Pope Soil & Water

Providing Quality Conservation Resources since 1949

Providing Quality Conservation Resources Since 1949

Pope Soil and Water Conservation District Sponsors Annual Poster Contest

 

Watersheds: Our Water, Our Home

On May 11th, the fifth and sixth graders from Glacial Hills, Minnewaska, and BBE middle schools submitted their artistic environmental posters. Each student from the three schools created an informational work of art on the theme “Watersheds: Our Water, Our Home.” The dozens of amazing posters submitted demonstrated talent and intelligence from every student. The Pope Soil and Water Conservation District board members were challenged with the task of picking the best posters from each school and the best from the overall.

The winners from Glacial Hills are the fifth graders Melena Longtin with first place, Shayne Wilgman with second, and Isabelle Porter with third. The winners from Minnewaska are fifth grader Mattie Parish with first place, sixth grader Grace Larson with second, and Miaya Guggisberg with third. The winners from BBE are the sixth graders Taylor Oeltjenbruns with first place, Presley Detloff with second, and Mia Cyotes with third. In the comparison between the three schools, the overall first place winner is Taylor Oeltjenbruns from BBE while the second and third place winners are Mattie Parish from Minnewaska and Presley Detloff from BBE respectively.

Pope SWCD annually sponsors this poster contest and goes to each school district to present on each year’s theme. The overall winner of the poster contest wins a paid trip to Long Lake Conservation Camp this summer. This year’s winner of the camp is Taylor Oeltjenbruns from the Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa School.

Pope SWCD sends a big congratulations to all the winners and all those who participated! Every student did a fantastic job!

 

Top Left: Glacial Hills Winners, Top Right: Belgrade Brooten Elrosa Winners, and Bottom Minnewaska Winners

North Fork Crow River One Watershed One Plan

 The North Fork Crow River Water Planning Partnership, on behalf of the members, is pleased to present the North Fork Crow River One Watershed, One Plan for 60-day review. The Plan developed through One Watershed, One Plan has been built off existing local water management plans and priorities, existing and new studies and data, Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies (WRAPS) and other related plans from state agencies. You may view the plan document at the link here.

 Please take note of a few events regarding the North Fork Crow River One Watershed, One Plan. Both meetings are open and free to the public.

 Meeting 1.

What: One Watershed One Plan Information Meeting for Public – short presentation, and informal conversation/discussion

When: Tuesday, March 27, 2018 – 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Location: North Fork WD Office – 1030 Front Street, Brooten, MN 56316

Attendees: Public, any interested parties, cost – free

 Meeting 2.

What: One Watershed One Plan Public Hearing

When: Monday, April 16, 2018 – 5:30PM – 6:30 PM

Location: Litchfield County Courthouse – Basement meeting space

325 N Sibley Ave, Litchfield, MN 55355

Attendees: Public, any interested parties, cost – free

 

More information can be found on the NFCRWD website and the Crow River Organization of Water website.

 

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.