M A R S H A L L C O U N T Y

S O I L A N D W A T E R

C O N S E R V A T I O N

D I S T R I C T

2 0 1 5

A N N U A L P L A N

The purpose of this document is to set forth objectives, which the Marshall County SWCD plans to fulfill in the following year. This plan will provide an outline of goals and objectives that we need to accomplish in order to achieve our comprehensive plan and our overall objective. Following each action, the expected staff days needed to complete the action is included.

CONCERN: SOIL EROSION

Objective: Protecting Cropland

Goal #1: - Plant 30,000 feet of field windbreak, 10.3 acres of wildlife plantings and 500 acres of custom seeding.

ACTION

1. Advertise tree program and cost share options.

Manager – 10 Staff Days

Administrative Assistant – 7 Staff Days

2.Develop planting plans and billings.

Manager – 15 Staff Days

Administrative Assistant – 10 Staff Days

Other – 15 Staff Days

3.Planting trees/Handing out Trees

Manager – 30 Staff Days

Administrative Assistant – 20 Staff Days

District Technician – 3 Staff Days

Other – 20 Staff Days

4.Custom Grass Seeding

Manager – 10 Staff Days

Other – 20 Staff Days

5.Certify completion

Manager – 5 Staff Days

6.Order trees from nursery.

Manager – 2Staff Days

7.Tree maintenance/Weed Badger and billings.

Manager – 25 Staff Days

Administrative Assistant – 5 Staff Days

Other – 4 Staff Days

Goal #2 – Utilize RIM, EQIP, AWEP and CRP to enroll and re-enroll conservation habitat acres.

ACTION

1.Promote information and opportunities of RIM, EQIP and CRP with assistance from Pheasant’s Forever and Ducks Unlimited technicians.

Manager – 15 Staff Days

Administrative Assistant – 1 Staff Day

District Technician – 1 Staff Day

Farm Bill Technician – 20 Staff Days

2.Assist landowners with RIM, EQIP, AWEP and CRP sign-up.

Manager – 15 Staff Days

Administrative Assistant – 1 Staff Day

District Technician – 1 Staff Day

Farm Bill Technician – On Going

3.Develop RIM, EQIP, AWEP and CRP contracts.

Manager – 10 Staff Day

Administrative Assistant – 30 Staff Days

District Technician – 30 Staff Days

Farm Bill Technician – 9 Staff Days

4.Review of RIM Reserve seedings/contracts/status reviews.

Manager – 1 Staff Day

District Technician – 1 Staff Day

Farm Bill Technician – 9 Staff Days

5.Assist agencies per technical guidelines of EQIP,AWEP, RIM and CRP.

Manager – 20 Staff Days

District Technician – 10 Staff Days

6.Assist NRCS with contribution agreements if they become available.

Manager – On Going

District Technician – On Going

Administrative Assistant – On Going

Goal #3 – Promote conservation tillage, set aside cover optionsand soil health through AG BMP loans for purchasing no-till equipment.

ACTION

1.Promote and monitor cover crops and minimum/no till practice.

Manager – On going

SWCD Board – On going

Other – On going

2. Assemble data on various systems.

Manager – 1 Staff Days

3.Promote conservation tillage systems with landowners.

Manager – 5 Staff Days

Goal #4 – Develop and promote timely and informational newspaper articles.

ACTION

1.Assign schedule of writing jobs.

Administrative Assistant – 1 Staff Day

2.Prepare and release news articles timely and for special case.

Administrative Assistant – 2 Staff Days

District Technician – 2 Staff Days

3.Contact radio stations with special announcements.

Administrative Assistant – 1 Staff Day

CONCERN: WATER MANAGEMENT

Objective: Assist and coordinate efforts in securing water quality.

Goal #1 – Implementation of Comprehensive Local Water Management Plan.

ACTION

1.Serve on Water Resource Advisory Committee.

Manager – 1Staff Day

District Technician – 6 Staff Days

2.Provide data and develop documentation.

Manager – 1 Staff Day

Administrative Assistant – 1 Staff Day

District Technician – 15 Staff Days

3.Identify high priority areas for sedimentation.

Staff – On Going

NRCS – On Going

4.Implementation of Comprehensive Local Water Plan Education Program.

Manager – 1 Staff Day

Administrative Assistant – 1 Staff Day

District Technician – 1 Staff Day

5.Identification of feedlots.

Staff – On Going

6.Identification of non-point source pollution (other than feedlots).

Staff – On Going

7.Provide information pertaining to water quality and quantity.

Staff – On going

8.Assist County Water and Land Office with Water Quality Monitoring.

District Technician – 6 Staff Days

Administrative Assistant – 6 Staff Days

9.Identification, planning and implementation of erosion/sediment control and water quality measures.

Manager – On Going

District Technician – On Going

Goal #2 – Maintain cooperative relations with Middle-Snake-Tamarac River and Red Lake Watershed District.

ACTION

  1. Meet yearly in joint board session.

Manager – 1 Staff Day

SWCD Board – 5 Staff Days

Administrative Assistant – 1 Staff Day

District Technician – 1 Staff Day

2.Meet with Middle-Snake-Tamarac River and Red Lake Watershed Representatives for technical planning.

