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

Several youth education programs are
popular in Lac qui Parle County. An SWCD employee visits
every K-6 classroom in the county to introduce the SWCD’s
coloring contest (K-2), picture contest (grades 3-4), and
poster and essay contest (grades 5-6). The theme is based
on the contests promoted by the Minnesota Association of
SWCDs (MASWCD), and the SWCD develops an interactive
presentation on the theme. Recent topics have included
“Community Waters” and “Trees – Rooted in Our Future.”
The SWCD created a Living Snow
Fence project using funds generated by the Minnesota
River Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).
Eligible landowners enroll in Continuous CRP and receive
a one-time payment (like CREP) for an additional 15-year
easement with the county for a total of 30 years. The county
highway department identifi es the sites and reimburses the
SWCD for half the costs.
Trees lost to Dutch elm disease have
been replaced through the efforts of the SWCD and
the city of Madison. The city and SWCD received a MN
ReLeaf grant of $12,000 and developed a Cooperative Working
Agreement. The SWCD did the education, promotion,
Lac qui Parle Soil & Water Conservation District
grant management and planting event management. The
project was so successful that the SWCD has received
three additional requests for future projects.
The fi rst-ever Lac qui Parle Outdoor
Expo was held in 2007. The SWCD worked with the city
of Madison Chamber of Commerce, the Lac qui Parle-
Yellow Bank Clean Water Partnership coordinator and other
partners to put on the event at the county fair grounds April
28-29. Tony Dean, James Meger and a wide variety of other
speakers gave presentation on topics such as rain gardens,
dog training and fi rst aid, bird watching 101, healthy
soil, healthy plants, healthy people, and others. Outdoor
activities like a kids fi shing derby, archery and sporting
clay shooting were offered. Approximately 1,200 attended
and plans are underway for 2008. By working closely with
these partners, the SWCD was able to focus the event on
the mission to increase awareness of relationships between
people, wildlife and a healthy environment, and to build
appreciation of western Minnesota resources.
Top 5 Natural Resource Concerns
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Protect/restore soil health
Protect/restore water quality (reducing priority
pollutants)
Improve surface water management
Establish/maintain quality conservation tree
plantings
Coordination and partnering to get the most out
of fi nancial resources to help landowners protect
their natural resources
Future Projects
Lac qui Parle County Highway 31 Project --
The SWCD received a Clean Water Legacy grant to
stabilize the bank of the Lac qui Parle River near the
bridge where it crosses LqP CSAH 31. The project will
be completed in the spring of 2008.
Field Day -- Because of the quality of our Summer
Success fi eld days (since 2004), the elementary principal
for the Appleton/Milan school has asked us to sponsor a
fi eld day at Lac qui Parle Valley School’s Emily Creek
Environmental Learning Center for grades K-4.
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