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

Chippewa River bank erosion near Big
Bend Church has been a concern of church members for
many years. The erosion problem was most severe near the
church cemetery, where many graves were in danger of sliding
into the river. The Chippewa SWCD and the Montevideo
Field Offi ce of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation
Service offered their assistance when asked by a group of
church members. The project was recently completed after
the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers became involved, bringing
the additional funding that was necessary. The project stabilized
a 60-foot bluff on 900 linear feet of streambank, which
in turn protected 300 graves. Nearly 9,000 tons of rip-rap
were used and 1,700 tons of topsoil were placed. The total
cost of the project was $572,000. Other cooperating partners
were Chippewa County, Swift SWCD, DNR, the Chippewa
River Watershed Project, and the Big Bend Lutheran Church.
The Local Water Management Plan for Chippewa
County is in its third generation, and the Chippewa SWCD
has been involved with the planning and implementation process
since it began in 1991. SWCD staff and supervisors have
always been active on Chippewa County’s Local Water Plan
Committee. The committee has continued to develop, approve,
and implement new programs that are locally driven. The local
water plan has given fi nancial assistance to best management
practices, administered through the SWCD to local landowners.
A balanced livestock grazing program
was developed for a local couple by the SWCD and the
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
Funding for the program became available several years
ago from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program
(EQIP). An extensive grazing plan was developed by
Chippewa Soil & Water Conservation District
NRCS staff, which balanced the number of head of
livestock with available feed and forage. The plan
included all of the conservation practices needed to
develop a complete grazing land resource management
system, including fencing, livestock pipeline,
and water tanks for use by the livestock. In addition, a
prescribed grazing practice was initiated. This ensures
that all of the other practices were supplemental to the
treatment of the actual grazing land resource. Since the
system began, fi eld windbreaks were added adjacent to
many of the grazing pastures. Two years ago the couple
began a nutrient management plan, which brings all
elements of the grazing system full circle to complete
all parts of a true resource management system.
Top 5 Natural Resource Concerns
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Improve water quality
Reduce soil erosion from wind/water
Reduce sedimentation entering the county’s
rivers, lakes, and streams
Protect and restore wetlands
Reduce agricultural runoff from cropland and
feedlots
Future Projects
Rain gardens: The City of Montevideo is planning
on installing trial rain gardens on city and residential
property. Therefore, the planning process is underway.
Partners include the Chippewa SWCD, Chippewa
River Watershed Project, and the Chippewa
County Land and Resource Management Offi ce.
Maintenance of the Shakopee Creek structure:
Chippewa County in the late 1950s and early 60s had
a pilot watershed project. Shakopee Creek, a subwatershed
of the Chippewa River Watershed Project,
had a retention dam to store high fl ows of runoff. The
structure is in need of repair along with the downstream
discharge area. The ditch below the structure
has major erosion and needs to be stabilized. The
fl ood control of this structure still remains a vital part
of this project and needs to be maintained. Planning
and obtaining necessary funds are underway.
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