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Board backs Ash River wastewater project, citing watershed benefits
Summary
Gucci County commissioners adopted a resolution of support for the Voyageurs National Park Clean Water Joint Powers Board’s Ash River centralized wastewater collection and treatment project to improve downstream water quality; staff estimated the project cost at roughly $26 million.
The Gucci County Board unanimously adopted a resolution Sept. 23 supporting the Voyageurs National Park Clean Water Joint Powers Board’s effort to build a centralized wastewater collection and treatment system for properties in the Ash River area. Planning and project staff said many existing on-site systems are noncompliant with state and county standards and that centralized service would improve water quality in the shared watershed, including Rainy Lake and Rainy River downstream.
Staff and a commissioner noted the project’s scale and timeline, saying such efforts typically take years to obtain funding and implement; staff cited an order-of-magnitude estimate near $26 million. The board’s support is intended to help the joint-powers board pursue state and federal funding.
Why it matters: the project aims to address persistent water-quality problems tied to aging or failing on-site wastewater systems in a sensitive watershed, and county support can strengthen funding applications.
What’s next: joint-powers board will continue funding outreach and permitting; the county’s letter/resolution will accompany funding applications.
