SWCDs Work with Buffer Law

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1 The workload for SWCD staff has increased significantly as deadlines to establish perennial vegetation along designated streams and ditches draw near. In 2015, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton enacted a law requiring perennial vegetation to be established along designated public waterways, water bodies, and ditches. The width of the vegetated strip or buffer strip depends on the classification of the water: Public ditches need 16.5 feet of vegetation, while DNR Protected Waters streams, lakes, and some wetlands need an average of 50 feet of vegetation. The Minnesota DNR created a map to show where these designated waters are situated on the landscape. The map is available online at: buffersviewer/ SWCD staff have been working directly with landowners to explain the state law, maps, and help them determine if any of their land is subject to the requirements of the law. If a landowner does have a portion of a T r a v e r s e S o i l & W a t e r C o n s e r v a t i o n D i s t r i c t TRAVERSE COUNTY CONSERVATION UPDATE APRIL 2017 SWCDs Work with Buffer Law field that needs vegetation added, SWCD staff are ready to explain the options available. A Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contract is currently the only option that A Grass Buffer Growing Along a Ditch in Redwood Co., MN. offers payments for landowners to take the land out of crop production and establish perennial vegetation with native grasses. In order to comply with a statutory responsibility to track progress towards compliance with the Buffer Law (103F.48, Subd 6), Traverse SWCD has decided to utilize a Geographic Information System (GIS) Buffer Compliance and Tracking Tool dubbed BuffCAT. Staff are able to designate which parcels of property currently meet the buffer standards and which ones still require a vegetative buffer be established. The results of the initial review showed nearly 60% of all affected parcels in Traverse County already met the compliance standards of the Buffer Law. Owners of many of the remaining parcels are actively working to add buffers along waters prior to the upcoming deadlines: November 1, 2017 for public waters and November 1, 2018 for public ditches. Traverse county has a total of approximately 1,700 of parcels affected by the Buffer Law. A preliminary review of these parcels indicated that nearly 1,000 of them already have sufficient vegetation established to meet the requirements of the law. Of the remaining 700 parcels that will need to add buffers, owners of nearly 300 parcels are actively working on plans to plant vegetation either independently or with a contract and financial assistance through CRP. Many of those remaining parcels include land along public ditches in the northeast part of Traverse County that require a minimum of 16.5 feet of vegetative buffer. Additional information is readily available online:

2 SPRING EDITION SWCD Awards $400 Scholarship Last year, the Traverse SWCD offered one $400 scholarship to a graduating high school senior in Traverse County looking to pursue an education in agriculture or natural resources. An essay written by Dalton Nilson was selected for the $400 scholarship. The SWCD will offer this opportunity to students who reside within the Traverse County again in For more information, contact a local high school guidance counselor or call the SWCD office. TRAVERSE COUNTY CONSERVA TION UPDATE PAGE 2 Low Interest Loans Traverse County residents have an opportunity to utilize over $200, in low interest loans available for projects in the following categories in 2017: Replacement of Septic Systems Manure Storage & Handling Equipment Structural Erosion Control Minimum Tillage Equipment Other Practices that Benefit Water Quality The program is funded by the MN Department of Agriculture and loans are set at a rate of 3% interest. Loans are processed through a participating lender of your choice. Please call the SWCD office and talk to Sara for more details about the program, project eligibility determination, and an application form. More information about AgBMP loans is available online: One Watershed One Plan (1W1P) Traverse County is preparing to embark upon a new planning process that will focus on water quality management and priorities on a larger scale. In August 2016 the Traverse County Board of Commissioners along with the Traverse SWCD Board of Supervisors both adopted resolutions of support for the 1W1P program. This program was initiated back in 2011 by an agency advisory council (made up of county, watershed, and SWCD advisors) who agreed that local government units should develop and organize water management plans on a watershedwide scale instead of focusing on activities within county boundaries. What does this mean, you say? It means less duplication of efforts towards plan development by local governments. It means more cooperation and partnership between local government agencies. It means the possibility of additional state funding directed to our area to pay for projects that benefit water quality in the future. And it means fewer requests for public input and participation at local meetings and hearings. There is a long road ahead for plan development. Staff from five counties, five SWCDs, and the Bois de Sioux Watershed District have met and agreed to submit a grant application for state funds to start the process. This grant will be submitted to the state agency in April. Participants won t know if the application will be funded until later this summer. If approved, the planning process will begin. The group will solicit input from local governments and the general public to decide which water resource priorities are MOST important and what is the best way to address each concern on a watershed-wide scale.

