Summer 2013 Newsletter - Stearns County Soil and Water

Stearns County Soil and Water
Conservation District
Dates to Remember:
•
Stearns County
SWCD/MECA 2013
Shoreland Tour
Tuesday, Aug 6
•
Take the Day Off at
Mississippi River
Park, Saturday, Aug
10
•
Discovery Farms
Minnesota Summer
Tour, Tuesday—
Thursday, Aug 13-15
Inside this issue:
Farewell to Jerry
Bechtold
1
Take the Day Off
1
Water Quality
Cer fica on
2
Soil Erosion
Common this Spring
3
Dale Walz Re ring
4
Loren Clarke is
Moving on
4
Start Thinking Fall
Food Plots
4
Local Conserva on
Efforts
5
Shoreland and
Watershed Tour
6
Pheasants Forever
Biologist Update
6
Office Staff &
SWCD Board
7-8
Stearns County Soil & Water Conservation District
Summer 2013
Stearns County SWCD Says Farewell to Long me Board Member
SWCD Board Member and friend Jerry
Bechtold passed away on May 16th, 2013.
Jerry was in his 56th year of service on the
Stearns County Soil and Water
Conserva on District Board. Thoughout
his me on the board Jerry worked very
hard to be er the land of Stearns County
and the lives of its residents. Jerry also
served on a number of other boards;
including the Stearns County Water
Advisory Commi ee, Anoka Sand Plain
Associa on and local planning boards.
Jerry and his wife LeMay raised 11 children, two of whom con nue to run the family farm near
Rockville (Kipland Vale, Inc.). Kipland Vale, Inc. received the River Friendly Farmer Award in
1999 and the MASWCD Outstanding Conserva onist award in 2003. Jerry was recognized by
Governor Mark Dayton and the Minnesota house of Representa ves in 2012 for 55 years of
service to Minnesota and the Stearns County SWCD. Jerry will be greatly missed by all he
touched thoughout his life.
A Day of Outdoor Family Fun Awaits You and Your Family
On Saturday, August 10 a world of fun and adventure awaits you and
your family on the Mississippi River. Put away all your electronic gadgets
and share a day of "Outdoor Family Fun" on the Mississippi River! Have
fun and get re-connected to our natural world by taking part in this day
long sampler of free outdoor recrea onal opportuni es: Kids learn to
cast and fish from shore, learn to paddle a canoe and travel down the
Mississippi, experience a high-tech treasure hunt using GPS units, ride a
pontoon and watch DNR demonstrate fish survey (electrofishing)
techniques, test your aim at the laser shoo ng range, try your hand at
archery, see wild animals up close, build a birdhouse and take it home,
find out about the water in our world, see an old me fur trader, play ‘disc golf'...and more!
Saturday, August 10th will mark our fi h annual event. Last year there was an es mated 1,300
par cipants taking part in the day's event. A endees had the opportunity to take part in over
30 hands-on-ac vi es. It was definitely a day OFF; Outdoor Family Fun.
For more info see contact Kimberly Thielen Cremers, Stearns County SWCD @ 320-251-7800
[email protected] or see h p://www.stearnscountyswcd.net/pages/TakeaDayOFF/
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Page 2
Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District
Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Cer fica on Program Local Watershed Chosen for Pilot Program
Project Highlights
This site on the Mississippi
River north of St. Cloud was
in need of some major
work. Exis ng failing Rail
Road e walls were
removed and the slope was
reshaped. Na ve grasses,
wildflowers, trees, & shrubs
were used to stabilize the
bank to protect the river
against future erosion.
Minnesota’s lakes, rivers and streams feature prominently in our
recrea on and our quality of life, and the high quality of those public
waters is part of what makes our state special. Minnesota is also the
na on’s fi h most produc ve agricultural state with nearly 27 million
acres devoted to agricultural produc on, $15 billion in annual sales,
340,000 Minnesota jobs supported and an amazing variety of farms.
Addi onally, Minnesota’s 81,000 farmers collec vely have a strong track
record of embracing conserva on prac ces.
These dis nc ve assets make Minnesota the ideal loca on for a new
collabora ve approach focused on the intersec on between agricultural
produc on and water quality. The goal of the new
state and federal partnership, called the
Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Cer fica on
Program, is to enhance Minnesota’s water quality
by accelera ng the voluntary adop on of on-farm
conserva on prac ces.
