2008

Annual Report

2008 was a busy and exciting year for the Martin SWCD.  In addition to the District’s current programs, several new grants have been received for programs above and beyond what the District is currently involved with.  The tree program, CREP/WRP/RIM, the state cost-share program, precipitation monitoring, well monitoring, Clean Water Partnership and educational programs are all continuing and expanding.  In this report we will be reporting on all the activities of the District in 2008.

The Martin SWCD will continue to “assist landusers of Martin County in efficiently utilizing the soil and water resources of our county.  The District will assist landusers in increasing the productive use of cropland, pastureland, woodland, and urban land (small cities) while maintaining the soils base, water quality, tree production and wildlife production”. 

Each January a “Conservation Update” is published in the Fairmont Photo Press.  Circulation of the weekly paper is county-wide in addition to neighboring counties and northern Iowa.  The Martin SWCD submits an annual financial report to the Board of Water and Soil Resources and also reports on funds received from the Natural Resources Block Grant (NRBG) and State Cost-Share through the E-Link Program.

The Martin SWCD also reports to the Martin County Board of Commissioners on the District activities, programs and funds received.

2008 SWCD Program and Services 

State Cost-Share Program

·         Available for conservation practices such as grass waterways, diversions, water & sediment control basins, terraces and windbreaks.

Conservation Easements (RIM, CREP, WRP)

Ag BMP Loan Program

·         Low interest loans for conservation tillage equipment, manure management and septic systems

Wetland Conservation Act (WCA)

·         LGU for the County and technical assistance

Water Plan Coordinator

·         Water Plan Responsibilities for Martin County

Tree Program

·         Planning and design of tree plantings, sales of trees and mats.  Planting service available.

Seeding Program

·         Custom planting and also 6’ drill rental.

Native Buffer Cost-Share Program

Weed Management Area Grant

SWAG (Surface Water Assessment Grant)

·         Des Moines River Watershed

LCCMR (Legislative Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources) Grant

DNR Shoreland Grant

·         Grant beginning July 1, 2008 - workshops and shoreland planting

Elm Creek Project

·         Streambank restoration project/University of Minnesota partnership

Blue Earth River CWP

Education  Programs

·         Envirothon

·         Poster Contest

·         Soil Stewardship

·         Enviromental Awareness Day

·         Envirothon

·         Rain Barrels

·         Rain Gardens

·         Outstanding Conservationist

·         Weekly Radio Program

·         First Grade Tree Program

Precipitation Monitoring Network

Crop Equivalency Ratings (CER)

Federal Partnershships

Natural Resource Conservation Service

·         Provide assistance through Cooperative Service Agreements

·         Farm Service Agency – cooperate and provide assistance when needed

Joint Powers Agreements

Greater Blue Earth River Basin Alliance (GBERBA)

·         Cost-share and technical assistance available

Zone 10

It was with utmost honor that Martin SWCD named Dick and Diane Gerhardt of Fairmont, MN as the 2008 Outstanding Conservationist of the Year for Martin County.  Dick and Diane were nominated because of their innovative farm technology of Dutch Creek Farms.  Their progressive operation has 4,460 acres of cropland.  They grow corn on corn to meet Martin County’s needs for ethanol and hog production.  They utilize no-till on all their acres and the only fertilizer being used is hog manure with additional nitrogen side-dressed as needed.  They’re converting to strip till under the EQIP Program to reduce the manure rate, and to avoid nutrients building excessively in the soil, while improving air quality and reducing erosion excessively in the soil, improving air quality and reducing erosion from runoff thus improving water quality.   They participate in CSP and have planted filter strips and trees around their farmstead and hog sites, established waterways, and improved their pasture.  The Gerhardt’s are committed to agricultural practices that allow everyone to enjoy clean air and water and improve the soil.  We at Martin SWCD would like to thank Dick and Diane for the great job they do and for being such great stewards.  Congratulations!

Martin SWCD received a Cooperative Weed Management Area Program Grant from the Board of Water and Soil Resources in 2008.  The project, which started in July, is for the organization of a Cooperative Weed Management Area that is to include all of the counties within the Greater Blue Earth River Watershed. 

The $16,000 in grant funds plus $8,500 in cash and in-kind match will be used to set up the organization that will administer the Cooperative Weed Management Area, provide education and training on invasive species and their control, initiate some integrated control project work and replace invasive species with local ecotype native plants.

