Pope Soil & Water

Providing Quality Conservation Resources since 1949

Providing Quality Conservation Resources Since 1949

LANDOWNERS HAVE NEW OPTIONS TO HELP WITH BUFFER LAW

Today, the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources announced two additional resources for landowners working to come into compliance with the state’s buffer law. The law, which was passed with bipartisan support in 2015 and signed into law by Governor Dayton, requires the implementation of a buffer strip on public waters by November 1, 2017 and a buffer on public drainage ditches by November 1, 2018.  

These additional resources, both financial and found online, are designed to help landowners be successful in complying with the law.” explained John Jaschke, Executive Director BWSR.  “Local SWCDs and landowners have been working together over the past 18 months and, we are making great progress with 64 counties already 60-100% compliant.”

COST-SHARE PROGRAM

The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources has approved a new buffer cost-share program, allocating almost $5 million dollars to support landowners in meeting the requirements of the state buffer law. 

The funds will be distributed to soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs) and are to be used for cost-sharing contracts with landowners or their authorized agents to implement riparian buffers or alternative practices on public waters and public drainage ditches.

These Clean Water Funds, passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Dayton at the end of the 2017 legislative session, provide important support to the Governor’s Buffer Initiative. 

The 2017 legislation also recognizes that some landowners may have hardships (such as weather) in meeting the public waters deadline. The added language allows for an eight-month extension for implementation when a landowner or authorized agent has filed a riparian protection “compliance plan” with their local SWCD by November 1, 2017. Compliance waivers offer a buffer deadline extension until July 1, 2018.  

NEW ONE-STOP WEBSITE

Minnesota landowners with questions about compliance waivers and other buffer topics also have another option available today with the launching of a new one-stop website for information and tips to implement the buffer law. The new site, mn.gov/buffer-law, is a user-friendly and convenient resource for landowners and the public to learn about the law, find answers about alternative practices, and get information about financial and technical assistance and more.

The new buffer site, launched by the State of Minnesota is found at https://mn.gov/portal/natural-resources/buffer-law/ For more information on the buffer law, including the cost-share program, contact your local soil and water conservation district.

COMPLIANCE

Soil and Water Conservation Districts have been hard at work with landowners statewide and progress toward compliance is being made. 64 of Minnesota’s 87 counties are 60 – 100 percent in compliance with the buffer law. Statewide, preliminary compliance with the buffer law is 89%.

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BWSR is the state soil and water conservation agency, and it administers programs that prevent sediment and nutrients from entering our lakes, rivers, and streams; enhance fish and wildlife habitat; and protect wetlands. The 20-member board consists of representatives of local and state government agencies and citizens. BWSR’s mission is to improve and protect Minnesota’s water and soil resources by working in partnership with local organizations and private landowners.

Pope SWCD TO HOLD URBAN STORMWATER WORKSHOP JULY 24TH

City of Glenwood Urban Stormwater Project Flyer

The Pope Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is hosting an Urban Stormwater Project Workshop on July 24th starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Room at the Courthouse.  The workshop is being held to highlight information in the Stormwater Quality Assessment Project completed and provide information about urban stormwater projects that can be completed by individual property owners.  Presentations will be given by Larry VanHout from Widseth Smith and Nolting, Joe Lewis from Houston Engineering, and Holly Kovarik and Jessica Oldakowski from Pope SWCD.  Topics include:  City Street Project Overview, Stormwater Quality Assessment Project, Project Implementation Opportunities, and the Grant Program Opportunity.

The Pope SWCD has been working on a project funded by a State of Minnesota Board of Soil and Water Resources’ Clean Water Fund Grant to model the city’s stormwater conveyances and target potential water quality project locations.  This project was funded in 2015 by a grant application submitted by the Pope SWCD.  This project was completed to assess water quality of the contributing stormwater runoff from within the city to Lake Minnewaska.  This comprehensive watershed analysis was critical to identify and predict water quality load reductions from projects based on location.  The goal of the project is to improve water quality within Lake Minnewaska by reducing the concentrations of sediment and nutrients originating from within the City of Glenwood.  The secondary goal of the project is to assess the capacity of the stormwater conveyance system within the study area.  The study has been completed and the report findings will be shared.  The study was funded by the Clean Water Land and Legacy Fund which was a 3/8 of a percent sales tax increase that started in 2008.  Pope SWCD had to competitively apply for the funding in order to do this project and the project must have an emphasis on improving water quality to be funded.  That is the primary focus of this project but the Pope SWCD also recognizes that there are secondary benefits of flooding reduction that can also be looked at as well.  This was kept in mind during the analysis conducted and coordinated with the city. 

