The Cedar River Watershed District meets Wednesday, Oct. 20 to move forward with its plans to reduce future flooding in the watershed and finalize its rules for the district.

As of now, the rules that would affect those in the district are about 75 percent complete, according to Bev Nordby, district manager of the Mower Soil and Water Conservation District. She said that CRWD is focusing on keeping water flows the same or making sure that they do not increase. She added that the final draft of the rules should be complete by about December or January.

Recently, CRWD applied for $163,500 in state Clean Water Legacy funds, according to a CRWD news release. The CRWD and Red Rock Township will also put up $63,000. If the grant is approved, the money will be used to reduce flooding and erosion in the branch of Dobbins Creek northeast of Austin and near Dexter. That area is a significant cause of flooding in Austin. The project would get underway summer 2010.

Most of Mower SWCD and the CRWD’s focus has been on potential flooding and water quality issues, as these two problems go hand-in-hand.

Upcoming projects include a land restoration project near Lyle on a private residence and an “adopt-a-river” program that CRWD outreach coordinator Tim Ruzek hopes to get underway soon.

For more on the CRWD meeting see Thursday’s Herald