Watch for project announcements and opportunities to participate in reducing the impacts of invasive non-native species that are already here and help prevent new invasive species from becoming established.  It will take the cooperation and diligence of the entire community if we are going to keep our natural areas healthy, whether they are located on private or public property.

The project is designed to provide cooperation across jurisdictions to more efficiently assess and treat infestations and reduce their chance to spread.  The more trained, watchful eyes we have involved in the project, the more effective this long term project will be.

Once organized, additional grant funds will be sought for additional project work.

The Martin SWCD Native Buffer Cost-share Program encourages the use and development of plant materials with a Martin County origin.  Projects that will concentrate on declining species, and those that incorporate only local ecotype native plants are a high priority.   

Although all land within Martin County regardless of ownership, should be eligible for the program, sites will be prioritized based on their potential for success, and their potential to provide multiple benefits.  Site characteristics, including invasive species issues, are major considerations.

A secondary, but very important goal is for the projects to address water plan goals and objectives.  Sensitive areas that can be taken out of annual crop production or conversion from other uses that are causing water resource impacts are targeted for this working lands program.  Establishing filter strips or expanding filter strips so they can function as infiltration strips are high priority. 

Sensitive lands enrolled in perpetual conservation easements and lands in the process of being enrolled in perpetual easements are ranked higher in priority than similar areas that aren’t in a program or are enrolled in a short term program.     

The program provides reimbursement for up to 75% of site preparation, seed, planting and establishment costs.  Land with a crop history is eligible for rental payments at 75% of CRP rental rates during the establishment period.   

The Native Buffer Cost-share Program fits right in with the locally established goal of utilizing local ecotype native plant materials (native to Martin County) when restoring habitat in Martin County.

County Water Plan - low impact development action items include establishing a “No Impact Zone” within a minimum of 200 feet of surface waters regardless of land use.  Requiring the establishment or maintenance of native vegetation within the 200 foot riparian buffer, and work toward expanding beyond 200 feet in more sensitive areas, is another, with local ecotype plant materials being strongly encouraged when planting is needed.   

Utilizing ranking criteria, that gives credit to projects that address multiple water plan goals and objectives, will help with the selection of projects that are located in sensitive areas, where water quality results may be realized immediately, while increasing plant materials for use on other high priority sites.

Anyone who has some land and an interest in helping to develop a seed supply for local ecotype native plants is encouraged to sign up for this new cost share practice.  Signup will be open continuously, but the deadline for the first selection is February 27.  For more information or assistance with your application and project proposal, please contact Rich Perrine at the Martin SWCD office. 

Martin SWCD held its annual “Harry Stewart Environmental Awareness Day” on Thursday September 23^rd , 2008 at a new location.  This year the event was held at Heritage Acres, located on the west side of Fairmont .  Over 250 fifth grade students attended.  Even with a new location, the goal has always remained the same, and that is to help our young people of Martin County become more aware of their responsibility to the environment and the need to maintain or improve it.  Heritage Acres provided an excellent learning environment which included four stations held indoors, and the University of Minnesota Raptor Center outside.   Each station has a different environmental topic for the students to learn from and enjoy.  The stations consisted of Watersheds, Native Prairie, The Food Chain, a Soil Tunnel and The Raptor Center. 

The Martin SWCD is involved in the Statewide Rain Gauge Precipitation Monitoring network where we provide observers with precipitation forms and rain gauges. The SWCD gathers the completed forms and forwards them once a month to the State Climatology Office (SCO). Observers are assigned a unique identifier based on their name, township, range and section number. The success of this program hinges on interest in data gathering on the local, regional and state level. The success story begins with a SCO that is interested in gathering high spatial density precipitation data. The SCO identifies regional, mainly county-level, water-sensitive agencies such as SWCD offices that have need for the data on a local level. These county-level offices are able to recruit local individuals that are genuinely interested in the weather. In Minnesota, that’s a lot of people!

If you are enrolling into any type of conservation program, or just need to do some seeding,  the Martin SWCD can handle all of your needs.  Available are two drills, a six foot no-till drill for the small jobs such as grass waterways or small filterstrips,  a ten foot drill for the larger sites, and a vicon broadcast seeder to handle any type of site.  You can rent our six foot drill, or have us custom seed your site with our vicon seeder, or our ten foot drill.  You can also have the Martin SWCD order the seed that will fit your site.  If you are interested in renting the drill, or contracting with the SWCD to do custom seeding, you can stop in to our office, or call us at 235-6680. 

