Past Projects
German/Jefferson Lakes Septic Inventory (2011)
This project helped determine how many non-compliant septic systems occurred on each lake. Landowners with non-compliant septic systems were notified and should have upgraded/replaced their septic systems. This project helped encourage landowners to reduce septic waste entering each lake, and thus, improve water quality.
German/Jefferson Lakes Feasibility Study (2014)
The German/Jefferson Lakes Septic Inventory grant was amended to include a new initiative: feasibility studies. The initiative identified and provided cost analysis/feasibility study of additional wastewater treatment alternatives for select areas within the Jefferson German Lakes Septic Inventory Project that have conditions that limit the installation of Type 1 ISTS.
- German/Jefferson Feasibility Study Map
- Jefferson Lake Drive Feasibility Study Final Report
- Maple Lane Feasibility Study Final Report
- Blue Marina Feasibility Study Final Report
Francis, Rays, Sakatah, Tetonka (FRST) Septic Inventory (2015)
This project helped determine how many non-compliant septic systems occurred on each lake. Landowners with non-compliant septic systems were notified and are in the process of upgrading/replacing their septic systems. This project will help encourage landowners to reduce septic waste entering each lake, and thus, will improve water quality.
Well Sealing (2019)
An unused and/or abandoned well that is not sealed can pose a health, safety, and environmental risk. This occurs due to your unused well creating a direct pathway for surface runoff, pollutant, and wastes to enter drinking water sources. This not only affects you, the landowners, but it also affects your community as well. If your well is no longer being used, it should be sealed as soon as possible. Your risk of pollutant contaminating your drinking water will be significantly reduced. Le Sueur County received grant funds to financially assist landowners sealing their unused/abandoned wells. The County was able to seal 21 unused/abandoned wells with this grant.
City of Le Center Municipal Well Sealing (2023)
Le Sueur County in partnership with the City of Le Center was awarded funds to seal an abandoned municipal well, Old Municipal Well #1. An unused/abandoned well that is not sealed can pose a health, safety, and environmental risk. The City of Le Center was awarded Source Water Protection Competitive Grants in 2021 to help locate and identify old municipal wells. This project is building off of existing efforts that the City of Le Center has undertaken for groundwater and drinking water protection. The municipal well sealing project was completed in 2024.
There were additional funds remaining and the County offered cost-share to seal abandoned wells for properties that are located within the Lower Minnesota River Watershed. Le Sueur County was able to seal an additional 5 residential wells.
Community Partner Conservation Program (2012)
This focus of this project was for Le Sueur County to partner with community partners (Soil & Water Conservation District, National Resource Conservation Service, and the Gorman Lake Association) to implement structural and vegetative practices that reduce runoff and increase water retention, thus improving water quality. The projects that were included with this grant were two water retention basins which helped reduce phosphorus and sediment going into Gorman Lake.
Lake Volney Targeted Restoration (2015)
Lake Volney is impaired for nutrients. The goal of this project was to implement numerous agricultural best management practices such as wetland restorations, cover crops, retention ponds, etc. in order to improve water quality within the watershed.