Manager – 3 Staff Days

Technician – 8 Staff Days

Goal #3 – Collect precipitation and water resource data.

ACTION

1.Maintain rain gauge network.

Administrative Assistant – 3 Staff Days

2.Collect data for DNR observation wells.

Manager – 9 Staff Days

Administrative Assistant – 3 Staff Days

3.Collect and record well drilling data.

Administrative Assistant – 1 Staff Day

Goal #4 – Stay current of activities affecting water use in the SWCD.

ACTION

1.Review water permit applications.

Manager – 1 Staff Day

2.Submit comments to DNR.

Administrative Assistant – 2 Staff Days

SWCD Board – 2 Staff Days

Goal #5 – Preserve wetlands.

ACTION

1.Implement State Wetland Act.

Manager – 20 Staff Days

Administrative Assistant – 10 Staff Days

District Technician – 45 Staff Days

Goal #6 – Thief River Watershed Buffer Initiative.

ACTION

1.Project development and landowner/operator outreach.

District Technician – 10 Staff Days

District Manager –4 Staff Days

Administrative Assistant – 2 Staff Days

NRCS – 5 Staff Days

Farm Bill Technician – 25 Staff Days

2.Identification of practice establishment locations.

District Technician – On Going

District Manager – On Going

NRCS – On Going

3.Planning, survey, design and practice establishment.

District Technician – 10 Staff Days

District Manager – 5 Staff Days

RRVCSA Engineer – 15 Staff Days

Farm Bill Technician – 5 Staff Days

4.Administration and report.

District Technician – 10 Staff Days

Administrative Assistant – 15 Staff Days

Farm Bill Technician – 5 Staff Days

Goal #7 – Administer Aquatic Invasive Species Program

ACTION

1.Attend meetings and training.

District Manager – 5 Staff Days

2.Promotion and awareness.

District Manager – 10 Staff Days

Administrative Assistant – 3 Staff Days

3.Signage and promotion on land sites.

District Manager – 8 Staff Days

Administrative Assistant – 2 Staff Days

4.Public awareness materials distribution.

SWCD Staff – On Going

CONCERN: AWARENESS OF CONSERVATION ISSUES

Objective: Conduct a Conservation Education Program.

Goal #1 – Assist with Envirothon at Agassiz Wildlife Refuge or Lake Bronson State Park

ACTION

1.Develop a program.

Manager – 1 Staff Days

Administrative Assistant – 3 Staff Days

District Technician – 9 Staff Days

2.Conduct presentation at scheduled time.

Manager – 1 Staff Day

Administrative Assistant – 1 Staff Day

District Technician – 1 Staff Day

3.Serve on State Envirothon Committee

District Technician – 2 Staff Days

Goal #2 – Publish SWCD newsletter yearly.

ACTION

1.Assign articles to be written and assemble layout.

Manager – 1 Staff Day

Administrative Assistant – 4 Staff Days

District Technician – 1 Staff Day

2.Take photos for Education.

Staff – On Going

3.Coordinate mailing

Administrative Assistant – 4 Staff Day

Goal #3 – Conduct soil stewardship week activities.

ACTION

1.Make presentation to Ministerial Association.

Administrative Assistant – 1 Staff Day

2.Distribute material from NACD.

Administrative Assistant – 2 Staff Days

3.Prepare feature for press on Soil Stewardship.

Administrative Assistant – 1 Staff Day

Goal #4 – Conduct Northwest Minnesota Water Festival.

ACTION

1.Set up and assist with Water Festival.

Manager – 1 Staff Day

Administrative Assistant – 3 Staff Days

District Technician – 4 Staff Days

2.Contact local media concerning Water Festival

Administrative Assistant – 1 Staff Day

Goal #5 – Tree presentation to Area Students in the County.

Administrative Assistant – 2 Staff Days

District Technician – 2 Staff Days

Objective: Weed Management Program

Goal #1 – Carry out administration functions of Weed Management Program.

District Technician – On Going

Administrative Assistant – 5 Staff Days

Manager – 2 Staff Days

Goal #2 – Carry out technical duties of Weed Management Program.

District Technician – 10 Staff Days

Goal #3 – Promote and provide education materials.

District Technician – 2 Staff Days

Administrative Assistant – 2 Staff Days

Objective: Apprentice Program

Goal #1 – Provide training(hands on/in field) for conservation programs/practices and equipment.

SWCD Staff – On Going – May-August

NRCS Staff – On Going – May-August

CONCERN: ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

Objective: Meet obligations most efficiently.

Goal #1 – Secure funding for SWCD operations.

ACTION

1.Be aware of funding sources and technical requirements.

Manager – 5 Staff Days

Administrative Assistant – 3 Staff Days

2.Pursue eligible funds.

Manager – 5 Staff Days

Administrative Assistant – 5 Staff Day

SWCD Board – 4 Staff Days

District Technician – 20 Staff Days

3.Maintain open communications with CountyCommissioners.

