Waseca County Soil and Water Conservation District

2017 Annual Report

105 22nd Ave NE

Waseca, MN 56093

Phone: 507-835-4800 X 3

Website:

Mission Statement

MISSION STATEMENT:

The Prime Responsibility of the District is to coordinate assistance on private lands to control erosion, prevent flooding, enhance wildlife, develop recreation, build the economic base, and to manage our soil and water resources.

Introduction:

The Waseca County Soil and Water Conservation District is a legal subdivision of State Government operating under provisions of the Minnesota State Statutes Chapter 40 and Chapter 110B. The District is located entirely within Waseca County and includes all land, public and private, towns and villages. It is governed by a five-member board of elected supervisors, who are responsible for directing all District activities. The Board meets on the second Thursday of each month.

Soil and Water Conservation is essential to the preservation of our environment. Our goal is to implement a soil and water conservation plan on each acre in Waseca County. The District's success is a result of the efforts of the Natural Resource Conservation Service, the Farm Service Agency, the Extension Service, the Department of Natural Resources, the Board of Water and Soil Resources, the Waseca County Commissioners, and the landowners of Waseca County.

We submit to you, this2017 Annual Report, Financial Report, and Annual Plan of Work for.

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Board of Supervisors

The Board meets the second Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Waseca SWCD Board Room, 105 22nd Avenue NE, Waseca MN.

DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD AREA OF REPRESENTATION

Wayne Cords, ChairmanAlton, Janesville Townships

Scott Hildebrandt, Vice ChairmanSt. Mary, Woodville

Townships

Todd Stencel, TreasurerFreedom, Vivian, Wilton

Townships

Jessie Shaffer, SecretaryByron, New Richland, Otisco

Townships

Keith Morgan, MemberBlooming Grove, Iosco

District Staff

Eric GulbransenDistrict Manager

Tyler PolsterDistrict Technician

Cheri BrummundDistrict OfficeAssistant

NRCS Staff

NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE PERSONNEL

Noel FrankDistrict Conservationist

Joel AliceaHernandezSoil Conservationist

Christina RipplingerWetland Conservationist

Brian MontroyWetland Specialist

Samantha IskrzyckiWetland Specialist

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Partners Staff

BOARD OF WATER AND SOIL RESOURCES:

Jennifer Mocol-JohnsonBoard Conservationist

WASECA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS:

District 1 - Commissioner Doug Christopherson

District 2 - Commissioner Brian Harguth

District 3 - Commissioner Blair Nelson

District 4 - Commissioner Richard Androli

District 5 - Commissioner Dan Kuhns

WASECA COUNTY OFFICES:

Mark LeifermanPlanning & Zoning Administrator

Nathan ParisPlanning & Zoning Specialist

MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES:

Dan GiralomoArea Hydrologist

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2017 Outstanding Conservation Farmers

Eugene and Mary Scheffert


Gene and Mary Scheffert farm just west of Waseca. He is presently a very active member of the Le Sueur River Watershed Steering Network, the Minnesota River Congress, Farm Bureau, Christ the King Church and past Waseca School Board Member. Gene and Mary strongly believe in Conservation Practices and protecting our land and water resources. Since the 1970’s, they have constructed and maintained waterways and terraces, changed from moldboard plowing of corn ground to conservation tillage practices. They have participated in many programs such as CRP, Upland and Buffers, Windbreak and tree plantings. Gene has also set conservation standards for renters of his land.

Gene’s message to all is ‘Whatever you decide to do, be it conservation or life, you need a goal to be successful and to have a good life, keep it with honesty and productive actions.’

Congratulations and thank you for your dedication!