The City of Glenwood has been coordinating other work with the street reconstruction project.  They will provide an update on the progress of this effort.  This street reconstruction project will begin in 2018 and will have impact on Highway 28 and 104 that go through downtown.  This is a separate project from the work the Pope SWCD has been working on.  Most of the areas identified for retention and detention are in the upper part of the watershed.  These are the areas where we will gain more benefit for volume of water retained and greater reductions in pollutants. 

The Pope SWCD works in private lands conservation projects and will enter into projects with interested individual landowners.  We have identified in this study projects in certain parts of the city on city property but also on private property that might be well suited for a project.  It is our intent to gain feedback from landowners interested in implementing some of these urban stormwater projects to improve water quality in Lake Minnewaska.  Some examples include raingardens, rain barrels, adjustments to rain gutters, tree trenches, retention or detention ponds, pervious pavers, and grit chambers.  Not all project locations will be suited to construct some of these projects.  A site investigation will be necessary to determine if the soil types, utilities, and location will work to allow the project to function as designed. 

The Pope SWCD intends to apply for grant funding through the Board of Water and Soil Resources to attain Clean Water Funds to provide cost share up to 75% to implement these stormwater projects.  The Pope SWCD does not currently have funding and this effort is to attain information from interested and motivated landowners to implement one or more of these projects.  This information will strengthen the grant application and increase the likelihood of receiving additional grant funds.  The Pope SWCD will know in early 2018 if they are funded and then will begin work on planning, designing, and implementing these projects in 2018-2021.  If the application is not successful the SWCD will likely reapply in the fall of 2018.  If you are interested in learning more please attend this workshop or you may call Holly or Jessica at 320-634-5327. 

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HEALTHY SOILS ARE FULL OF LIFE POSTER CONTEST HELD

The idea of local conservation districts spurred in the early 1930s following one of America’s most severe environmental disasters, the Dust Bowl. During this time period, the United States suffered from severe drought and topsoil erosion. These detrimental events led to harsh farming conditions that forced farmers to flee their homes and land. Following this crisis, the importance of conservation practices throughout the nation became prominent. In 1937, in a letter addressed to the Governor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt stated, “The Nation that destroys its soil destroys itself.” This statement emphasized the significance of natural resource management.

The Pope County Soil & Water Conservation district (SWCD) along with similar organizations, partner with farmers and land owners to improve and protect the land’s soil and water quality through diverse management practices and projects. To learn more about soil types in your community, please visit Web Soil Survey Website. Along with the website, you can also download an application called “soilweb” for smart phone devices which also gives information about local soils. The app was developed by the California Soil Resource lab in collaboration with the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service and can be another great resource.

This year, students were invited to participate in the Annual Poster Contest put on the by The Pope County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD). With this year’s theme being “Healthy Soils are Full of Life”, students from three local elementary schools Belgrade Brooten Elrosa (BBE), Minnewaska Elementary, and Glacial Hills Elementary were challenged to tap into their creative skills by designing educational posters that focus on soil health. There were a total of three winners from each school along with another three overall winners for the County.

The Pope County Soil & Water Conservation District would like to thank everyone that participated in this year’s poster contest. The overall winners will compete at the Area II meeting in June. Area II covers twelve counties. Our first place overall poster contest winner will also be going to Long Lake Conservation Camp in June. The Pope SWCD sponsors a scholarship for her to attend.  Congratulations to all the winners and good luck to the overall winners at the area contest.

2017 Poster Contest Winners

Glacial Hills Elementary Winners
Belgrade Brooten Elrosa Elementary Winners
Minnewaska Elementary Winners

BBE

  1. Presley Detloff– 5th Grade, parent Tracy Detloff
  2. Ella Halvorson– 6th Grade, parents Ryan and Jesi Halvorson
  3. Brooklyn Fischer– 5th Grade, parents Boyd and Annette Fischer

Minnewaska Elementary

  1. Alica Boysen– 6th Grade, parents Dean and Jolee Boysen
  2. Makena Thoen– 6th Grade, parents Steven and Stephanie Thoen
  3. Ashlyn Bergemann– 5th Grade, parent Lisa Anderson

Glacial Hills Elementary

  1. Miranda Longtin– 6th Grade, parents Chris and Rebecca Longtin
  2. Haley Herfindahl– 5th Grade, parent Jennifer Herfindahl
  3. Carolos A Rivera– 5th Grade, parents Lucy and Carlos

Overall Winners

  1. Alica Boysen– 6th Grade, parents Dean and Jolee Boysen
  2. Makena Thoen– 6th Grade, parents Steve and Stephanie Thoen
  3. Presley Detloff– 5th Grade, parent Tracy Detloff

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STEWARDSHIP WEEK APRIL 30 THRU MAY 7

(Glenwood, MN)— As a part of the Pope County for 68 years, the Pope Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) wants to remind you that each of us has a connection to natural resources. The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) is celebrating the 62nd year of Stewardship week April 30 – May 7, 2017. The 2017 Stewardship Week is themed “Healthy Soils Are Full of Life!” Soil is the starting foundation of all of the food we eat.

