Martin Soil and Water Conservation District

923 N. State Street, Suite 110, Fairmont, MN  56031

(507) 235-6680

NATIVE BUFFER COST-SHARE PROGRAM

Native Buffer Cost-Share Program by Rich Perrine (January 2010 - Conservation Update, Fairmont Photo Press) 

Step out of your home to the mild fragrance of native wildflowers and the gentle wave of multicolored mosaic of blossoms and foliage as the summer breeze brushes across your recently converted landscape.  As you take in the bustle of the diverse array of native pollinators floating over and settling into the newest blooms, beetles, moths, bees and butterflies, you ponder, “do I miss the smell of oil and gasoline on my hands, the deafening roar of the lawn mower and the sweat running down my dust covered face as I sit in the hot sun meticulously shaping the turf to look as nice and uniform as that next door.”   

To Native Buffer Cost-Share Program participants, you can bet the answer to that question is NO! Besides reducing the amount of time and work associated with maintaining the landscape, and the strict timeline of traditional lawn care, native plants offer many benefits that are often overlooked.  Deep rooted native plants are more self sufficient, going after moisture and nutrients several feet into the ground.  Although they may be as much work as a lawn for the first couple of years, they do not need to be pampered once they become established.  Following the increased abundance of new insects thriving in the habitat native plants provide, new species of wildlife soon move in to take advantage of the new and varied supply of insects, berries and seeds. 

The Martin SWCD Native Buffer Cost-share Program is designed to increase the availability of local ecotype (Martin County origin) native plant material, while protecting surface and ground water.  Planting filter strips or buffers around wells and along surface water bodies, helps protect and improve water quality.  Using plant materials that originated from local native populations helps to preserve and increase the amount of native plant material available for future restoration projects.  A primary focus is to provide a source for species that are currently unavailable and species that seem to be rare and/or in decline locally. 

The program provides reimbursement for up to 75% of site preparation, seed, planting and establishment costs.  Land with a crop history and land planted to provide a source for local ecotype seed, is eligible for rental payments at 75% of CRP rental rates during a two year establishment period. 

Contact Martin SWCD for more information at 507 235-6680 or stop by our office.

The Native Buffer Cost-share Program fits well with the locally established goals of utilizing local ecotype native plant materials to provide a “no impact zone” within a minimum of 200 feet of surface waters regardless of land use.   (Martin County Water Plan)

Concerned about climate change?  Native plants store many times the amount of carbon in their extensive root systems than the shallow roots of turf grass do.   And native plants remove more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than a manicured lawn is capable of.  The amount of energy used and carbon dioxide released from lawn maintenance is also reduced with a native landscape. 

Native Buffer Cost Share Program Plan for FY 2009

For FY 2009, the “Native Buffer Cost-Share Program – Martin SWCD FY 2009 Guidelines” reflect very minor changes in addressing Water Plan Priority Concerns, Goals, Objectives and Action Items and giving priority to project proposals that address these items.  Projects that address multiple Water Plan items will be ranked higher than those that do not.

Priorities include riparian areas for all surface waters including wetlands, wellheads and tile intakes.   The Greater Blue Earth River Watershed, Dutch Creek Watershed and East Fork Des Moines River Watershed are priority areas.  Westford and Waverly Township represent a Blanding”s Turtle habitat priority area is designated as a higher priority area within the watershed.  Projects located within the watershed of the City of Fairmont source-water including Dutch Creek will also receive higher priority.

Primary promotion of Native Buffer projects will focus on those areas identified as priority areas.

The “Native Buffer Cost-Share Program – Martin SWCD FY 2009 Guidelines” will be used to supplement BWSR Guidelines for FY 2009.   

