Pope Soil & Water

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

Belgrade Brooten Elrosa Elementary Winners

BBE

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

Minnewaska Elementary

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

Glacial Hills Elementary

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

Overall Winners

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

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 5^th and 6^th 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.