Pilot Watershed Projects

Congress appropriated $5 million in 1953 (referred to as the Pilot Watershed Program) with which 65 pilot watershed projects were started in the nation (two in Minnesota). One objective of this Federal action was to demonstrate the benefits of combining soil and water conservation on the land with upstream flood-prevention structures. A second objective was to find out the best ways to achieve local, state, and federal teamwork in planning and carrying out watershed protection and development. This was followed by the passage of Public Law 83-566 in 1954 putting into legislative form what had been started with the Pilot Watershed Program. The two pilot watershed projects authorized in Minnesota are discussed below. Their location is shown on the watershed map.

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Watershed Map (142 KB)

1. EAST WILLOW CREEK (Map #I)

Fillmore County
Sponsors:West Fillmore Soil Conservation District
Size: 24,000 acres
Approved for Operations: 1954
Estimated Total Cost of Project:
Federal Government $187,204
Farmers $151,000
County & State Government Units $33,305
Total $371,509
Completion Date: 1959
Measures Installed: Sixteen stabilizing and sediment control structures, 7 floodwater retarding and erosion control structures, 3 miles stabilized and development of waterways, and streambank protection on 3 miles of channel and 17 acres of tree planting to stabilize critical runoff and sediment producing area.
Project Life: 50 years

2. CHIPPEWA RIVER TRIBUTARIES AND HAWK CREEK (3 subwatersheds, Map #IIa,b,c)

2a. SHAKOPEE RIVER (Map #IIa)

Kandiyohi, Swift and Chippewa Counties
Sponsors: Kandiyohi Soil Conservation District,
Swift Soil Conservation District, and
Chippewa Soil Conservation District
Size: 204,414 acres
Estimated Total Cost of Project:
Federal Government $ 546,842
Farmers $593,000
County & State Government Units $67,866
Total $1,207,708
Measures Installed: measures used for the conservation of water and watershed lands
contributing directly to prevent flooding, flood prevention measures, and land treatment measures.
Project Life: 50 years
Benefit/Cost Ratio: 5.09:1

2b. MUD CREEK (Map #IIb)

Swift and Kandiyohi Counties
Sponsors: Swift and Kandiyohi County Soil Conservation District
Size: 56,131 acres
Authorized for Planning: Fiscal Year 1954
Approved for Operations:
Estimated Total Cost of Project:
Federal Government $537,574
Farmers $264,082
County & State Government Units $220,178
Total $1,021,834
Completion Date: June 1959
Measures Installed: Three floodwater retarding structures and main floodway, 4 branch
floodways in Mud Creek Watershed, and improvement of Chippewa River for 18 miles.
Project Life: 50 years
Benefit/Cost Ratio: 5.07:1

2c. HAWK CREEK (Map #IIc)

Chippewa, Kandiyohi, and Renville Counties
Sponsors: Chippewa and Renville Soil Conservation Districts and Kandiyohi County
Soil Conservation District
Size: 321,553 acres
Authorized for Planning: 1958
Estimated Total Cost of Project:
Federal Government $546,842
Farmers $593,005
County & State Government Units $67,866
Total $1,207,713
Completion Date: 1965
Measures Installed: 61.5 miles of floodway, 3 grade stabilization structures, 2 streambank control structures, and land treatment measures.
Project Life: 50 years
Benefit/Cost Ratio: 4.62:1