Native Buffer Cost-Share Program - Martin SWCD FY 2009 Guidelines

            Supplement to BWSR Guidelines (all BWSR requirements must be met)

Project Purpose:

            1.  Develop a seed source for local ecotype native plants.  (Primary Goal)

            2.  Protect and improve surface and/or ground water quality.  (Secondary Goal)

            3.  Mitigate water quantity issues.  (Secondary Goal)

Policies:

            Program Requirements:  Supplemental to BWSR Requirements

                        Seed/Plant Material Source:  Local Priorities

                                    1.  Within Martin County

                                    2.  Within 25 miles of the center of Martin County

                                    3.  Within 25 miles of Martin County border

            Planting/Establishment:

            Allow up to 5 years for all planned local ecotype species to be planted.

Note:   Program Cost-Share may only be available for up to the first two years of the establishment period.  Establishment costs beyond the cost-share contract period shall be the landowner’s responsibility.

Seed Source:

Require Yellow Tag (source identified) seed or seed from a site that has been checked and approved by the Minnesota Crop Improvement Association as eligible for Yellow Tag status.  (Martin SWCD is in the process of having several prairie remnants inspected and species approved).

Eligible Practices: 

Allow maximum cost-share rates for all eligible practices as determined necessary by the project technician.

Provide land rental at established rates for non-program lands and lands located in priority areas where no current compatible program is available.

Provide supporting practices through State Cost-Share and/or other sources of cost-share when necessary to achieve approved project goals.

Select sites by Prioritization

All land within Martin County may be eligible; however priority will be given to projects that have the highest potential to provide a seed source for a wide variety of local ecotype native plants.  

Projects should address Water Plan Priority Concerns, Goals, Objectives and Action Items

Projects providing water quality/quantity benefits will be ranked above equal projects that do not.

            Site Selection Criteria

-          Site without invasive species or low population levels of invasive species

-          Site in agricultural production, annually cropped and:

o   Is within 200 feet of surface water, surface intake, or well

o   Provides or completes a filter strip or buffer 200 ft wide adjacent to surface water, surface intakes or wells.

o   Is adjacent to or within ¼ mile of a native plant population and will utilize plant materials from that site.

o   Is where adjacent lands are free from invasive species or low levels and few species of invasive species are present.

 Technical Notes:

For sites adjacent to or within ¼ mile of a prairie remnant, forb species found on the remnant will not be planted unless the seed source is the nearby remnant. 

For grasses a minimum of 200 feet separation shall be maintained between local ecotype plantings and non-local ecotype populations of the same species.

The use of cultivars is discouraged.  Cultivars will not be used within ¼ mile of a prairie remnant.

Separation distances shall meet or exceed minimum requirements as specified by the Minnesota Crop Improvement Association.

A complete application includes:  1.  A State Cost-Share application/contract with the application portion completed, signed, initialed and dated.  2.  Native Buffer Cost-Share Program Pages 4, 5, and 6 completed with the applicant’s signature and date on the bottom of page 6.  3.  An aerial photo with project boundaries and site characteristics identified.

Contact Martin SWCD for assistance with your application:  507 235-6680  

Native Buffer Cost-Share Program – Martin SWCD       _______          _________      __________

                                                                                                Signup #         Date ended     Project Rank

Project Evaluation  / Ranking Criteria

Site:

____    Is without evidence of invasive species (50)

Has low levels of invasive species and/or few species.  Invasive species are not expected to make establishment of native plants difficult or provide problems for future native seed harvest. (30)

Has moderate levels of invasive species and/or a moderate number of invasive species that could make it somewhat difficult to establish and harvest proposed native plants. (10)

Is dominated by invasive species that could make it difficult to establish proposed native plants. (0)

____    is not in annual crop production, but              (20 points maximum)

                        a. Is within 200 feet of surface water, surface intake or well. (5)

b. Provides or completes a filter strip or buffer 200 feet wide adjacent to surface water, surface intakes or wells. (5)

                        c. Is within ¼ mile of a native plant population. (5)

d. Is located where adjacent and nearby lands are free of invasive species or low levels and few species  are present. (5)  

____    Is in annual crop production (5) and meets criteria in a through d above. (5 points each) (25 max. pts.)

____    Project addresses additional Local Comprehensive Water Plan Priority Concerns, Goals Objectives and Action Items.  Considerations include but are not limited to:  Sensitive Areas; Listed Species; Lakes; Wetlands; Groundwater; Impaired Waters; TMDLs; BMPs; Drainage System Management; etc.

