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Project Highlight: Wetland Creation with Cokato

Updated: May 6

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.

Image of sediment forebay at the Wetland Creation site south of Cokato.
Image of sediment forebay.
Reductions:

  • Sediment - 1,024 tons/yr

  • Phosphorus - 107 lbs./yr

  • Total Nitrogen - 3,592 lbs./yr

Components:

  • Sediment forebay

  • Created wetland

  • Native buffer

  • Outlet structure

Benefits:

  • Flood control

  • Reduces sedimentation to JD 15

  • Reduces downstream nutrient loading

  • 9.3 acres of native prairie vegetation

Aerial image of wetland and sediment forebay with street names.
Aerial image of the created wetland and sediment forebay south of Cokato, MN
Project Details:

  • Practice Type - Wetland Creation

  • Target Water - Judicial Ditch 15

  • Implemented in 2024

  • Watershed - North Fork Crow River

Funding:

  • 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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