Sadly, removing bodies of water from the state’s impaired waters list doesn’t happen very often, but due to the hard work of a number of organizations and dedicated citizens, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has recommended that Plum Creek be delisted.

Plum Creek, a small stream in Lynden Twp. near Clearwater, was listed as impaired by bacteria for recreational use by the MPCA in 2012. A study conducted by the agency found Plum Creek Watershed to be impaired by E. coli, a bacterium found in the intestine of human and warm-blooded animals that becomes a contaminant when found in the food or water supply.

Wanting to help, Jerry Finch, a Lynden Twp. supervisor at the time, earned his watershed specialist certification from the University of Minnesota with mentoring from the Stearns Co. Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD).

To solve the problem and get the stream delisted, the Plum Creek Neighborhood Network (PCNN) was then organized and led by Finch, who enlisted help from the Lynden Twp. Board, SWCD, MPCA, the University of Minnesota and St. John’s University. Twenty-four township landowners volunteered to be part of PCNN.

Intensive stream sampling was done from 2014 to 2018 to better understand the nature of the contamination and determine its potential source. The sampling revealed E. coli levels spiked during heavy rain events, which indicated field erosion and streambed sediments were likely the most significant sources of the bacteria.

Based on everything that was learned, a number of projects were implemented to improve Plum Creek’s water quality:

• Erosion control was implemented to address sedimentation from a county road culvert.

• Nearby septic systems that were suspect were upgraded or replaced.

• A water quality structure was installed to address field erosion entering the creek.

• A buffer was installed on the I-94 right-of-way near the creek.

• Area farmers adopted new planting and tillage practices to help reduce erosion.

The hard work and dedication of PCNN and all its partners paid off, as monitoring in 2019 showed Plum Creek’s average E. coli counts had dropped low enough that it is now meeting water quality standards.

Finch stressed that it was the involvement of so many people and organizations that caused the project to be successful.

“The primary reason this project was successful was that the Lynden Twp. Board of Supervisors were interested and supported it,” said Finch. “Anne Ackerman and Dave Johnson were a source of encouragement and participation, without which this project would not have been successful.”

The interest and involvement of concerned residents was the secondary reason for success listed by Finch.

“The Plum Creek Neighborhood Network was formed in 2014 with the mission statement, ‘To remove Plum Creek from the impairment list,’” he said. “In 2017 the network was selected as the Outstanding Conservationists of the year by the SWCD.”

Mentorship from Dennis Fuchs, administrator of the SWCD and his staff was recognized by Finch, as were MnDOT, Stearns Co. Public Works, Stearns Co. Parks Dept. and MPCA’s regional office in Baxter.

Lastly, he recognized the involvements of academia, including Dr. Michael Sadowsky, U of M BioTechnology Institute director, who recommended they identify the DNA of the E. coli, which ruled out animal or human origin. 

Dr. Y. A. Pachepsky, USDA-ARS-Environmental Microbial and Food Laboratory, whose fieldwork confirmed E. coli attached to particles of sediment can survive in the bottom of a stream, and Dr. Joe Storlien, professor at St. John’s, who organized students to sample the sediment in Plum Creek were also included in his accolades. 

“This is a big deal,” said Cole Loewen, environmental specialist in Stearns Co.’s Environmental Services Dept. “There are only 14 waters recommended for delisting in 2020, compared to hundreds recommended for adding to the list, and Plum Creek is one of them. To top it all off, it’s because of a unique partnership of engaged citizens, state and local governments, universities and area landowners that this recommendation has happened.”