Wetland Restoration in Getty Township

The Stearns Conservation District partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Sauk River Watershed District to gather funding for a wetland restoration project located in Getty Township. The landowner sought assistance from the District in 2023 after discovering that the land he had been haying for many years was experiencing ongoing water accumulation and runoff into the ditch during wet periods. The landowner wanted to turn the depression into a restored wetland. A berm was initially put in place to stop the outflow of water and pool it into the project area. Construction and seeding were completed on the land in May of 2025 by Lange Trenching. The wetland at full capacity will be about 2 acres in size.

This wetland restoration project includes both wildlife and water quality benefits. The wetland restoration was also paired with CRP plantings. This year, new CRP land will be established as a field windbreak and prairie strip. The landowner is also intending to plant more trees, native grasses, and forbs.

Components:

• Rock Riprap

• Turf Reinforcement Mat

• Native Seed Mix

• Seed and Mulch

• Erosion Control Blanket

  
  

Benefits:

• 2 Acres of Restored Wetland

• Wildlife Benefits

• Reduce Soil Loss by 0.45 tons/year

Pollution Reduction Estimates:

• Sediment: 0.45 tons/yr.

• Phosphorus: 3.7 lbs./yr.

• Nitrogen: 246.2 lbs./yr.

Partners on this project included the landowner, Stearns CD, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Sauk River Watershed District.