St. Paul, Minn.
As the year draws to a close, the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) recognized the excellent work done locally in Minnesota communities to advance conservation.
John Jaschke, BWSR Executive Director, explains, “Our local government partners are the key conservation resource for their community. They answer questions, provide resources, and are the trusted experts on specific conservation issues and concerns. This year we are pleased to announce awards for two exceptional employees of local government, and a county conservation award.”
2017 Outstanding Soil and Water Conservation District Employee
Peter Mead, District Administrator for Becker Soil and Water Conservation District, was honored at the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts annual meeting on December 5, 2017. Peter has helped the district achieve success leading up to and during 2017, such as leading a number of projects, including the Becker County Drainage Ditch Inventory and Inspection Project, the South Branch Wild Rice Sediment Reduction Project, and the Buffalo Red Shallow Lakes and Mainstem Improvement Strategy. Peter’s initiative has also resulted in improved technology to increase effectiveness of their work, including a lake prioritization tool and modernized mapping and permitting tools.
2017 Outstanding Watershed District Employee
Phil Belfiori, District Administrator Rice Creek Watershed District, was honored at the Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts annual meeting on December 1, 2017. He uses collaboration and partnerships to focus on implementation of on-the-ground projects to improve water quality and reduce flooding in a complex watershed that has urban, suburban, and rural water concerns. With the support of the District’s Board of Managers he has implemented pro-active repair and maintenance of the public drainage system and oversees one of the state’s busiest wetland conservation act local government units.
In 2017 Phil used his extensive background in watershed and water resource management to develop a strategic plan Rice Creek Watershed District, increase staff capacity and retention, while increasing the number of projects the District is working on now and in the future. Phil positioned the Rice Creek Watershed District as a leader in Minnesota through innovative approaches to issues such as stormwater reuse, carp management, and wetland banks.
2017 Association of Minnesota Counties-BWSR County Conservation Award
The 2017 County Conservation Award was given to Rock County. Following heavy flooding in June 2014, the Rock County Land Management Office (LMO) surveyed damages to infrastructure as well as erosion control projects and other conservation practices designed to protect waters of the county. Nearly 600 flooded areas and constructed conservation practices were evaluated. The estimated cost to fully repair and remediate these projects totaled $4.2 million. The county outlined the need for funding and received $1.5 million to cost-share projects with landowners that would repair damages or implement new more durable conservation measures on the land for water quality benefits. To date they have accomplished nearly 150 engineered waterways, water and sediment control basins, and stream bank and shore land protection projects.
Rock County was able to leverage $1.5 million in state funds and doubled the impact through local appropriations, private cost-share match, and the use of federal funds.
The project also led to flood retention methods on a smaller scale through projects designed to retain flood water and store it on the land. The County LMO partnered with private engineers, the regional Technical Service Area (TSA) engineers, and SWCD staff to accomplish the large work load involved with designing and installing these conservation projects.
St. Paul, Minn.
In October, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced a temporary suspension of enrollment in the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CCRP). However, Minnesota landowners are still able to participate in sign-ups for the Minnesota Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (MN CREP).
The MN CREP is a partnership between the State and USDA that includes both the federal Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and state Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) Reserve easement program to create buffers, restore wetlands, and protect wellheads for drinking water. Farmers and agricultural landowners can voluntarily enroll land in the program. The program’s 60,000 acres will provide water quality and habitat protection benefits in the state.
“MN CREP’s attractive payment rates and ability to retire marginal cropland make it an excellent option for landowners,” said Bill Penning, Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) Easement Section Manager.
MN CREP applications are being accepted in the 54-county project area of southern and west central Minnesota. Interested landowners can continue to sign-up at their local USDA FSA office.
The program is just one option for landowners who wish to install conservation practices on their land.
The local FSA/Natural Resources Conservation Service/Soil and Water Conservation District office can provide numerous strategic, voluntary, long-term solutions to directly address resource problems. The Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) encourages eligible landowners to contact their local Soil and Water Conservation District for more information and signup assistance.
Learn more at www.bwsr.state.mn.us/crep/ or find your local SWCD at www.maswcd.org.