Wing River Township Details
Under the Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Plan (NFMP), the MDA determines a mitigation level for townships that have elevated levels of nitrate-nitrogen in private wells. The goal of the NFMP is to involve the agricultural community in problem solving to address localized concerns about unsafe levels of nitrate in groundwater.
Due to elevated nitrate-nitrogen in private wells, Wing River Township in Wadena County has been listed at a Mitigation Level 2 under the Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Plan. To learn more about the private well testing process that led to this designation visit the Township Testing Program webpage.
- Designated Mitigation Level 2 using the following criteria:
- More than 10% of tested private wells included in the final results exceeded 10 mg/L nitrate-nitrogen
- Within the township there are approximately 10,000 cropland acres and 120 cropland owners
- Located in Wadena County in Central Minnesota
Local Advisory Team
The MDA established a Local Advisory Team (LAT), consisting of local farmers, agronomists, and local government staff.
The primary functions of the LAT are to:
- Advise the MDA on the appropriate Nitrogen Fertilizer Best Management Practices (BMPs) for the project area.
- Explore opportunities to use Alternative Management Tools (AMTs) in targeted high-risk areas.
- Provide the MDA with guidance on the most effective methods to communicate with the agricultural community in the local project area.
- Support the implementation of the BMPs and AMTs at the local level.
From 2025 through 2026, MDA staff met with the Wing River Township LAT reviewing agronomic information and the MDA’s analysis of nitrogen loss below cropland within the township. Below is a list of milestones that were met during this process. The LAT will continue to meet annually to review the published list and discuss ongoing efforts to implement BMPs and AMTs within the township.
In consultation with the LAT, a list of BMPs and AMTs that are practicable and appropriate for protecting groundwater within the township was developed and approved by the MDA. Working together with partners, the MDA will promote and help support adoption of these practices.
The MDA will evaluate adoption of these BMPs within the township. The evaluation could occur as early as the fall of 2029.
Status of the Wing River Township LAT
- Formed a local advisory team
- The team is actively meeting
- Interviewed local ag retailers and farmers to gather information on the current nitrogen fertilizer management practices within the township
- Reviewed cropland cover and mapped cropland boundaries within the township
- Reviewed computer modeling of nitrate loss below cropland within the township
- In consultation with the LAT, a list of BMPs and AMTs that are practicable and appropriate for protecting groundwater within this township was developed and approved by the MDA
