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Lower Big Blue Natural Resources District Lake Restoration Outdoor recreation areas throughout the state are renovated every year. Some are renovated for flood control purposes; others have sedimentation and pesticide issues that result in less wildlife habitat or recreation opportunities for users. In 1998, Swan Lake Reservoir (Willard Meyer), located in the Lower Big Blue Natural Resources District (LBBNRD), was listed as an impaired waterbody due to high atrazine pesticide levels. The LBBNRD partnered with several local, state, and federal agencies to create a Watershed Management Plan that involved a Community Based Planning process. This community-led process brought an opportunity for LBBNRD, which owns Swan Lake Reservoir, to work with landowners to implement control measures that would improve the water quality of the reservoir. Through the course of the project, no-till, nutrient, and pesticide management practices were implemented in surrounding agricultural lands to reduce nutrient loading within the reservoir. This led to the reservoir being removed from the impaired waters list in 2006. This project is worth noting because it was a success in more than one way. Not only were strong partnerships built with landowners and other agencies, but funding was established through many forms. One of the funding opportunities was through a Section 319 grant. Section 319 funding is from the Nonpoint Source Management Program, which was designed to assist in specific nonpoint source implementation projects. Upon completion of the renovation, a kids fishing derby was established, bringing in more than 200 youth annually over the past 18 years. This event receives a lot of support by the adjacent landowners because they also were involved in the renovation project that took place at Swan Lake Reservoir. This is a prime example of how partnerships and early buy-in of your constituents can lead to long-term success of your outdoor recreation resources. 81 Swan Lake Reservoir near Tobias. (Saline County) SUCCESS STORY G U I D I N G S U C C E S S