ditch 7, as well as attenuate peak flow entering the frequently flooded Joint Ditch 15. In addition, 9.3 acres of native prairie was established around the wetland.

Sediment - 1,024 tons/yr
Phosphorus - 107 lbs./yr
Total Nitrogen - 3,592 lbs./yr
Sediment forebay
Created wetland
Native buffer
Outlet structure
Flood control
Reduces sedimentation to JD 15
Reduces downstream nutrient loading
9.3 acres of native prairie vegetation

Practice Type - Wetland Creation
Target Water - Judicial Ditch 15
Implemented in 2024
Watershed - North Fork Crow River
BWSR Multipurpose Drainage Management Grant - $495,000
Wright County Grant - $250,000
Wright County ARP - $70,124
North Fork Crow River Watershed Based Implementation Funding - $50,000
Total $865,124
Check out our video of the project showing before, during and after images https://youtu.be/Zqf9-U8ai8w
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