Conservation Stories

A Rushford area farmer draws from NRCS assistance and grazing specialists’ technical expertise to establish an intensively managed system that improves both animal health and soil health.

The return of redhorse to a 32-mile-long stretch of the Sand Hill River in Polk County reflects improving trends that could lead to removal from the state’s impaired waters list. Water-quality work has involved the Sand Hill River Watershed District, West Polk SWCD, BWSR, the DNR and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Three Rivers Park District, the Em Creek WMC, Fish Lake Area Residents Association and Hennepin County were among the partners in water-quality improvement work backed by Clean Water Funds.

The McLeod SWCD’s collaboration with the city of Winsted resulted in a constructed wetland that filters stormwater bound for Winsted Lake. Backed by a multipurpose drainage management Clean Water Fund grant, the work builds upon the SWCD’s erosion-control projects with farmers upstream.

One element of the $4.2 million revitalization, stormwater work supported by a BWSR Clean Water Fund grant addresses a temperature impairment in Miller Creek, a designated trout stream.

Water-quality improvement work didn’t stop once Lily Lake was removed from the state’s impaired waters list — an effort that took 20 years, involved the Middle St. Croix WMO and a host of partners, and tapped nearly $1 million in Clean Water Funds from BWSR.

BWSR Clean Water Funds and NRCS assistance support water-quality work in the East Branch Chippewa River watershed, which spans Pope and Swift counties and eventually flows to the Minnesota River.

An NRCS National Water Quality Initiative award, MPCA pilot grant, Outdoor Heritage Funds and BWSR Clean Water Funds support the Wilkin SWCD and Buffalo-Red River Watershed District's work with landowners, which will benefit water quality, water quantity and wildlife habitat.

NRCS assistance and Clean Water Funds support new manure storage solutions that curb runoff and benefit water quality. Stearns County SWCD and NRCS staff led the $1.9 million endeavor.

NRCS’ $400,000 contribution agreement with Morrison SWCD and its $2.7 million Regional Conservation Partnership Program renewal focus on the Sentinel Landscape, where management can improve habitat and protect the National Guard’s mission.

With projects that combine water quality, flood reduction and wildlife habitat improvements, the watershed district at the headwaters of the Red River gained support from landowners and funding sources alike.

A two-phase stream restoration on Sand Creek overcame constraints of its urban setting to improve habitat, reduce the likelihood of flash flooding and curb pollution bound for the Mississippi River.

“If we never make an ask, we never bring it up, and people are never going to know that it’s an option.” — Josh Pommier, Pheasants Forever Farm Bill biologist

Big Stone SWCD worked with West Central TSA engineers, landowners on BWSR Clean Water Fund-backed project in Five Mile Creek watershed

Most farmers who signed on to the three-year, incentivized trial supported by a Clean Water Fund demonstration grant have committed to continuing the soil health practice.

The 157-acre enrollment near Millersburg, which borders a creek that flows to the Cannon River, reduces the likelihood of downstream flooding.

Delivered in two parts, the final phase of Clean Water Fund-supported efforts targets in-lake phosphorus. Previous work within the watershed reduced upland phosphorus-loading.

Farmers are seeing the benefits of Clean Water Fund-backed conservation projects that mend gullies, slow runoff and reduce nutrient-loading to Perkins Lake. Federal assistance is also in play.

Dedicated MRBI funding supports farmers’ conservation work in the Chisago Lakes Chain of Lakes’ Green Lake watershed. The benefits flow from the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers to the Gulf of Mexico.

Targeted Watershed Program Clean Water Fund grant-supported work includes 245-acre wetland restoration, partnerships involving U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Minnesota DNR and Pheasants Forever

Landowner's work with NRCS, Lincoln SWCD and the Southwest Prairie TSA to curb field erosion advances watershed's water quality goals; EQIP assistance, Clean Water Funds, MPCA grant in play

Two Central Minnesota lakes' removal from the state impaired waters list reflects the cumulative effects of rural conservation, Clean Water Fund-backed urban stormwater treatment

Clean Water Funds from BWSR, backing from Red Lake Watershed District and Red Lake County support agricultural practices that stanch field erosion, focus on Lower Clearwater River

Crow Wing SWCD’s targeted watershed Clean Water Fund grant-supported work with Deerwood and Crosby helped to reverse a trend in declining water quality. Serpent Lake is twice as clear as it was 10 years ago, and phosphorus levels are down. The work also changed the way the SWCD approaches conservation and forged new partnerships.

