The Wisconsin - Minnesota Wetland Functional Assessment Initiative has been completed. Further information and associated documents can be on our Wetland Functional Assessment page starting on 10/22/2025.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 30, 2023
Contact: Claire Lancaster
651-219-2975
[ST. PAUL, MN] – Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan on June 30 announced the following appointments to the Board of Water and Soil Resources.
Lori Cox – Carver, MN
Board of Water and Soil Resources
Citizen Member
Effective: July 5, 2023
Term Expires: January 5, 2026
Replacing: Gerald VanAmburg
Jill Crafton – Bloomington, MN
Board of Water and Soil Resources
Watershed District Representative
Effective: July 5, 2023
Term Expires: January 4, 2027
Reappointment
Todd Holman – St. Cloud, MN
Board of Water and Soil Resources
Chair
Effective: July 5, 2023
Term Expires: January 4, 2027
Replacing: Gerald VanAmburg
Kelly Kirkpatrick – Rochester, MN
Board of Water and Soil Resources
Elected City Official – Non-Metro
Effective: July 5, 2023
Term Expires: January 4, 2027
Reappointment
Neil Peterson – Saint Hilaire, MN
Board of Water and Soil Resources
County Comissioner
Effective: July 5, 2023
Term Expires: January 4, 2027
Reappointment
Michael Runk – Oak Park Heights, MN
Board of Water and Soil Resources
Elected City Official - Seven-County Metro Area
Effective: July 5, 2023
Term Expires: January 4, 2027
Replacing: Carly Johnson
About the Board of Water and Soil Resources:
The Board of Water and Soil Resources oversees and coordinates the water and soil resources management activities of local units of government through approval of local plans, administration of state grants, cost-sharing contracts, performance evaluation, and administrative appeals and hearings. The board’s mission is to improve and protect Minnesota’s water and soil resources by working in partnership with local organizations and private landowners.
Turf Conversion Projects:
The One Watershed, One Plan program offers planning resources and staff support for groups working together to develop comprehensive watershed management plans. These resources are intended to support the board-adopted policies. Contact a BWSR staff person (maps below in the "external links" section) for more information.
Learn about the One Watershed, One Plan program with videos that introduce and explore the concepts around watershed-based planning.
This chapter was developed to provide guidance for a uniform system of budgeting, accounting, and financial reporting for the soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs) in Minnesota to aid in preparing financial reports in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). As of its release date, the chapter represents best practices for SWCDs which have been identified by stakeholders across the state. BWSR does not provide accounting or legal advice. Please consult with your accountant or legal counsel for further information.
Tech Talks is a online training series organized by the Technical Training and Certification Program. Rotating speakers cover a wide variety of technical topics at 1:00 on the identified Mondays. Miss a session you were interested in? We record every presentations and make replays available in the Online Learning section of the TTCP website.
These webinars are delivered using Microsoft Teams (Need help?)
TTCP
A listing of the 2025 sessions and replay can be found on the 2025 Tech Talk page.
| Date | Topic | Description |
|---|---|---|
| January 12 | TTCP Onboarding | This training will provide employees with an orientation to the Technical Training and Certification Program. Participants will become familiar with the training resources that are available to them through TTCP. In addition, participants will start to develop their own personalized learning plan. Those who plan to attend should bring your job description to the training and ask around to find out the five most commonly used conservation practices in your work area. |
| January 26 | CPS 528 Grazing Management Updates | Jeff Duchene, State Grazing Lands Specialist (NRCS), reviews the 528 Grazing Management practice updates:
A replay of this session can be found here. |
| February 2 | Endangered Species Act Pesticide Labels: how and where do conservation professionals fit in? | Neal Kittelson (MDA) will present on the EPA's updated pesticide labels that include new Endangered Species Act protections. Conservation professionals may play a key role in helping agricultural producers navigate compliance. This presentation will explore the intersection of pesticide regulation and conservation, highlighting how future and existing land management practices and conservation programs can contribute to meeting ESA mitigation requirements. Recent changes to pesticide labeling introduce conservation practices as options to fulfill mitigation requirements related to spray drift and runoff/erosion. This talk will provide insights into EPA’s new mitigation frameworks, including the use of online tools like Bulletins Live! Two and EPA's Mitigation Menu website, and how programs like NRCS's EQIP and the MDA's Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program can support compliance. The presentation will emphasize the importance of technical assistance, proactive planning, and thorough documentation, while showing how conservation professionals can be valuable partners in supporting ESA compliance efforts. A replay of this session can be found here. |
| February 9 | Grazing Contingency Planning | In this session Jeff Duchene, State Grazing Lands Specialist (NRCS), will discuss managing pastures during drought conditions, managing excessively wet weather, and managing sacrificial areas. A replay of this session can be found here. |