The Middle Sauk River in Stearns County was
recently selected to be one of 4 pilot areas for the
Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Cer fica on
Program.
For more informa on on this new program please
contact the Stearns SWCD office at 320-251-7800
Ext. 3 or you can read more on the Mn Department
of Agriculture website.
h p://www.mda.state.mn.us/protec ng/
waterprotec on/awqcprogram.aspx
Stearns County SWCD Board member Chuck
Uphoff with Governor Mark Dayton and
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack (seated)
at the pilot area announcement event.
This agricultural site was
situated on highly erodible
soils adjacent to Big Fish
Lake. The site was
contribu ng a large amount
of sediment and nutrients
to the lake. The Stearns
SWCD and Big Fish Lake
Associa on worked with
the landowner to come up
with a solu on to address
the issues. Water control
structures were installed
and the land owner chose
to enroll the land into the
CRP program.
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Stearns County Soil & Water Conservation District
Page 3
Soil Erosion a Common Sight this Spring
The local affects of the seemingly never ending spring rains
moved massive amounts of soil from fields, gouged
waterways, buried newly planted crops or prevented fields
from even being planted, and filled road ditches with
sediment.
Early Spring erosion
A lot of things came together to make the ming of these
rains bad for soil erosion. Prospects of 6 or 7 dollar a bushel
corn have prompted many farmers to move land out of hay,
pasture, or CRP, and into row crops. These acres are very
vulnerable right now to erosion because the land surface is
smooth and, in most cases, there is very li le crop residue on
top to protect the soil from the forces of rain and runoff. In
addi on, expensive fer lizer, pes cides, and seed are lying in
the loose surface, subject to move with the soil and flowing
water.
Excess runoff and soil erosion don’t have to be automa c
consequences of row crop produc on according to Dennis
Fuchs, Administrator of the Stearns County Soil and Water
Conserva on District (SWCD) in Waite Park. “Farmers can
switch to mulch- ll or no- ll, which leave last year’s residue
on the surface, to protect the soil, he said. “They can also
farm across the slope, where possible, and use perennial
crops in rota on, or plant buffer strips on the steepest fields.
Dividing a row crop field with strips of hay can lessen the
effects of a large rainfall event.” Dennis also said that
washouts in areas of concentrated flow can be controlled
with grassed waterways, sediment basins with le intakes,
and grade stabiliza on structures, depending on the
situa on. “Each field is a li le different. It is always best to
work with the SWCD and our partners with the USDA Natural
Resources Conserva on Service (NRCS) to find the best
solu on.”
So why aren’t more people adop ng these prac ces? “Many
reasons, but it usually boils down to me, applica on cost,
and uncertainty of return with ght profit margins,” Fuchs
said. “A er storms like this one, and all the rain we had last
spring, I think people are seeing that the “do nothing”
approach isn’t working.
Effects of one of May’s large rainfall events
A recent heavy rain moved a massive amount of
soil on this farmers field
How much does it cost to fix a gully, pick rocks, clean out
ditches, re-plant, re-spray, etc.? When you consider that we
offer technical assistance and funding help, I think that
people can’t afford NOT to do conserva on work.” Dennis is
urging landowners to call the Stearns County SWCD and
NRCS office at 320-251-7800, ext. 3, or visit the SWCD
website at www.stearnscountyswcd.net for more
informa on.
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Page 4
Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District
Dale Walz Retiring
Loren Clarke
is moving on
NRCS Soil
Conserva onist
Loren Clarke has
accepted the District
Conserva onist
posi on in the
Lakefield, MN NRCS
office. Loren has
been in Stearns
County since April of
2010 and has worked
with several Stearns
County landowners
and a variety of USDA
programs.
Loren will be moving
back towards his
hometown and will
be closer to his
family. The Stearns
SWCD wishes Loren
the best in his new
adventure!
A er 34 years and 6 months
with the Stearns County Soil
and Water Conserva on
District, Dale Walz has decided
to re re. Since 1979 Dale has
been a fixture at the Stearns
SWCD office designing and
installing manure storage
facili es, waterways, water and
sediment basins to name a few.
Dale is also in charge of grant
repor ng, USDA program
repor ng and acts as a liaison
between USDA and the SWCD.
years of dedicated service to
Stearns County’s natural
resources and will be having an
open house for Dale. Please
come and join the Stearns
County SWCD in Congratula ng
Dale.
