Pope Soil & Water

Providing Quality Conservation Resources since 1949

Providing Quality Conservation Resources Since 1949

POPE SWCD MEETS WITH LOCAL LEGISLATORS

Holly Kovarik and Kelly Erickson from Pope Soil and Water Conservation District, attended a legislative briefing and meetings at the State Capitol March 5-6 in St. Paul.

They joined a group of other officials from the state’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) who met in St. Paul to gather support for conservation districts’ programs and issues.

“It is important for us to get the conservation message out to our elected officials in St. Paul,” said Holly Kovarik, of Glenwood. The 2019 Legislative Session is critical to the future of conservation districts in the state, noted Kelly Erickson. “This year, included in the many issues legislators and the Governor are addressing is state funding for SWCDs as well as funding for the programs and projects they deliver. We have to work hard to make sure the state’s commitment to sharing in the funding needs of SWCDs doesn’t fall by the way-side. Local Soil and Water Conservation Districts play an integral role in enhancing Minnesotan’s quality of life through conservation on private lands, which yields environmental, wildlife and aesthetic benefits to the public.

During the visit to St. Paul, Kovarik and Erickson met with local legislators: Representative Paul Anderson, Representative Jeff Backer, and Senator Torrey Westrom.

The event was sponsored by the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

SWCDs fill the crucial niche of providing land and water conservation services to owners of private lands. For more information on the Pope Soil and Water Conservation District, please call 320-634-5327.

Sauk River Watershed One Watershed One Plan Informational Meetings

Greetings,

 Sauk River Watershed 1 Watershed 1 Plan has a public hearing that will be held on Tuesday November 13th at Elmerz in Sauk Centre or Wednesday November 14th at the Stearns County Service Center.  These meetings will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. these two evenings.

 This information will be used to provide input to develop the 10-year management plan for the watershed.  For more information visit http://srwdmn.org.

 We would like to invite you to take the online survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SaukRiver.

SaukRiver Watershed Announcement_v2infomeeting– Informational Meeting Flyer see attached link

 

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.

 

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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