Miron Agricultural Waste Storage Facility

City

Hugo, Minnesota

Completion Date

2024

Cost

$530,814

Phase

Complete

Benefitted Water Body

Hardwood Creek, Peltier Lake

Funding Sources

Washington County Conservation District, NRCS MN Agricultural Water Quality
Certification Program, Rice Creek Watershed District

Partners

City of Hugo, Washington County Conservation District, NRCS

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This project is a waste storage facility on a farm in Hugo, the first of its kind funded through the Water Quality Grant Program. It aligns with the District’s efforts to promote agricultural conservation practices that improve water quality.

The facility, built off an existing dairy barn, will temporarily store manure until it can be properly applied to farm fields, reducing runoff into Hardwood Creek, which is impaired for dissolved oxygen and fish bioassessments. A diversion will redirect runoff into an existing grassed waterway. Designed by the Washington Conservation District and MN NRCS, the project will treat 2.93 acres, annually reducing phosphorus by 29 lbs., nitrogen by 84 lbs., and biological oxygen demand by 337 lbs.

The applicant, recently certified through the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program, currently applies manure based on rainfall, but the process is unsustainable. This project provides a long-term solution to prevent nutrient runoff and protect water quality.

Reducing Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) means lowering the amount of oxygen needed by bacteria to break down organic matter in water. High BOD levels indicate excessive organic pollution (such as manure runoff), which can deplete oxygen in water bodies and harm fish and other aquatic life.

By installing the waste storage facility, manure will be properly managed rather than washing into Hardwood Creek. This reduces the organic matter entering the water, lowering BOD and helping maintain healthier oxygen levels for aquatic organisms like fish and aquatic insects.

RCWD awarded funds from the Water Quality Grant Program of $30,000

Other grants that were awarded were;

• MN Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program Contribution: $5,000.00 

• Washington Conservation District Grant: $10,000.00