Our 2009 rates are as follows:

DRILL RENTAL:

In Martin County: $8.00 acre with a $50.00 minimum

Out of Martin County: $10.00 acre with a $75.00 minimum

CUSTOM SEEDING:

In Martin County: $25.00 acre.

Out of Martin County: $30.00 acre.

In July, work began on the District’s “Prairie Ecosystem Restoration Project.”     

The project intent is to establish local ecotype native plants on land protected by perpetual conservation easements.  The work plan includes collecting plant materials from remaining prairie remnants, propagating them, and establishing them on RIM easements.  

The primary goal is to provide a protected home for declining native prairie species that are losing their habitat due to continued land use changes.   The project is also geared toward establishing a source of local ecotype native plant materials for potential future use on habitat restoration projects.

Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).  The Trust Fund is a permanent fund constitutionally established by the citizens of Minnesota to assist in the protection, conservation, preservation, and enhancement of the state’s air, water, land, fish, wildlife and other natural resources.   Currently 40% of net Minnesota State Lottery proceeds are dedicated to building the Trust Fund and ensuring future benefits for Minnesota’s environment and natural resources.  

The project budget includes $80,000 from the Trust Fund plus a local match of $20,000.  Martin SWCD will be accepting matching funds and in-kind support for the project.  Anyone with a little time who enjoys working with plants is invited to volunteer to help with the project.  Activities include identifying and monitoring native plant populations and collecting plant materials at the proper times.  Collected plant materials will be planted directly into easement land or in trays where they can develop some size and vigor before being transplanted into the easements.

Although the project may work with many of the more common species, the species that seem to be declining, will receive special attention.  These include three species, Sullivant’s Milkweed, Tuberous Indian Plantain and Eared False Foxglove, which are on the State Threatened and Endangered list.  The District has received a permit from the MN DNR to propagate them and try to get them established in suitable habitats located on land where they are protected.

Collection sites, prairie remnants on public and private lands, are being inspected by Minnesota Crop Improvement Association (MN CIA) staff to certify the source of local ecotype native plants.  The planting sites will also be inspected to insure that plants of the same species from another source are not present.  The species planted on the perpetual easements will maintain eligibility for the state Yellow Tag Program which documents the source of local ecotype native plants.  In the future, seeds/plant materials collected from the easements could provide s supply of local ecotype plants for establishing foundation plots to increase plant materials for use on habitat restorations.

Last summer, Jim Boots, with the MN CIA inspected several prairie remnants to develop a list of species growing on them.  Summer Interns, Leah Rode and Jesse Walters, started the seed collection portion of the project, picking seed heads from Prairie Phlox and Tick Trefoil.  Leah also helped develop contracts, agreements and letters for project participants.  She secured permission from most of the Townships, to collect within their road right-of ways.

Preparing planting trays, seed and doing the planting will be some of the next activities.  Once Spring arrives, site monitoring and plant material collection will take a lot of time.  Grant funds are available to pay for some additional help during the busy times from now until the June, 2010.  Please contact Martin SWCD if you are interested in learning a little more about our native plants and wish to help with the project.

The Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CCRP) remains the most popular conservation program to date.  CCRP has many practices within the program, including Filterstrips, Farmstead Shelterbelts, Living Snowfences, Grassed Waterways and Wetland Restorations.

A Filterstrip consists of a native grassed strip along a body of water such as a ditch, creek or lake to help filter surface water prior to entering the body of water, also allowing wildlife enhancement and protection .

A Grassed Waterway is a constructed channel that is shaped or graded to required dimensions and established in suitable vegetations for the stable conveyance of surface water runoff. 

Another popular CCRP practice is a Farmstead Shelterbelt which consists of a new planting of trees.  Many landowners in our county have used this program to establish a new shelterbelt, either by their farmstead, or even by existing livestock facilities, to help protect against winds.

 CCRP helps landowners by providing a yearly payment for land taken out of production, and help with cost-share dollars to establish the practice.  To be eligible for the CCRP program, the land to be enrolled must have a crop history.  Since we are currently under a new farm bill, we do not have the information as to what years will be used for the crop history.  If you would like to enroll into the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program, or find out more information about this program, you can stop into the Farm Service Agency office at 923 North State Street or call 507-235-6661 and ask for Gloria.  

