Soil & Water Conservation District Guidebook 2008 - Minnesota ...
Soil & Water Conservation District Guidebook 2008 - Minnesota ...
Soil & Water Conservation District Guidebook 2008 - Minnesota ...
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Pictured: Aerial view of conservation practices in Wabasha County.<br />
Contour strips have been installed by<br />
the SWCD on highly erodible cropland. About 72 percent<br />
of the land in Wabasha County has an erosion problem<br />
(138,824 acres of a total 194,063). Contour strips have the<br />
potential to decrease up to 75 percent of the soil erosion on<br />
a site.<br />
Grade stabilization embankments<br />
structures help control the eroding gullies and create<br />
wetlands.<br />
Sink hole sealing and abandoned well sealing<br />
are high priorities for the SWCD. If not sealed properly,<br />
sink holes and abandoned wells can be a direct conduit for<br />
ground water pollution.<br />
Manure management and small feed lot<br />
assistance has been successful with Wabasha County’s<br />
456 feedlots that have between 50-300 animal units. The<br />
SWCD has been providing technical assistance to these<br />
landowners to design and install low-cost feedlot fi xes.<br />
In addition the SWCD has been assisting with low-cost,<br />
cost-share programs through the Southeast <strong>Minnesota</strong><br />
Top 5 Natural Resource Concerns<br />
1.<br />
2.<br />
3.<br />
4.<br />
5.<br />
Wabasha <strong>Soil</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Conservation</strong> <strong>District</strong><br />
<strong>Water</strong> Resource Board (SEMNWRB), Resource<br />
<strong>Conservation</strong> and Development (RC&D), and the<br />
County Feedlot Program.<br />
<strong>Soil</strong> (Productive soil, eroding steep<br />
topography subject to fl ash fl ood storm<br />
events)<br />
<strong>Water</strong> (quality of surface and ground water<br />
in an area subject to nutrient / manure<br />
runoff)<br />
Ground water (Protection from<br />
contaminants to water in sinkhole prone,<br />
karst area)<br />
Woodland and pasture (productivity with<br />
concern of soil / runoff to water systems)<br />
Impaired waters<br />
Future Projects<br />
Riparian Buffer Project: Partner with local<br />
watershed groups to assess buffer needs,<br />
conduct farm visits, and install buffers to<br />
improve water quality<br />
Volunteer Nitrate Program: A volunteer<br />
project that tests the nitrate content of private<br />
wells throughout the county in an effort to<br />
better understand the ground water quality<br />
in southeastern <strong>Minnesota</strong>. Sponsored by the<br />
SEMNWRB and partnered with Wabasha<br />
County.<br />
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