What began as a cost-saving experiment in no-till for Ed McNamara led to 25 years of fine-tuning practices to improve soil health, boost forage quality, maximize nutrients and improve water quality.

BWSR-backed water quality work that contributed to proposed removals from the state's impaired waters list in 2022 include projects led by Sherburne, Pope, Stearns County and Grant SWCDs, plus Middle St. Croix and Lower Mississippi River WMOs.

Within the confines of an urban stormwater system that drains to the Mississippi River, Shingle Creek WMC's Clean Water Fund-backed habitat and water quality work focuses on stretches within Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center

Voluntary program fit Cottonwood County farmer's goals of permanently protecting marginal cropland, creating a wildlife haven

The Local Government Road Wetland Replacement Program provides wetland mitigation credits to local road authorities for qualifying projects.

With two lakes removed from the impaired waters list, Chisago SWCD, NRCS staff continue to work with landowners, community partners to advance positive water quality trends emerging throughout the 20-lake chain

Clean Water Fund-backed project to preserve water quality of popular fishery started with rain gardens planted by fourth-graders; partners include the Mississippi Headwaters Board, Blandin Foundation and lake association

Clean Water Fund-backed work targets nutrient-impaired Lake Irving, but its benefits extend downstream. The project also will safeguard a source of Twin Cities drinking water, contain the flow in case of an oil spill, beautify a bike trail and augment pollinator habitat.

Despite setbacks, they've come out ahead overall as they've expanded the soil health practices started with NRCS assistance to improve water infiltration, reduce compaction on cropland

Clean Water Funds from BWSR help cut the risk of trying nitrate-reducing cover crops and perennial cover such as Kernza within drinking water supply management areas outside Holland and Edgerton.

Dodge County brothers Ben and Jay Currier improved their dairy farm’s efficiency, optimized the fertilizer it produces, and played a role in protecting the Mississippi River when they installed a new manure pit — one of the projects funded through the $3.2 million Lower Mississippi River Feedlot Management in Minnesota Regional Conservation Partnership Program.

The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources in 2014 awarded the Crow Wing Soil & Water Conservation District a $1.2 million targeted watershed grant for projects to reverse the trend in declining water quality and to preserve the regional resource. 

Valley Branch Watershed District's Clean Water Fund project focuses on phosphorus reduction by treating stormwater before it reaches lake known for public boat launch, fishing, swimming beach

Clean Water Fund project also protects northern pike spawning habitat

In a watershed that feeds the Cannon River, Clean Water Funds from BWSR, cooperation from landowners and support from the Greater Jefferson German Lakes Association result in prioritized phosphorus reduction practices

With NRCS rotational grazing plan and EQIP assistance, Pope County beef producer improves forage on former CRP enrollment, anticipates water-quality benefits

St. Paul Parks and Recreation, Capitol Region Watershed District staff's Clean Water Fund supported work at Trout Brook Nature Sanctuary treats stormwater; attracts people, animals to habitat on site of former rail yard

The Clean Water Fund project that protects Big Trout Lake’s cold-water fish habitat by treating pollution-carrying stormwater became a catalyst for similar water-quality work at two more sites along Crow Wing County Road 66.

Clean Water Fund project involving willing landowners, Nobles SWCD, Minnesota Rural Water Association, ensures permanent cover continues to filter nitrates from city drinking water supply

Landowners work with county engineer, Pennington SWCD on sediment reduction in Red Lake River watershed. Side-water inlets stop erosion where field outlets drain into county ditches. Clean Water Funds make the projects possible.

All 40-some plans implemented with EQIP assistance over the years remain in operation. With reliable water supplies installed, farmers see faster weight gain in calves and higher-quality forage in paddocks.

