MARTIN SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

923 North State Street, Suite 170, Fairmont, MN  56031 

(507) 235-6680

 

 

 Volunteer Banquet - March 30, 2008

 

 2007 RAIN GAUGE PROGRAM

The District has been participating in a statewide precipitation monitoring program since the 1970s.  Rainfall data is collected manually by volunteer cooperators.  Each volunteer is given a special gauge to monitor.  They read their gauge daily and then submit their forms monthly to the Martin SWCD.  The data is sent to the State Climatologist and is used to study and document precipitation and weather patterns for the state.  The townships with volunteer cooperators includes East Chain, Tenhassen, Lake Belt, Lake Fremont, Fairmont, Manyaska, Center Creek, Fraser, Fox, Elm Creek, Nashville, Westford, and Cedar Townships.
 

On April 1st of each year, our rain gauge volunteers begin monitoring rainfall for the coming growing season.  In Martin County we have 17 volunteers that do a great job of recording rainfall each day from April-September and submitting their forms to our office.

 

The data is compiled into reports at the state level that are used for many purposes.  Data collected is used in the analysis or flash floods, droughts, monthly and seasonal precipitation patterns and soil moisture.  Another of the uses for the data is for legal purposes.  The State Climatology Office receives requests for information to be used as evidence in legal proceedings.  For instance, information might be needed for the weather conditions in a specific place on a specific day for maybe a case involving a car accident.  The office will provide information form reports that have been sent in by our volunteers.

 

The State Climatology Office maintains a web site that has information on present weather conditions, rainfall and snow depth maps, drought monitors, historical data and other information on our weather.  That web site is: www.climate.umn.edu.

 
We have some very dedicated volunteers, and without their help the program would not be possible.  Our volunteers in Martin County do a great job performing an important public service and we thank them for their efforts.  If you are interested in becoming a rain gauge volunteer please contact our office at (507) 235-6680 or email cathy.thiesse@mn.nacdnet.netWe would like to recognize AND THANK our volunteers below and give our readers an idea of the precipitation across Martin County for the 2007 growing season.
 

2007 RAIN GAUGE PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS

 

Volunteer

Location/Section

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sept

Oct

Total

Greg Johanson

East Chain, 35

1.43

1.90

2.31

4.12

 6.72

3.08 

 4.65

24.21

Fred Goebel

Tenhassen, 14

.82

1.81

 

2.93

8.66

3.21

 

17.43

Reinhold Hagen

Lake Belt, 5

1.46

2.72

1.38

2.44

9.19

2.57

4.11

23.87

Marlen Bents

Lake Belt, 25

1.96

2.66

1.30

1.96

9.29

3.08

4.40

24.65

Taylor Forsberg

Lake Fremont, 5

3.13

3.10

2.05

3.61

8.27

2.09

 

22.25

Diane Swanson

Lake Fremont, 6

1.86

3.20

2.24

2.23

10.67

2.13

4.94

27.27

Leroy & Nileta Forsberg

Lake Fremont, 35

3.13

3.35

1.45

2.49

9.85

 

 

20.27

Michael Warriner

Fairmont, 1

1.30

3.26

3.53

1.10

7.83

2.99

4.27

24.28

Martin SWCD

Fairmont, 17

1.55

2.12

1.16

.79

7.01

2.78

 

15.41

Gordy Luckow

Fairmont, 25

1.85

3.34

3.73

1.22

7.46

3.30

5.45

26.35

Donald Garbers

Manyaska, 1

.90

2.59

2.24

.81

6.43

2.10

4.13

20.00

Rich Perrine

Manyaska, 7

               

Darwin Roberts

Center Creek, 5

2.07

2.26

1.65

1.54

5.97

2.45

4.88

20.82

Ronald Martin

Fraser, 8

 

5.32

2.53

.92

5.51

2.32

3.77

20.37

Trimont Health Care

Fox Lake, 6

1.88

2.61

3.09

.86

6.60

2.54

2.98

20.56

Paul Peterson

Elm Creek, 8

1.57

2.94

2.71

1.51

6.76

3.03

4.89

23.41

Rick Holtz

Elm Creek, 33

1.52

3.31

1.50

1.60

7.91

2.35

4.23

22.42

Dave Peterson

Nashville, 8

2.10

1.79

2.66

1.41

7.55

2.58

4.26

22.35

Ronald Sandersfeld

Westford, 31

1.96

3.28

1.86

.53

7.82

2.34

4.79

22.58

Gary Wilson

Cedar, 6

1.47

3.06

2.85

.99

7.15

3.83

4.34

23.69

 

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The contents are the property of Martin SWCD.  The District's goal is to provide quality and accurate information.  All information within this site is subject to change and should only serve as a guideline for the District's services and procedures.  For the most Current and accurate information please contact the District at (507) 235-6680.