Upper South Branch Buffalo River Restoration

South Branch of the Buffalo River is a tributary to the Buffalo River located in Wilkin and Clay Counties, MN. The proposed project has a subwatershed area of approximately 27 square miles, starting east in Norwegian Grove and Trondhjem Townships and proceeding west through Prairie View, Tanberg, Atherton, and Manston Townships.

There are two public legal drainage ditches located within the South Branch Buffalo River – Phase 1 subwatershed; Wilkin County Ditch No. 44 Lateral A and Wilkin County Ditch No. 44 Lateral B. The two laterals connect at the northeast corner of Section 10 and continue west, on the south side of 170th St to create the existing headwaters of the South Branch Buffalo River.

In the early 1910’s Wilkin County Ditch (WCD) No. 44 was constructed, cutting off the drainage area to the natural stream channel at the headwaters of the South Branch of the Buffalo River. WCD No. 44 ditch system was originally constructed as branches of Judicial Ditch No. 3. Since then, multiple flood events have occurred in the region causing agricultural field damages as well as damages to public and private infrastructure. Most notably, in 2009 breakout flows from both WCD No. 40 and 44 scoured the landscape and formed a large gully channel through Sections 1, 2, and 3 of Atherton Township, Wilkin County. Breakout flows erode agricultural topsoil and deposit this sediment within the South Branch channel, causing increases in turbidity and decreased aquatic habitat, as well as reducing the channel’s natural capacity to convey flood flows.

Pre-Construction

1/5

During Construction

1/5

Phase 1 Project Features:

Restore 4.6 miles of channel to stable stream
Reduce sediment and improve water quality
Maintain drainage benefits for landowners along WCD 44
Reduce peak discharge at outlet of WCD 44 by reconnecting ditch to natural floodplain
Install 80 acres of enhanced buffers
Improve road safety on 170th Street

Phase 1 is estimated to cost $1.2 million.

Phase 1 Funding:

Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, Outdoor Heritage Fund
BRRWD district-wide funding

Phase 2 of the South Branch Buffalo River Restoration proposes to address poor waterway drainage, excess sediment in channel, and water quality concerns. Proposed project aims to restore the South Branch Buffalo River in Section 4, 5, and 6, Manston Township, Section 18, 19, 20, 29, 30, and 31, Atherton Township, and Sections 1, 2, 11, 12, and 13, Deerhorn Township, Wilkin County. A hearing was held to establish Phase 2 as a project in 2025 and BRRWD approved an Order. Construction is expected to begin in 2025.

Phase 2 Project Features:

Restore over 9 miles of channel to stable natural stream
Install over 250 acres of enhanced or expanded buffers
Install over 100 sediment BMPs
Improve natural waterway drainage
Reduce sediment and improve water quality

Phase 2 is estimated to cost $7.8 million

Funding:

Natural Resource Conservation Service, National Water Quality Initiative Grant
Department of Natural Resources, Stream Habitat Program
Board of Water and Soil Resources, Clean Water Fund
BRRWD district-wide funding
Water Management District (local assessment)

Engineer’s Report

Phase 2-Engineer’s Report

Water Management District

Findings and Order

Phase 1 of the South Branch Buffalo River Restoration Project focused on restoring the South Branch of the Buffalo River by returning the flow diverted by the constructed WCD No. 44 channels back into the historic natural waterway alignment in Sections 9, 10, and 11, Manston Township, Wilkin County. A hearing was held to establish Phase 1 as a project in 2022 and BRRWD approved an Order. Construction began later that year and is expected to be completed in 2025.

Phase 1 after construction