District of the Year

Clearwater River Watershed District 

Honored Recipients of the DNR - 

2004 Watershed District of the Year Award 

Presented by Kent Lokkesmoe, DNR Waters Director

The Clearwater River Watershed District, established in 1975 to protect, preserve and restore the water resources of the 159 square mile District, was honored by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources as the 2004 Watershed District of the Year.  Kent Lokkesmoe, Director of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Waters presented the award including a beautifully framed print to Marvin Brunsell, Chairman, at the December 5, 2004 Minnesota Association of Watershed District’s annual meeting.  Mr. Kent Lokkesmoe said:

“It is a pleasure to be at the Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts to give DNR Waters 2004 Watershed District of the Year Award.

 As you know, the Division gives this award annually to a District that has excelled in water management activities.  We ask the regional and area hydrologists for their recommendations, have a robust debate, and make a decision.

This year’s recipient was active with providing shoreland assistance to the county.

 

The WSD review hundreds of alteration applications every year.  They were pro-active with shoreland restoration and bio-engineering alternatives.

 

They were very active in overall water management planning efforts.

 

This watershed district has been extensively involved with sewage treatment problems with the district.

 

This watershed district has maintained an active role in helping oversee adequate erosion control protection and has helped to resolve problems.

 

This watershed district also supports floodplain management efforts by the County and DNR.  They recently assisted the county with a FDR Acquisition of 3 floodplain properties.

 

The 2004 recipient of DNR’ Watershed District of the Year Award is Clearwater River Watershed District."

The District has completed 25 projects to restore and protect water quality in the lakes of the District and continues to work with many agencies.  Grants have been awarded to the District over the years, with a most recent award for the Phase 2 TMDL from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.  The waters of the Clearwater River Watershed District have shown great improvement during the last 20 years and continue to improve.  The Board of Managers of the District include Mr. Brunsell and Mark Kampa representing Wright County, Virl Liebrenz and Dennis Loewen representing Stearns County and Robert Schiefelbein representing Meeker County.