| February 23 | Winter Camelina: A New Winter Annual Oilseed Crop for Economic and Environmental Benefit | Winter camelina is a winter hardy brassica that can add diversity to a traditional corn and soybean rotation and has potential as a cash crop. During this session Matt Leavitt (UMN Forever Green) and Anna Teeter (Cargill) will discuss the agronomy and marketing of camelina including planting, harvest, herbicides, and markets. A replay of this session can be found here. |
| March 2 | Conservation Planner Certification | What is a certified conservation planner and why is it important? Join this session hosted by your Technical Training and Certification Program to learn about becoming a Level 1, 2, or 3 conservation planner and upcoming training opportunities to help you meet your goals. A replay of this session can be found here. |
| March 9 | Basic Conservation Information for Livestock & Manure | Join Matt Robert, Agricultural Engineer (NRCS), for a session about the characteristics of manure and its importance in conservation planning. The webinar will talk about the different livestock manure and the importance of knowing fundamental information about the manure to assist the producer in finding the best way to handle, store, and land apply manure. A replay of this session can be found here. |
| March 16 | Minnesota Nutrient Reduction Strategy (NRS) 10 Year Update Overview | Minnesota's Nutrient Reduction Strategy, originally published in 2014, was recently updated and republished. During this session Matt Drewitz and Corrie Layfield (MPCA) will review progress on the existing strategy and provide an overview of the updated plan. A replay of this session can be found here. |
| March 23 | Soil Mechanics | Join Miranda Berge (NRCS) for this session, covering the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS), essential laboratory procedures for determining soil classification, and practical techniques for identifying soils in the field when lab equipment isn’t available. A replay of this session can be found here. |
| April 6 | Nutrient and Sediment Reduction Estimators | Join Matt Drewitz and David Miller (MPCA), along with Udai Singh and Cameron Gaspord (BWSR), to learn about some new tools used to estimate changes in nutrient and sediment delivery to surface waters following the installation of Best Management Practices (BMPs). The BMP Effects Estimator Tool (BEET) Planner estimates reductions on the watershed scale as a result of new BMPs being installed, while the Forestry Estimator for Runoff and Nutrients (FERN) estimates water quality benefits from the installation of forestry BMPSs. |
| April 13 | Farm Economics - Overview | This session provides and overview of whole farm economics with Keith Olander (AgCentric). Historical context, challenges on the farm, the influence of government payments, and planning for the 2026 farm year will be covered. |
| April 20 | Soil Fertility Management on Pasture | Education Educators Troy Salzer and Tarah Young (UMN Extension) discuss the basics of pasture soil fertility including soil testing, plant nutrient needs, and liming. |
| May 4 | Stream and Oxbow Restoration in Minnesota | Restored streams and oxbows provide critical wildlife habitat, increase water storage capacity, and reduce sediment loading in our waterways - benefiting both surrounding lands and downstream water resources. Join Scott Ralston (USFWS) to learn how these restoration projects are planned and implemented. He will outline the restoration process and explain how these efforts create lasting ecological and water quality benefits. |
| May 11 | Farm Economics - Crops | Keith Olander (AgCentric) breaks down various crop enterprises, input costs, break evens, and the 2026 planning on cost of production. |
| May 18 | Minnesota Core Competency Conservation Training | Join this session for a discussion with your Technical Training and Certification Program trainers on the self paced training modules available on the Minnesota Core Competency Conservation (MNC3) website, including:
We’ll cover how you can access these trainings and what you can expect to get out of them. |
| June 15 | Farm Economics - Livestock | Join Keith Olander (AgCentric) for a discussion on livestock economics including profitability, historical context, and planning for 2026 for various livestock enterprises. |
| July 13 | Job Approval Authority | What is Job Approval Authority? Why is it important? How do I get it? Join your Technical Training and Certification Program trainers in this session to learn about the background of Job Approval Authority (JAA) and how it is used in today’s conservation environment. Examples of ecological and engineering JAA will be reviewed, including controlling factors and job classes. Bring your questions! |
| September 21 | Individual Development Plan Tool | Your Technical Training and Certification Program (TTCP) utilizes the Individual Development Plan (IDP) Tool in eLINK to display your Job Approval Authority (JAA) and other credentials, help track your training history, and identify your training needs. Join this session to gain some insight into how TTCP uses the IDP tool to prioritize local training needs to develop an annual training plan. Time will be dedicated for password resets, trouble shooting, and helping attendees complete their IDPs. |
| November 16 | Technical Training Resources | Join this session to hear from your Technical Training and Certification Program trainers about the smorgasbord of technical training resources available to you. We will explore the Training Calendar, Online Learning, Training Tracks and Series, and many other topics. Bring your training needs and discover the possibilities! |
If you would like to suggest a topic, please contact us.
During this session Miranda Berge (NRCS) discusses the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS), essential laboratory procedures for determining soil classification, and practical techniques for identifying soils in the field when lab equipment isn’t available.
TTCP
