Pope Soil & Water

Pope Soil and Water Conservation District Sponsors Annual Poster Contest

Watersheds: Our Water, Our Home

On May 11^th, 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

TREE PICKUP TIME HAS ARRIVED

Landowners will be receiving notice in the next few days about tree pickup. The information is listed below as well.

The Trees/shrubs you ordered from Pope SWCD will be ready to pick up between 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Friday, April 27th and 8:00 a.m. and Noon on Saturday, April 28th. We will know if we have additional trees/shrubs right away. These will be available at pick up times.

Pick up will be at the Kelly and Audrey Erickson Farm 33125 State Hwy 28, Starbuck, MN 56381. A map of the pickup location printed below. We ask that you arrange to pick up your trees/shrubs at this time.

If you have an outstanding balance please pay for your trees/shrubs now, preferably by check. If you must pay on pick up day, please pay by check. Please note if you have paid in advance you will be able to go through the pickup process in an express line. Those who have a balance may have a longer wait time. If you have any questions or comments, you can call our office at (320) 634-5327.

From Glenwood/Starbuck: Take Hwy 28 W toward Morris go approximately 12 miles watch for tree pickup signs on South side of road. It is located about 4 more miles west of Starbuck on HWY 28, south side of the road.

Sincerely,

Kelly Erickson, Sales Program Manager

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.

Minnesota Walk In Access Program Sign Up Now

Are you looking to get an additional income from your conservation land? This spring you should look into enrolling into the Walk In Access Program (WIA). The primary objective of the Walk In Access Program is to provide new hunting opportunities on private lands currently enrolled in conservation programs with quality wildlife habitat, such as the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM), and the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP). Other natural lands may also be eligible for enrollment if high-quality habitat exists.

Once enrolled, the land is open to public hunting access during any open hunting season, including spring turkey. The location of areas enrolled will be publicized in an annual book and posted on the DNR website. Bright yellow-green signs will be installed along WIA boundaries once land is enrolled. WIA land is for hunting only. There is no target practice, trapping, dog training, camping, horseback riding, driving, or fires allowed on the property. Landowners are protected from liability, unlike private leases. Trespassing and hunting violations will be dealt with by DNR Conservation Officers.

Eligible sites must meet the minimum size of 40 acres. Acreage smaller than 40 acres may enroll if the land is contiguous with a Wildlife Management Areas (WMA), Waterfowl Production Areas (WPA), or another WIA resulting in at least 40 contiguous acres open to public hunting. Landowners sign into a one year or up to three year contract, with the ability to cancel the contract at any time without penalty.

Payment rates for signing up with the WIA program include:

$10/acre base payment
$1/ac. incentive payment if area is more than 140 acres
$1/ac. incentive payment if land is located within a half-mile of other public hunting (WMA/WPA)

$1/ac. incentive payment for a multi-year agreement.

So if you have land in CRP, RIM, WRP, CREP, or any other conservation program and would be interested in earning extra money from it please contact Nicole Brede with the Pope Soil & Water Conservation District. You can stop by our office or call us at 320-634-5327. We would be happy to answer any questions and assist with enrollment of your land. For more information, you can also visit www.mndnr.gov/walkin. Deadline for enrollment is April 27, 2018.