A first-generation farmer with a passion for cows gets a start, and a longtime producer finds a way to pass on his farm. Assistance from the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service and Clean Water funds from BWSR play a role in the gradual transition that will result in a more efficient and environmentally sound setup.

Native grasses replacing row crops have shown the most dramatic results in efforts by Rock SWCD, Rock County, Rock County Rural Water, BWSR, state departments of health and agriculture working with landowners

Pennington SWCD is working with Thief River Falls to stabilize three prioritized sites where erosion is contributing to a downstream water quality impairment. One site is encroaching upon city wastewater treatment infrastructure.

Wright SWCD's $490,000 project treats 10% of county ditch system affecting Ann Lake, taps multipurpose drainage management Clean Water Fund grant

Clean water, wildlife habitat, drainage solutions are priorities of Wilkin SWCD, Buffalo-Red River Watershed District project that taps 7 funding sources including a $2.9M NRCS award, MPCA pilot

A Winona County landowner is working with Root River SWCD staff and assistance from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to remove invasive buckthorn from hunting property bordered by a trout stream. Water quality and wildlife benefit.

Pioneer-Sarah Creek Watershed Management Commission taps $416,000 Clean Water Fund grant from BWSR, $59,500 grant from Hennepin County, to reduce phosphorus loading to nutrient-impaired lake

The project that saved farmers $175,000 could become a statewide model. Landowners, along with local, state and federal partners, made it work.

With soil health in mind, Todd and Michelle Andresen tap Becker SWCD and NRCS technical expertise to fine-tune full-season cover crops and install fencing. BWSR Clean Water Funds and NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program assistance cut the financial risk.

Conservation gains momentum as staff works with willing landowners on targeted sediment reduction designed to improve water quality. Partners include the Buffalo-Red River Watershed District. Clean Water Funds, EQIP assistance, EPA grants are in play.

Water-quality benefits of a 21-mile-long Wolverton Creek restoration extend to the Red River. The restoration will improve drainage, widen habitat corridors, curb soil erosion and flood damage to fields, and cut Fargo-Moorhead’s drinking water treatment costs. The project leverages Clean Water Fund dollars.

Upland dams built to stop gully erosion and retain topsoil keep sediment out of trout streams that enter the Mississippi River/Lake Pepin. The prioritized work centered on spots where conservation fixes would do the most to improve water quality and stream habitat.

Traverse County’s first ditch retrofit eases flood damage as it improves water quality within west-central Minnesota’s Bois de Sioux Watershed District.

Buffer preserves wildlife habitat, provides water-quality benefits while protecting 24/7 regional training center from development in Morrison, Crow Wing and Cass counties. The Mississippi River corridor benefits. BWSR and NRCS programs are in play.

This is the story of one farm family involved in the Root River Field to Stream Partnership, which delves into how farm practices affect water quality. Findings apply to fields and rivers across southeastern Minnesota.

In a watershed spanning from Lake Mille Lacs to the Mississippi River, voluntary enrollment of targeted, prioritized parcels would protect a Twin Cities and St. Cloud drinking water source, aid wildlife habitat

Clean Water Funds from BWSR and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture plus assistance from NRCS support East Otter Tail SWCD's site-specific, science-based irrigation scheduling work with farmers

About 33,000 acres of wildlife habitat enrolled in federal Wetlands Reserve Program easements across Minnesota will benefit from prescribed burns planned over the next five years. The work is made possible by $3.3 million in dedicated Farm Bill funds from the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Minnesota is watching as the Rice Creek Watershed District tests a new way to remove carp. Designed to improve water quality in Long Lake, the techniques used here could be applied throughout the state where carp migrate to spawn.

Trout anglers harbor hopes of stocked streams as the Carlton Soil & Water Conservation District embarks upon its third restoration and bank stabilization project within the Nemadji River watershed. With Clean Water Fund grants and willing landowners, the SWCD is tackling failed red clay dams built in the 1970s to keep sediment out of Lake Superior.