NRCS prescribed burns revive habitat
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.
Fine-tuning irrigation to improve water quality and crop yields
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
Rum River gains RIM easement option for water quality, wildlife protections
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
Root causes, Root solutions
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.
Buffering Camp Ripley
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.
‘It will demonstrate what we’re capable of’
Traverse County’s first ditch retrofit eases flood damage as it improves water quality within west-central Minnesota’s Bois de Sioux Watershed District.
Trout habitat helpers: Arresting upland erosion
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.
Restoring Wolverton Creek
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.
Becker SWCD, NRCS’ expertise, funds, converge in Upper Buffalo River watershed
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.