If the site meets Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)  requirements, which includes having a crop history, a landowner can sign up for a tree planting at the Farm Service Agency.  Under CRP, up to 50% of eligible costs can be reimbursed to the landowner for installing a planting under an approved planting plan.  CRP also provides annual rental payments for 10 to 15 years for the tree planting. 

Tree plantings that meet practice standards can be eligible for up to 75% of costs to be reimbursed to the landowner under a State Cost-Share Contract.

To receive funds through either State Cost-Share or CRP, the landowner must sign up and have their project approved before starting work on the project.  Each program has its own set of eligible components.  There are caps to the amount of cost-share offered for the different components of a tree planting.  Most of the components can be cost shared very close to 50% under CRP and 75% under State Cost-Share.  The one exception is the clearing of large over-mature trees that need to be cleared, cost-share will fall far short on this component.

Other eligible cost-share components of a tree planting can include chemical and mechanical site preparation, trees, shrubs, planting, chemical and mechanical weed control, tree mats or mulch, and animal control when needed for the more vulnerable species.  If your tree/shrub planting is planted for wildlife purposes, be sure to contact your SWCD office.  Local wildlife clubs can provide cost-share for wildlife food and cover plantings.

Our County has been fortunate enough to be administering the Agricultural Best Management Practices program since 1995.  The AG BMP or (State Revolving Fund) was established by the Minnesota Department of Ag, specifically designed to give agriculture producers incentives to use sound farming practices with the use of low interest loans.  Since itOver three million dollars have been loaned out through this program for sound farming practices. since it has began. 

The low interest loans can be used for purchases of conservation equipment, such as high residue field cultivators, no-till drills, planters, liquid manure applicators, and strip-till equipment.  The program can also be used for rural septic upgrades.  Producers pay a 3% interest rate with a 1/2 % origination fee, and have between three to five years to repay the loans.  For more details on this program, stop in to our office or contact us at 507-235-6680.

Rain barrels are becoming more widespread, as householders are discovering the joys of always having a guilt-free water supply on hand. There are very decorative barrels on the market, and treatment to preclude mosquito breeding in them is easy, inexpensive and environment friendly. Water mornings and evenings only, as mid-day watering results in much evaporation loss, and use drip irrigation for the same reason. 

If you are interested in a rain barrel contact Martin SWCD at 507 235-6680.  We have plastic food grade 55-gallon barrels that are free for the taking.  A kit cost $25.00 or $50 if you want the barrel assembled. 

NRCS has had a great year for conservation in 2008.  The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offers several conservation programs in Martin County.  The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) had a great 2008 signup with 16 contracts.  Over 7400 acres will have some type of conservation applied to them.  The practices range from well decommissioning, residue management-strip tillage, residue management-50% mulch tillage, nutrient management, pest management, tree planting, and grass waterways.   EQIP continues to be the heart of the NRCS’s working lands conservation program.  EQIP is the primary tool for landowners who want to apply soil and water conservation practices.  This valuable program provides both technical assistance and financial assistance for agricultural producers.

The Wetland Reserve Program/Reinvest in Minnesota (WRP/RIM) was offered for the first time in several years in July.  Out of 1150 acres that were offered, around 250 acres were accepted into the program.  The WRP/RIM program retires private land from agricultural production, plants permanent native vegetation, and restores previously drained wetlands. 

The Conservation Security Program (CSP) is a voluntary program which supports ongoing stewardship of working agricultural lands by providing payments for maintaining and enhancing natural resources. In Martin County, the Blue Earth River Watershed was chosen for the 2004 and 2005 signup.  The county has over 100 contracts that are five to ten year working land conservation contracts.  The CSP program was able to put conservation on over 40,000 acres in Martin County. 

In 2008, the Okamanpeedan River Watershed was chosen for a Rapid Watershed Assessment by the State NRCS Water Resources Team.  This watershed is located in the southwest portion of Martin County, and is a smaller division of the Des Moines River Watershed.  The assessment has been completed and we will now be working closely with Martin County SWCD to establish more conservation in this area of our county. 