            (5 points each up to 50 points) 

Evaluation - Project Goals

____    Proposed Seed Source:  All local ecotype native plant materials

meet local priority #1 (50)     meet local priority #3 (20)

            meet local priority #2 (40)     meet minimum state requirements (5)

____    Land is protected by a perpetual conservation easement, or

Land is in the process of being enrolled in a perpetual conservation easement (25)

_____  Total Project Points    

Native Buffer Cost-Share Program - Project Information

Landowner Contact information:

Name:_________________________________________

Address:_______________________________________

Phone number(s):________________________________

Email:__________________________________________

Project Site Location:           Section_______          Township name___________________________

            Address:

Description of Project Site:

1.  What is the current land use?____________________________________________________________

2.  What type of vegetation is on the site?_____________________________________________________

3.  What type of vegetation is adjacent and near the site? _________________________________________

4.  Is the site within 200 feet of a surface tile intake, well or surface water including wetlands?  Yes     No

5.  Identify boundaries of proposed site on an aerial photo and mark all sensitive areas including intakes, wells and surface waters.

6.  Is the site within ¼ mile of a documented native plant population?  Yes   No   If yes, mark on photo.

Project Application:  The State Cost-Share Program application/contract serves as the application for this program.  Please complete the application portion, sign, initial and date where requested.

Allowable activities:  Seed propagation, Haying, Energy production, and Prescribed burning.  These activities can be allowed outside of the nesting season (June 1 to August 1) if not restricted by any other programs.  Indicate which activities you plan to utilize.

Please review the MN BWSR Native Buffer Cost-Share Program Fact Sheet and the Martin County Supplement outlining local priorities (pages 1 and 2), before developing your proposal.  Contact Martin SWCD for assistance with completing the Project Information, Project Proposal and Cost Estimate.

Project Proposal instructions:  In the project proposal, answer the following questions:  What is the primary purpose of your project?  What is your proposed seed source(s)?  Will all seed sources meet local priorities 1, 2 or 3?  If not, how many species do you expect will meet local priorities?  Are you planning to use any cultivars?  Indicate how many species you plan to include (need goal of at least 25 species).  Indicate how long you plan to maintain the project site (at least 15 years is required).  Indicate who will do the work, the applicant, hired help or contractor.

Martin County Native Buffer Program - Project Proposal

Martin SWCD Native Buffer Cost-Share Program – Project Cost Estimate

Summary of Estimated Project Costs                                                                                 Component Total

Site Preparation                                                                                                                                _________

Seed Collection                                                                                                                                  _________

Seed Cost                                                                                                                                           _________

Seeding Cost                                                                                                                                      _________

Establishment Costs                                                                                                                          _________

Additional Eligible Components (See Fact Sheet, II. Eligible Practices)

________________________________                                                                                            _________

________________________________                                                                                            _________

________________________________                                                                                            _________

Total requested Cost-share (75% of Project Cost):______________       Total Est. Cost:          _________

Land rental costs (for non-program agricultural land or seed production areas).

The rental payment is at the discretion of the SWCD Board for acres being converted from ag.

use and no other program payments are involved.  (To help cover costs as vegetation establishes)

________ acres X $____________(CCRP rental rate) X 0.75 X 3 yrs. =                                         _________

Total Estimated Eligible Cost-Share Reimbursement + Rental Payment =                                 _________

                                                                                             (if applicable)

Certification:  Estimates reflect reasonable costs of eligible project expenses.

Information provided on pages 4, 5 and 6 is accurate to the best of my knowledge.   

__________________________        _______          _________________________          _________

Landowner                                        Date                SWCD Technician                            Date

Contact Martin SWCD for assistance with Project Proposal and Cost estimate.

Native Buffer Cost-share Program by Rich Perrine (2009 Summer Conservation Update - Fairmont Photo Press) 

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 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.