The Mission of Pope Soil & Water Conservation District is to promote, guide, and provide high quality technical assistance for Pope County and for the enhancement and protection of land and water resources through implementation projects that will lead toward effective conservation of soil and water. During Stewardship Week, Pope SWCD provides materials to over 30 churches in the county on the theme and has presented to three school districts including 5th and 6th grade students at Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa, Minnewaska, and Glacial Hills schools.

“Making the connection back to the soil, where our food gets its start is so important,” says Gene Schmidt. “The next time you sit down to a meal, take a minute to think about where your food came from, and the farmers and ranchers who helped produce it,” As they work to produce food for the growing population, today’s farmers and ranchers are dedicated to using responsible land-management practices to ensure a sustainable food supply and healthy land and soil for future generations

Pope SWCD is a member of the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) which oversees the Stewardship Week program. Stewardship Week is one of the largest national annual programs to promote conservation. NACD represents the nation’s 3,000 conservation districts, which were established to encourage resource conservation across the country.

For more information about Stewardship Week and conservation, contact Holly Kovarik at 320-634-5327 or holly.kovarik@mn.nacdnet.net. Additional information about the Healthy Soils Are Full of Life! program and other useful resource education is available on the NACD website at http://www.nacdnet.org/general-resources/stewardship-program

The National Association of Conservation Districts is the non-profit organization that represents the nation’s 3,000 conservation districts, their state associations and the 17,000 men and women who serve on their governing boards. For almost 70 years, local conservation districts have worked with cooperating landowners and managers of private working lands to help them plan and apply effective conservation practices. NACD’s website is at www.nacdnet.org.

This Earth Day, we are grateful for our region’s natural resources

By: Holly Kovarik, Manager 320-634-5327

Every Earth Day, we at the Pope Soil and Water Conservation District reflect on the wonderful natural resources we get to enjoy in Pope County. Our staff is grateful for the opportunity to work with members of the community to facilitate voluntary initiatives to conserve land, water, forests and wildlife in our area. We are one of 89 Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) across the state – and nearly 3,000 across the nation – that provide a neighborly presence to help preserve and protect the natural resources that we all love. The Pope SWCD has been around for more than 68 years, and we’re proud of the impact we’ve made.

Recent highlights of our work completed in 2016 include: 47 structural practices, 1 alternative rock inlet project, and 3 shoreline restorations, 6 abandoned wells sealed, 10 certified Minnesota Ag Water Quality Farms totaling 5,573 acres, plus many other tree and grass plantings and conservation projects. These are just a few examples of the work we are trying to accomplish to improve and protect our natural resources in Pope County.

 

SWCDs are local units of government that carry out natural resource management programs at the local level. We provide voluntary, incentive-driven approaches to landowners for better soil and cleaner water in the State of Minnesota. Private landowners – using financial and technical assistance from local SWCDs – are implementing a wide variety of conservation practices including restoring wetlands, planting shelterbelts and buffers, and preventing soil erosion.

Born in the wake of the Dust Bowl, SWCDs have been involved in delivering conservation across America for more than 70 years. Because Minnesota has a wide variety of landscapes and conservation needs, each district operates at the direction of locally elected board supervisors. This local perspective allows SWCDs to manage the resources and serve the needs of the citizens in their district.

Soil and Water Conservation District staff and supervisors build partnerships with public and private, local, state and federal entities in an effort to develop locally-driven solutions to natural resource concerns. We work with landowners every step of the way from planning to implementation.

 

Our work results in cleaner water, healthier wildlife habitat, better soil, and a trusted, collaborative relationship with the community. What a great thing to celebrate this Earth Day.

 

To learn more about how your SWCD can help you, visit our website at www.popeswcd.org.

Rain Barrels Can Be Used For Water Conservation

By Dalton Herrboldt, Pope SWCD Intern

Want a way to utilize all that rain water that runs off of your roof and goes out your down spout? A rain barrel is your solution. It is a perfect way to capture soft water and help to reduce runoff. In the event of a rain shower rain washes chemicals, excess fertilizer, and sediment into storm sewers. You can help reduce this through the process of catching rain water in a rain barrel.

Rain water contains no chlorine, lime, or calcium making it perfect for any flowers around the house or potted plants. Being that is has no minerals in it, rain water is perfect for washing your car and will not leave the streaks that are left behind from hard water.

Rain Barrel Facts

  • Can save 1300 gallons of water throughout the growing season
  • Garden and lawn irrigation accounts for about 40% of residential water use during the summer
  • ½ inch of rain on 200 square feet of a roof is enough to fill a 60 gallon rain barrel
  • Reduces amount of water you pay for from the municipal for watering gardens and lawns

With a 32 square foot garden it is recommended to use 20 gallons of water per week. If you saved 1300 gallons of water with a rain barrel you would be able to water a 32 square foot garden for 65 weeks.

