County approves Lake Superior North Watershed FY26 work plan and allocation

The Cook County Board on Jan. 27 approved the Lake Superior North Watershed FY26 work plan and allocation after a presentation summarizing multi-year watershed work and a list of priorities for the coming biennium.

Elena, the watershed presenter, told commissioners that the plan is voluntary and nonregulatory and that the county serves as fiscal agent for implementation funding distributed among partners. “The focus is voluntary. It's not a regulatory document,” she said, describing prior investments since FY2018 in stormwater treatment, coastal erosion mapping, septic inspections and outreach. She estimated the FY26 allocation at just above $1,000,000 shared across partners and noted each project requires at least a 10% local match.

Specific projects identified for FY26 included sediment and nutrient-reduction work for Knife River, Lindstrom Creek and Skunk Creek, culvert replacements and forestry stewardship actions to respond to spruce budworm impacts. Elena said the watershed partners have more than $1 million in ready-to-go projects and are prioritizing how to spend the funds across counties and conservation districts.

Commissioners asked for details about matching requirements and which partners bear local matches; staff said match comes on top of the $1,000,043 allocation and can be covered by partner contributions or other grant matches. Commissioner Sullivan moved to approve the FY26 work plan and budget; the motion passed unanimously.

Staff said the policy committee has already vetted the proposal and that county approval is one step before the state will permit formal implementation.