Scott County watershed staff on Wednesday described how they use monitoring, targeted projects and partnerships to reduce sediment and phosphorus flowing to the Minnesota River and county lakes.

Vanessa Strong, water resources supervisor, said the watershed program monitors water bodies to track whether conditions are improving or degrading and works with landowners and partners to implement projects. "If you drink it or you flush it, it's probably somebody else's," Strong said, summarizing why surface-water and groundwater are managed at the watershed scale.

County water-resources scientist Ryan Holzer told commissioners the county uses watershed comprehensive plans, subwatershed assessments and monitoring data to prioritize capital improvement projects (CIPs). Holzer said a Bridal Sand Creek study identified portions of the watershed that generate 10 to 15 times more total suspended solids than other areas, and those data drove early project selection. "We also leverage a lot of grant funds, to basically stretch our local dollars further," Holzer said.

Staff described a phased approach in Sand Creek that targeted the largest sediment contributors first and delayed costlier sites until grant funding could be secured. Holzer noted Sand Creek Phase 5 was notably expensive — "close to three quarters of $1,000,000" — which affected sequencing and financing.

On engineering, Holzer described the county's preference for bioengineered, wood-and-rock structures that deflect flows away from bluff toes and create depositional shelves where sediment can accumulate safely. Using a "Lincoln logs" analogy, he explained crews embed vertical posts, attach stacked logs and add boulders as anchors; the structures are then revegetated so native plant growth provides long-term stabilization.

Staff said the design choice balances durability, cost and ecological benefits: natural materials can provide fish habitat and are less visually intrusive than full riprap or steel. The county emphasized doing much of the work through partners — cities, townships, soil-and-water conservation districts and consultants — and described two local examples where coordinated funding and design were used to install iron-enhanced sand filters and storm-drain baffles to reduce phosphorus and suspended solids.

Commissioners asked about material alternatives, project cost-per-ton variations and the county's role in coordinating studies that local governments can use to obtain grants. Staff replied that steep bluff geometry and erosion processes control sediment loads, which explains why some project sites yield greater reductions for the same investment, and that the WMO's studies and monitoring help target cost-effective actions.

The county said the watershed management organization will use updated modeling (including a Cedar Lake TMDL update and a revised Sand Creek watershed model), monitoring trends and social outreach to refine the next plan, scheduled within the coming year. The presentation closed with staff pointing to the benefits of regional partnerships and grant leverage in getting projects on the ground.

The board did not take formal action; staff said the plan update and continued partnership work will move forward and that several projects remain dependent on securing external funding.