To maximize your rain water potential you can connect multiple rain water barrels together. Once the first one fills up to the overflow level it will start filling the second one, or you can hook them together from the bottom of the barrel and they will fill up at the same time. There are several different exterior designs for barrels now to match with your house or garage to your liking.

Now is the time to consider purchasing a rain barrel as the gardening season is fast approaching. The cost is $65.00 plus tax and we do have a limited supply available.  If you have an interest in collecting rain water and would like to purchase a rain barrel contact the Pope Soil and Water Conservation District at 320-634-5327.

 

 

2017 Tree Pickup Announced

Landowners that have placed a tree order with the Pope SWCD can pick up their trees on the following days and times.

Friday, April 21st 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 22nd 8:00 a.m. to Noon

Please pay by check if possible or settle up your balance before the tree pick up day.  All landowners who ordered will receive a statement in the mail within the next week or so.

The tree pickup location will be held at the Kelly Erickson Farm west of Starbuck on Hwy 28.  The address is:  33125 State Hwy 28, Starbuck, MN 56381.

Please note:  Trees and shrubs are bare root unless you ordered potted.  You will want to plant your trees as soon as you can to ensure the best survival of the trees/shrubs.  The tree/shrub roots will need to be kept moist until planting.

You will be notified if there are changes to the pickup day.  Please arrange to pick up your trees/shrubs at these scheduled times.  If you cannot make arrangements to pick up your trees during these times then please contact our office at 320-634-5327.

Sincerely,

Kelly Erickson, Technician

Pope Soil and Water Conservation District

Buffer Progress in Pope County

As we kick off the New Year, we tend to look back on our previous year’s achievements. One of those achievements is the continued work done by the state, local agencies, counties, and landowners in regards to the 2015 Minnesota Buffer and Soil Loss Law. This past year has been filled with progress. The Department of Natural Resources released the official Buffer Map and the Board of Water and Soil Resources have been creating tools and guidance documents for local agencies such as Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) and Watershed Districts for effective and consistent implementation.

Here at our Pope SWCD office, we have completed a county wide desktop analysis. Each parcel that is requiring a buffer was reviewed in order to find initial compliance based on aerial maps. The next steps are to meet with landowners about their parcels, provide technical assistance such as field verification and staking, and compliance validation checks.  We will be sending waves of letters to landowners who have parcels that need further review or assistance.  This past week letters were sent to the following townships: Nora, New Prairie, Walden, and Hoff.  Please schedule an appointment to meet with me if you receive a letter. If you do not receive a letter but would still like to check on your buffer requirements we will ask that you also schedule an appointment.

Going through the initial desktop analysis and data review, we found that, with some margin of error, Pope County is sitting quite well. Most landowners when they have come in to visit about buffers realize that they already have the majority of the required buffer width and only need to add a small acreage. Many of these sites are less than an acre that is to be added for full compliance. Overall, Pope County is 93 percent compliant. With roughly only 300 parcels to review, a possible 6 percent may be falling short of the buffer requirement. The state of Minnesota, based on initial review, is 80 percent compliant. We, as Minnesotans, have been doing great conservation work and are already good stewards of the land. There is just a little bit of last minute work to fully button up the buffer initiative for improving water quality and enhancing habitat.  Please contact our office by calling 320-634-5327, ask for Jessica.

Pope SWCD Recognized Chamber Business of the Month

chamberbusinessofthemonth2017

Front row: Kay Blaurert, Dean Peterson, Tom Talle, Holly Kovarik, Nicole Brede, Kelly EricksonBack row: Scott Formo, Randy Pederson, D. Gary Reents, Mike Billehus, Keith Nygaard, and Jessica Oldkowski

Photo credit: Pope County Tribune/Marta Johnson

 

Pope SWCD Recognized as 2016 SWCD of the Year

Pope SWCD 2016 MASWCD District of the Year Paul and Barb Koubsky 2016 Pope SWCD Conservationists of the Year

Pope SWCD board and staff attended the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation District Annual Conference December 4-6 in Bloomington, Minnesota.  Pope SWCD nominated Paul and Barb Koubsky as this year’s Outstanding Conservationist for Pope County.  They were recognized at the convention during a luncheon on Tuesday, December 6th.

Pope SWCD was also named as the 2016 District of the Year.  This award is given to only one SWCD in the state that has shown leadership and has gone above and beyond in its programs and activities.

Pope SWCD Opens Internship Positions

Pope SWCD currently has two opportunities for employment. Visit the quick link on this page to fill out an application for the Hydrologist Internship which closes February 17, 2017 (seasonal position) or the Technician Intern closes January 20th, 2017 (12 month position).