SWCD Staff – On going

SWCD Board – On going

Goal #2 – Conduct O & M inspections on SWCD projects.

ACTION

1.Assist with O & M Inspection on Tamarac Watershed.

Administrative Assistant – 1 Staff Day

NRCS – 1 Staff Day

2.Carry out inspection and follow up reports.

Administrative Assistant – 1 Staff Day

SWCD Board – 1 Staff Day

NRCS – 2 Staff Days

3.Follow up on state cost share funded projects.

Manager – 4 Staff Days

District Technician – 2 Staff Days

Administrative Assistant – 1 Staff Day

STAFFING NEEDS

The following are the proposed staffing requirements for the Marshall County Soil and Water Conservation District:

WORKLOAD ANALYSIS WORKSHEET FOR “OTHER” WORK (hours)

Administrative

Assistant Manager Technician

Assignment

District Meetings48 48 48

PO Development3232 32

Monthly Reports12 6 6

Annual/Quarterly

Reports40 8 8

Training or Training

Plan Development

And Reviews 96 96 96

Annual Leave 200120 160

Sick Leave96 96 96

Holidays80 80 80

Mail and Bulletins96 80 80

Assist with miscellaneous

“walk-ins” 136 176 120

Bookkeeping 480

SUBTOTAL 1316 742 726

TOTAL HOURS AVAILABLE 2080 2080 2080

AVAILABLE FOR PO 764 1338 1354

HOURS AVAILABLE IN DAYS 95.5 167.25 169.25

WARREN FIELD OFFICE

MARSHALL COUNTY SWCD

STAFFING ANALYSIS – FY 2015

PLAN OF OPERATIONSSTAFF DAYS NEEDED

OBJECTIVEAdmin Asst.ManagerOtherTech.

Protecting Erodible Cropland 78 164 97 46

Assist and Coordinate Efforts

In Securing Water Quality 50 69 112

Awareness of

Conservation Issues 29 6 31

Administrative Responsibilities

Meeting Obligations Most

Efficiently 11 14 22

TOTAL 168 253 97 211

DAYS AVAILABLE FOR PLAN

OF OPERATIONS ITEMS 95.5 167.25169.25

DIFFERENCE** - 72.5 - 85.75- 41.75

** - These numbers include time that could be spent on a contribution agreement with NRCS.

COST SHARE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

More than two-thirds of the district has the erosion potential of 2T or higher. The primary cause of erosion in MarshallCounty is wind. Over land flooding also contributes to soil erosion. Marshall County SWCD cost share allocations are $9,491.00.

A.High Priority Erosion Problems

Field windbreaks, farmstead windbreaks, renovation projects, no-till, minimum tillage, grass waterways, and vegetative cover are used to control wind and water erosion. The central portions of MarshallCounty are where these cost share dollars would be most beneficial. However, the western part of the county has seen an increase in the need for ways to control wind and water erosion. The amounts planned to assist in these projects are as follows: State Cost Share = $7,592.80.

Marshall County SWCD will encumber 20% ($1,898.20) for technical and administrative expenses from the state cost share program allocation.

BUDGET REQUIREMENTS

The following is the proposed budget for the Marshall County Soil and Water Conservation District:

MARSHALL COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

BUDGET

January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015

EXPENDITURES

I.District Operations 2015

A. Personal Services

1. Supervisor Compensation$ 2,000.00

2. Employee Salary$140,026.00

3. Tree Planting Help Salary$ 1,800.00

4. Employer PERA$ 10,502.00

5. Employer FICA$ 11,027.00

6. Medical Insurance$ 11,000.00

B. Other Services and Charges

1. Supervisor Expense$ 1,000.00

2. Employee Expense/Meetings$ 1,000.00

3. Professional Services (Audit)$ -0-

4. Supplies$ 1,400.00

5. Capital Outlay$ -0-

6. Telephone$ 700.00

7. Tree Planter Expense$ 500.00

8. Promotional and Educational$ 2,500.00

9. Dues$ 2,100.00

10. Insurance-Worker’s Compensation, E & O, Property,

General Liability and Vehicle Insurance$ 5,000.00

13. Miscellaneous$ 1,500.00

C.Office Rent$ 4,200.00

II.Project Expense

A.District

1. Tree Shed Rental$ 650.00

2. Trees$ 34,000.00

3. Newsletter$ 1,500.00

4. Vehicle-Operation & Maintenance$ 7,000.00

B.State Cost Share$ 9,491.00 Total Expenditures $248,896.00

REVENUE

I.Intergovernmental Revenue

A.BWSR Services Grant/RIM$ 30,790.00

B.BWSR Cost Share Grant$ 9,491.00

C.County Grant – Marshall County$106,807.00

D.State Wetland Act$ 20,308.00

F.Federal Re-imbursement$ 10,000.00

II.Charges for Services

A.Sale of trees, seed sales, planting, Tubex, Weed Maintenance$ 70,000.00

III.Miscellaneous

A.Other$ 1,000.00

B.Interest$ 500.00

Total Revenue $248,896.00