Soil & Water Conservation District Guidebook 2008 - Minnesota ...

BEFORE AFTER
A wetland restoration project was
completed in 2005 that restored 10 wetland basins on
225 acres (pictured). The project was funded through the
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. The Brown
SWCD assisted 125 landowners in enrolling 4,968 acres into
the program. Included are 26 wetland restoration projects
with 975 acres of restored wetlands.
The Reinvest In Minnesota (RIM) Reserve
Program began in 1986 with 10-year and permanent easements.
In 1987 and 1988 20-year and permanent easements were
offered. Three 20-year easements with 61.4 acres were
enrolled. From 1986-1996 Brown County landowners enrolled
1,242.2 acres (43 contracts) into permanent easements.
The Wellner-Hageman Dam was discussed for
three decades prior to its construction in Section 30 of Stately
Township. The SWCD and Soil Conservation Service (NRCS)
were heavily involved during this timeframe working with
landowners, engineers, permitting agencies, funding sources
and the public for project approval. The project was designed
to provide signifi cant fl ood control, water supply, recreation,
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Brown Soil & Water Conservation District
tourism and economic benefi ts to the County. The structure
is 56 feet in height and creates a pool of 69 acres with
normal depth of 27 feet. Approximately 250 acres were
acquired for the structure and fl ood pool and an additional
49 acres was purchased for the creation of Mound Creek
Park. The lake has been stocked with game fi sh and the
park has both a public beach and boat launch. It also has
picnic tables, shelters, disk golf and hiking trails. The
project cost approximately $2 million and was constructed
over a two-year period beginning in 1991 with completion
in 1992. The project and adjoining park are a huge success.
Conservation education is an important
role for the SWCD. About 200 5th and 6th grade
students each year enter the District’s poster contest
with a conservation theme. For many years each entrant
received a free cherry tree, so each spring they can be
seen blooming all over Brown County. Students are now
presented an evergreen seedling. Also, each year a South
Central Minnesota Envirothon is held at Lake Hanska
County Park. This environmental learning competition
for high school students consists of stations based on the
topics of soil, water quality, forestry, wildlife, a current
event topic and an oral presentation. Brown County has
sent a team to the state competition almost every year
since its inception and had one team win the State Contest
and compete in the National Canon Envirothon.
Top 5 Natural Resource Concerns
Soil erosion
Pesticide and fertilizer use
Septic systems
Water quality and quantity
Drainage and fl ooding
Future Projects
Cost-Share projects: Projects that will soon be
completed by the Brown SWCD include three Grass
Waterways and one Wastewater and Feedlot Runoff
Control Project.
Brown SWCD’s 50th Anniversary Event on April
9, 2008: The SWCD will have an Open House for
the public to learn about and celebrate 50 years of
successful conservation efforts.
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