When: Thursday, August 8th
Where: SWCD Office
110 2nd Street South—127
Time: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
The Stearns County SWCD
would like to thank Dale for his
Start Thinking Fall Food Plots
With the fall hun ng
season just around the
corner, it’s me to start
thinking about those fall
food plots. With a li le
bit of planning
you can turn your
food plot into a
wildlife beacon.
Many hunters
only think about
their fall food
plots right before
the season and
then try to do everything
at the same me. Hunters
who plan ahead increase
the food plot’s nutri onal
yield and create a be er
area for hun ng.
August is the me to ask
some ques ons to
determine the best course
of ac on for fall. Does the
food plot have a perennial
such as clover le over
from last year? Have you
recently conducted a soil
sample to learn what
fer lizer levels the soil
requires? What plants
will provide the most
amount of nutri on for
the specie pursued?
While it’s not quite
plan ng me, hunters
should be ge ng their
food plots ready. Here is
what hunters should be
doing:
For Perennial Plots—
• Mow clover or
other perennial
food plots low
enough for sunlight
to reach the plants.
As cooler weather
prevails, clover will
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•
begin to grow, but it
needs some sunlight.
Determine what annual
seeds should be planted
to produce a good mix of
plants for wildlife.
For Annual Plots—
• Mow and spray herbicide
such as Roundup to
eliminate plants that
sprung up during the
summer growing season
to prepare the area for
later disking and plan ng.
Page 5
Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District
Local Conserva on Efforts Get the Public Involved
Rockville Lions Park, Pleasant Lake
A er years of hard work and careful planning the rain gardens and na ve prairie plan ngs were completed at Lions
Park near Pleasant Lake. These environmentally friendly park improvements will offer both wildlife habitat and clean
water for all to enjoy. On June 11th, several local groups and students from many local schools pitched in to plant the
raingardens with 1800 na ve grass and wildflower plugs. This successful project was made possible by partnerships
with the City of Rockville, John Clark Elementary, St. John’s Arboretum, Paynesville FFA and many more local
volunteers. Both the Sauk River Watershed District and the Stearns County Soil & Water Conserva on District (SWCD)
supported funding for the project. The Stearns County SWCD and the West Central Technical Services Area designed
and oversaw construc on.
North Pointe Turf Management Fes val, Cold Spring
The Stearns Co. SWCD assisted the City of Cold Spring with a turf management fes val on Thursday, May 25, 2013. The
purpose of the event was to bring together residents from the North Pointe subdivision and Green Meadows
development for a night of food, fun, and educa on on managing nitrogen loss from their lawn. These neighborhoods
were targeted because their lawn care ac ons, fer lizer applica on and irriga on water management, have a direct
impact on the City’s drinking water supply. The City of Cold Spring has been working, along with its partners, to reduce
the amount of nitrate in its water supply by managing land use ac vi es within the recharge area for the wells.
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Page 6
Stearns County Soil & Water Conservation District
Shoreland & Watershed Prac ces Tour 2013
You are invited to a day highligh ng shoreline & watershed prac ces! Your bus tour host will be
Mr. Greg Berg, Shoreland Specialist, Stearns County Soil & Water Conserva on District. Land
owners will be on-site to answer ques ons about the projects.
Tour Sites
Site #1 - Shoreline restoraƟon, prairie planƟng & infiltraƟon pracƟces
Site #2 - Streambank RestoraƟon - A steep slope on the Sauk River with three landowners,
including toe wood, root wads and hydro mulch.
Site #3 - Streambank restoraƟon on a steep slope of the Mississippi River removing retaining walls
& paƟos.
Site #4 - Shoreline restoraƟon along a county road, bush bundles, riprap, naƟve planƟng.
Site #5 - 40 retrofit raingardens in a lake shore development.
Site #6 - Water & sediment basin, water control structure, naƟve prairie planƟng
on HEL field enrolled in CRP.
Site #7 - Rain gardens and Shoreline RestoraƟon
Site #8 - Streambank RestoraƟon, root wads & revetments, with naƟve planƟngs.
Also included in the tour will be the opportunity to see a Park with Conserva on
Event Sponsored by
Stearns SWCD & the
Minnesota Erosion
Control Associa on
Design on the Mississippi River and a Conserva on Development near Big Fish
Lake.
or more info contact the MECA office Phone: (320) 685-5444
or see mnerosion.org
Stearns County Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Biologist Update
The Farm Service Agency just completed the General Conserva on Reserve
Program (CRP) signup on June 14. Soon FSA will be no fying landowners if
they were accepted into the program.
