The Shell Rock River Watershed District has been awarded an almost $1 million grant from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for storm water control in the Stables area north of Albert Lea.

Andy Henschel, district project manager, said officials were notified at the end of December about the grant, which is through the DNR’s Flood Hazard Mitigation Emergency Fund.

Henschel said controlling the storm water near the Stables subdivision is one of several ways the watershed district is looking at reducing Albert Lea’s flooding — ultimately reducing the volume of Fountain and Albert Lea lakes during periods of high rain.

“One way to do that is to look at upstream areas and try to hold that water back so it won’t all flush into the lakes,” he said.

Specifically, the $1.8 million project involves directing water from the Stables subdivision to a storage pond.

The storm water project is also part of a larger ongoing effort by officials with the watershed, Freeborn County, the city of Albert Lea and Bancroft Township. Additional efforts aim to upgrade sanitary sewer and water services to the subdivision. These efforts have been topics of discussion for at least 10 years.

“This funding will help leverage the entire Stables area upgrade effort,” said Brett Behnke, watershed district administrator. “We are proud of the level of the cooperative spirit we have seen on this project. It is a classic example of multiple public entities working together to promote a community project.”

Henschel said officials from the watershed, Freeborn County, Albert Lea and Bancroft Township will meet soon to discuss how to proceed.

According to a watershed district news release, the DNR funding is part of a 2010 disaster relief appropriation from the Minnesota Legislature.

The state program requires a 50 match from local dollars. That will come from the local-option sales tax.