We would like to thank all of the producers and landowners of Martin County for their continued interest in conserving land in Martin County.  With the 2008 farm bill now being put into place, we look forward to providing more conservation programs and technical assistance for you.  If you have natural resource concerns on your land and are interested in making a commitment to conservation, NRCS may have a program that will work for you.  To find out more about NRCS programs please contact the local NRCS office at (507) 235-6670.  You may also want to visit the Minnesota NRCS website at www.mn.nrcs.usda.gov

 What were the project goals?                                                                           

1. Agriculture Best Management Practices i.e.- install riparian areas, grassed waterways, wetland               restoration, and residue management.                                        

2. Education i.e. – community education classes, citizen monitoring, ecology bus grants, and conducting classes on water quality

3. Monitoring i.e. – grabbing water samples, testing, collecting data, and  presenting to Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

4.GIS i.e. – digitizing the watershed 

Landowners need to be aware that the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) may regulate any and all activities that take place in wetlands.  Most landowners are aware of provisions within the Federal Farm Program that utilizes program eligibility leverage to discourage activities that could result in wetland impacts.  But what is often not fully understood is that the Wetland Conservation Act may still apply to activities that affect wetlands, even if the Farm Program benefits are not an issue.

The way wetlands are defined is also slightly different between the state WCA and the federal farm program.  To be safe from penalties and from having to remove drainage or fill from a wet spot, both the Farm Service Agency, which relies on the Natural Resources Conservation System for technical assistance, and the Martin Soil and Water Conservation District should be notified about any proposed activities that could affect wetlands.

Any spot on the landscape that is even slightly wetter than the area around it should be considered a wetland until it is documented otherwise.  To be a wetland, the area doesn’t need to have standing water or even stay wet throughout the year.  Type One wetlands may just be saturated or hold water for just a few days in the spring or after heavy rains and stay saturated only slightly longer, then within a couple weeks they may dry out and not seem very wet for the rest of the year.  These areas may still be classified as wetlands, and if they are, draining, filling and other activities that could impact them would be regulated under WCA, the Farm Program or both.  

In December, the Martin County Board of Commissioners appointed Rich Perrine as the Authority for WCA.  Martin SWCD is designated to serve as the LGU and Rich was delegated to serve as the authority to sign WCA forms.  

So to be on the safe side, if you are planning drainage, fill or other activities in or near a wetland, be sure you have checked with the Farm Service Agency for Farm Bill compliance and also with Rich Perrine at Martin SWCD for WCA compliance.

A 1026 form is completed for activities that are regulated by the federal farm program.  An exemption form can be completed for activities that do not have any restrictions under WCA.   

In November of 2007, the first of a five stage stream restoration began on a short section of Elm Creek in section 2 of Center Creek.  The restoration project was aimed to stabilize and restore an impaired section of Elm Creek.  The project will demonstrate cost-effective methods that can be implemented to reduce channel erosion, sediment load, and enhance channel stability.  Construction involved re-grading channel banks, and placement of natural tree structures and root wads that will divert streamflow away from actively eroding banks into an abandoned oxbow channel.  By doing this, it will help reduce erosive peak flows.  The final phases were completed late this summer which included planting native grasses on upland areas, and planting willows on the perimeter of the creek which will help stabilize the stream bank..  This project was sponsored and conducted by the University of Minnesota, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and Martin County SWCD.     

2009 Poster/Video Contest “Our Soil – A Layer of Life” by Cathy Thiesse

“Let’s consider our world not as inherited from our parents but as borrowed from our children.”  Unknown Kenyan

Minnesota Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts (MASWCD) developed this education contest for youth to promote the importance of protecting our resources.  In 2007, at the MASWCD Convention, a Resolution was passed to discontinue this program in 2009.  Many SWCD’s rallied and introduced a new Resolution at the 2008 MASWCD Convention to reinstate this contest and thankfully it passed!   We at Martin SWCD are proud to work with our local teachers and students on promoting this important message to our youth and look forward to continuing this program. 

This year’s packets will be disbursed to schools and home-schooled facilities in February 2009.  Martin SWCD is an important community resource that is here to help incorporate conservation and environmental education into your curriculum or workplace.  The education materials include information which teachers and their students can use to become more familiar with their natural environment and learn what they can do to become better stewards of our land and water.  Upon receiving the materials back from the students, it is obvious of the amount of knowledge these kids learn and receive through this curriculum.  We cannot thank the teachers who choose to utilize this free curriculum and pass it along to their students.    Each year a new topic is covered with specific rules to follow.  Students may participate by drawing a poster, mural or creating a video.  Please use us as a resource to educate yourself and your students on activities ranging from soils to wildlife.  Please visit our website for our area’s 2008 winners at:  www.martinswcd.net.

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