Okabena Lake Tributary Stabilization Redesign – 401 Water Quality Certification

We invite you to comment on the draft 401 Water Quality Certification for Okabena Lake Tributary Stabilization Project in Nobles County.

The watershed district proposes to re-align 4,200 linear feet of an unnamed tributary to Okabena Lake to reduce sediment and velocities. The project will also require construction of a 3.28-acre wetland in an upland area for treating low to medium flows that will be diverted through to filter pollutants. A designed channel will be in place for higher flows and stream habitat.

Mitigation will be required for 0.4 acres of impacts to existing wetlands; no mitigation is required for the stream impacts.

A 401 Water Quality Certification is required when an individual, business, or property owner proposes construction-related activities near a navigable lake, river, stream, or adjacent wetland. The MPCA reviews projects to ensure they will not violate Minnesota's more protective water quality standards. The 401 certification becomes an enforceable component of the associated federal license or permits issued under the Clean Water Act.