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SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE SOIL
and

WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

- Conservation Planning

- Planning and Design of Conservation Practices

Including:

- Erosion Control Practices

- Residue Management Systems

- Windbreak and Wildlife Tree Plantings

- Animal Waste Control Systems

- Manure Application Plans

- Drainage Systems

-Wetland Restorations

- Cost-Sharing for Erosion Control Practices

- Assist with implementation of the Food Ag. Conservation Trade Act:

- Conservation Compliance Plans

- Swampbuster and Sodbuster

- Conservation Reserve Program

- Wetland Reserve Program

- Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP)

- Administer Minnesota Conservation Easement Programs:

- Reinvest in Minnesota

-Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program

- Permanent Wetland Preserve Program

- Implementation of the Waseca County Comprehensive Water Plan

- Implementation of the Wetland Conservation Act

- Tree Planter

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PRODUCTS AVAILABLE FROM THE

SOIL AND WATER

CONSERVATION DISTRICT

- Colored Marking Flags

- Educational Materials

- Plantskydd Animal Repellant

- Native Prairie Plants

- Quality Tree Nursery Stock

- Quality Wood Stakes

- Tree Fertilizer Tablets

- Tree Weed Barrier Matting

- Tile Probes

2017Project Accomplishments

Terraces1

Basins3

Water Monitoring Weekly Sampling April-October

Education and Promotion

Soil and Water Conservation promotion and education is a high priority of the District. The primary effort in this arena each year is publishing the Conservation Calendar. In 2017,two thousand seven hundred and thirtycopies were distributed to rural landowners, cooperating agencies, and businesses. The District also improved its website by having the ability to update information directly. This has made it easier for the public to get up to date information on a regular basis.

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Conservation Easements

The District in cooperation with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Board of Water and Soil Resources has assisted many Waseca County landowners with the establishing permanent conservation easements on marginal cropland areas. The easements not only benefit the landowner they benefit the community by controlling erosion, storing and filtering water, reducing flooding, and providing much needed wildlife habitat. Maintaining these easements in high quality native prairie, and wetland restorations is a priority of the District. Controlling invasive trees and weeds on these easements is an ongoing challenge. The District continues to assist easement owners with cutting and spot spraying invasive trees, shrubs, and weeds. Controlled burns are completed on the easements by certified vendors every four or five years.

Local Capacity Grant

This grant came through the Clean Water Land and Legacy Fund. The District created a work plan and used the funds to add new services and equipment to improve how the District can assist landowners. The funds were used to purchase Conservation Farmer Signs. Funds were also used to increase our soil health education and outreach. The District put together a Cover Crop cost share program for those interested in trying cover crops. There were3producers that participated and applied cover crops to a total of305.42acres. Bringing the total number of acres of cover crops to 1024.22 and 16 contracts in Waseca County over the last 2 years.

Water Monitoring Program

2017 has brought continued use of the Water Monitoring Equipment purchased through the Local Capacity Grant last year in partnership with Waseca County. Monitoring was done on two areas throughout the year from April through October. The program involves:

  • 2 Sites: Bull Run Creek and Iosco Creek
  • Data will be used in the future to pursue grants to fund water quality practices and projects.

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Wetland Conservation Act

The District in Cooperation with Waseca County administers the Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act for the County and all of the cities within the County. Working closely with Waseca County, the SWCD aids in confirmation of any violations and aids in development of appropriate restoration orders.

District Tree Program

The District had another successful tree and shrub sale in 2017. We distributed approximately 3,215 trees and 3 wildflower packets, containing 48 plants per packet. The trees and shrubs will be used for snow control, energy conservation (windbreaks), and wildlife habitat/cover plantings.The wildflower packets have provided pollinator habitat.

The Disaster Relief Grant

Waseca SWCD staff with aid of Steele County Staff have aided landowners in the construction of 3 basins and 1 terrace, with the help of this grant.

Conservation Delivery

The Conservation Delivery Grant has been used in promoting effective Conservation Practices fitting landowner concerns. Some examples are: site visits, mapping, designing and giving recommendations for waterways, terraces and basins to aid in soil erosion.

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Buffer Law Grant

Using equipment purchased through the Buffer Grant and other funds in 2016, many field checks were done, giving landowners more information. Outreach was accomplished by sending out Buffer information to County residents with properties containing or adjoining lakes and streams. Many questions were answered and actions taken to help improve water quality.

NRCS Programs

WASECA COUNTY CONSERVATION PROGRAM FUNDING

Oct. 1, 2016 to Sept. 30, 2017 (Fiscal Year)

Program Number of Participants $ Paid

•CRP 251$ 773,374

•EQIP 2$ 8,265

•CSP 8$ 526,399

•WRP- cost-share 5$ 107,851

•RIM-cost-share 3 $ 29,319 Total $ 1,445,208

•

($’S ARE APPROXIMATE)

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