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

Thousands of feet of shoreline have been
stabilized through State Cost-Share and technical assistance
from the North Central MN JPB Engineers. The need for
assistance compounded following major fl ooding in 2002.
Projects have ranged from DNR recommended rip rap along
the southern shore of Lake of the Woods to bioengineering
projects along the Rainy and Rapid Rivers. A vegetated
buffer component has been recently added as an eligibility
requirement for cost-share assistance. In addition to this, handson
workshops held in conjunction with U of MN Extension
Service have assisted both landowners and local natural
resource staff in learning bioengineering techniques, while
putting projects on the ground.
An increase in SWCD staff has been
possible through the SWCD and the County working
together. In 2002, the SWCD offi ce consisted of one fulltime
employee. In 2004, the County Environmental Services
offi ce and the SWCD created a joint manager position.
The goal of this merger is to better serve landowners
by streamlining the permitting process and to improve
cooperation between the County and SWCD. In addition to
adding the joint District manager position, the SWCD has
increased its staff to two full-time resource technicians.
Low-interest ISTS loans for local residents
are available, thanks to a partnership with Border State Bank
of Baudette, the SWCD and the Department of Agriculture.
Starting in 2006, these loans have been offered through the
AgBMP Loan Program. Prior to this, the ISTS component
was not available to most residents within the county. The
SWCD also increased promotion of the AgBMP Program
through its newly established newsletter and notices
published in the local papers. The AgBMP Loan Program, in
conjunction with the NRCS EQIP program, has encouraged
local farmers to make the switch to no-till farming.
Bringing feedlots into MPCA compliance
has been facilitated with cost-share assistance through the
Lake of the Woods Soil & Water Conservation District
SWCD. Since 2003, the SWCD has received over $200,000
through the Feedlot Water Quality Management Grant
Program (FWQMG) to assist local livestock producers in
minimizing feedlot runoff and improving water quality.
To help livestock producers upgrade their feedlots, the
SWCD has been working with farmers to provide up to 75
percent cost-share to construct windbreaks, install grassed
waterways, provide alternative watering sources, and create
clean water diversions. This assistance gives producers
the opportunity to improve their operation and come into
compliance without breaking the bank.
Top 5 Natural Resource Concerns
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Erosion, sedimentation, fl ood damage reduction
Land use management
Individual Sewage Treatment Systems
Water Quality
Education
Future Projects
Bostic Watershed Investigation: In 2007 the
county partnered with the SWCD and received a
BWSR Challenge Grant to explore erosion and
sedimentation issues within the Bostic Watershed.
Historical ditching and channelization of ditches has
caused major issues within the watershed. The NC
MN JPB Engineer has begun working on a study of
the project area to provide a plan of action for future
implementation projects. This watershed is a priority
outlined in both the Rainy River Basin Plan and the
LOW Comprehensive Local Water Management Plan.
Future projects may include: wetland restorations,
ditch maintenance, establishment of a meandering
stream with set back levies, water retention, and more.
Baudette Estuary TMDL: MPCA has contracted
with the SWCD to investigate the Baudette River
Watershed as part of a TMDL study. The Baudette
River is on the MPCA’s impaired waters list for
low dissolved oxygen. District staff will assist with
surface water monitoring, storm water runoff and
sediment analysis, and hydrological modeling.
Data acquired over 2008 and 2009 will be used in
conjunction with the current TMDL report to address
additional concerns within the watershed.
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