Stearns County faired pre y well during
this signup. Stearns County had 64 CRP
offers submi ed for approximately 1700
acres.
There are s ll several Con nuous
Conserva on Reserve Program (CCRP)
acres available for enrollment. Most of
these prac ces receive incen ves for
enrollment. If you are interested in
knowing more about op ons for your
property please contact Adam or Jason at
the SWCD office (320-251-7800 Ext 3).
Just prior to this signup USDA increased
the Soil Rental Rates (SRR) for CRP. In
Stearns County the SRR increased 33%.
The new SRR ranges from $106-$160/acre,
with incen ves for some prac ces that can
mean a range from $127-$192/acre.
Adam Rodenberg, Pheasants Forever Farm
Bill Biologist, Stearns County
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Page 7
Suite 128
110 2nd Street South
Waite Park, MN 56387
NRCS Staff
Back Row—Le to Right
Mike Hemmann, Desmond Glen & Jim Pendroy
Phone:
320-251-7800 Ext. 3
Fax:
320-251-9171
Office Hours:
Monday—Friday
8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Pheasants
Forever Staff
Dan Block, Loren Clark, Lee Zabinski & Dave Rose
Front Row—Le to Right
Adam Rodenberg
NRCS Staff
Dan Block—Wetland Specialist
[email protected]
Loren Clark—Soil Conserva onist
[email protected]
Lee Zabinski—Soil Conserva on Technician
[email protected]
Dave Rose—District Conserva onist
[email protected]
Mike Hemmann—Engineering Technician
[email protected]
Desmond Glenn—Soil Conserva onist
[email protected]
Jim Pendroy—Soil Conserva onist
[email protected]
Candace Teigland—Administra ve Assistant
[email protected]
Pheasants Forever Staff
Adam Rodenberg—Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist
[email protected]
WCTSA Staff
Brian Hogemark—WCTSA Feedlot Technician
[email protected]
Luke Herkenhoff—WCTSA Engineering Technician
Luke.Herkenhoff@mn.nacdnet.net
Ross Reiffenberger—WCTSA Engineer
Ross.Reiff[email protected]
WCTSA Staff
L to R: Brian Hogemark, Luke Herkenhoff & Ross Reiffenberger
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Page 8
SWCD Staff
Suite 128
110 2nd Street South
Waite Park, MN 56387
Back Row—Le to Right
Linus Meyer, Dennis Fuchs, Wayne Cymbaluk, Brad Wenz, Mark Lafebvre, Ben Ruley, Kimberly Thielen Cremers
Phone:
320-251-7800 Ext. 3
Fax:
320-251-9171
Office Hours:
Monday—Friday
8:00 am to 4:30 pm
We are on the web:
www.stearnscountyswcd.net
Stearns County SWCD
Board of Supervisors:
Chuck Uphoff—Area 1
320-837-5204
Larry Salzer—Area 2
320-654-9002
David Weller—Area 3
320-346-2372
David Brinkman—Area 4
320-243-4296
Jerome Bechtold—Area 5
320-685-3213
Dale Walz, Carrie Raber, Megan Molitor, Greg Berg, Jason Selvog, Lori Persson, Nathan Hylla
Front Row—Le to Right
Dennis Fuchs—District Administrator
[email protected]
Lori Persson— Administra ve Assistant
[email protected]
Greg Berg—Shoreland Specialist
[email protected]
Wayne Cymbaluk—Water Resource Specialist
[email protected]
Nathan Hylla—Advanced Engineering Technician
[email protected]
Mark Lefebvre—Nutrient Management Specialist
[email protected]
Linus Meyer—District Technician
[email protected]
Megan Molitor—Nutrient Management Specialist
[email protected]
Carrie Raber—Urban Conserva onist
[email protected]
Ben Ruley—GIS Conserva onist
[email protected]
Jason Selvog—District Technician
[email protected]
Kimberly Thielen Cremers—Mississippi River Renaissance
Coordinator
[email protected]
Dale Walz—Senior Engineering Technician
[email protected]
Brad Wenz—Soil Conserva onist
[email protected]
SWCD Board of Supervisors
Back Row L to R: Dave Brinkman, David Weller, Larry Salzer
Front Row L to R: Jerome Bechtold, Chuck Uphoff
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