3 PAGE 3 TRAVERSE COUNTY CONSERVA TION UPDATE SPRING EDITION The Traverse SWCD is partnering with the 21st Century Community Learning Grant to execute a community-wide tree planting project! Approximately 1600 trees will be planted in multiple locations across the county. Students, families, and citizens will band together on May 13, 2017 to plant trees at several public locations throughout Traverse County including Browns Valley, Dumont, Tintah, and Wheaton. Community Tree Project The 21st Century Grant serves Traverse County youth to reach the following goals: improved academic performance, increased school and community connectedness, development of 21st Century skills, and promotion of family involvement. CRP + RIM = CREP The 21st Century Grant program coordinator, Dan Appel, has been working with a group of interested juniors and seniors at Wheaton High School to organize the event. The group of students will be leading the event in the following three areas; media and promotion, community outreach, and onsite specialists. Traverse SWCD Technical Manager Bruce Johnson is working closely with the project to develop site plans and teach students proper tree planting techniques. In January 2017, Governor Mark Dayton signed a new Minnesota Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture. CREP is a combination of the federal Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the state Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) easement program. CREP opens up 60,000 acres for new CRP contract enrollment within 54 counties in Minnesota. The purpose of CREP is to restore and protect marginal cropland using the following conservation practices: Buffer Strips Wetland restoration Wellhead Protection Areas The establishment of native grasses on marginally productive cropland serves great value to improve water quality and restore wildlife habitat in Traverse County and throughout the state. There are also practices designed to target and protect drinking water in sensitive areas like wellhead supply management areas. Priority is given to new CRP contracts that are 8 acres or greater in size. The RIM easement that follows the expiration of the CRP contract is perpetual or permanent in nature. Program participation is limited to NEW CRP contracts only. The land must have cropping history to be eligible for new CRP contract enrollment. Payment rates have not yet been released and enrollment is tentatively scheduled to begin spring of If you have more questions or would like additional information please call the SWCD office.

4 PAGE 4 The Traverse SWCD board is pleased to introduce two new employees to the SWCD team: Casey O Leary and Taylor Hufford. Casey currently serves in the position of District Program Technician and was hired in March He was born and raised in Wheaton and graduated from Wheaton High School in Casey attended Alexandria Technical College and graduated from the Carpentry program then spent 14 years building and remodeling houses in the Alexandria area. Casey has been married to his wife, Andrea, for 10 years and they have three sons: Colin (7) and twins Patrick & Michael (3). When he s not working you can find him remodeling his house or pursuing wildlife whenever he can (especially pheasants) with his two black labs named Pepper and TRAVERSE COUNTY CONSERVA TION UPDATE Funds Available for Sealing Abandoned Wells Traverse County property owners have an opportunity to apply for a grant to seal abandoned wells to protect groundwater sources. Funding is available to cover 50% of the cost, up to $400 per project. Applicants New Staff Added in 2016 Missy. Casey has always loved the outdoors and is dedicated to improving habitat in Traverse County. He s a member of Traverse Co. Pheasants Forever and Traverse Co. Sportsman s Club. He s a Minnesota Firearms Safety Instructor and member of the Wheaton Fire Department. Casey looks forward to years of Casey O Leary (left) and Taylor Hufford (right) are the newest employees at the Traverse SWCD. must apply BEFORE any work has started on a well sealing project. It is very important (and required by law) to hire a licensed well drilling contractor to seal abandoned wells! If an old well is left open and buried, contaminants could seep from the ground surface directly into groundwater supplies. Clean drinking water is important to everyone! Call the SWCD office for more information and an application! assisting residents and landowners of Traverse County with their conservation planning needs. Taylor Hufford was hired in August 2016 as the SWCD Conservation Technician. Taylor is originally from Morris, Minnesota where he grew up on his family farm. His dad and uncle own the farm and currently raise about 100 beef cows and feed out about 200 fat cattle each year. They also have a 1000 head hog finishing barn and farm about 1600 acres. Taylor graduated from the University of Minnesota Crookston with a double major in Natural Resource Management and Animal Science in May After college he worked for the Minnesota Conservation Corps before joining the Traverse SWCD. Taylor looks forward to meeting and providing conservation planning assistance to Traverse County landowners.

5 TRAVERSE COUNTY CONSERVA TION UPDATE PAGE 5 A Weed to Watch For: Palmer Amaranth Since 2014, Palmer amaranth plant has been classified as a prohibited noxious weed requiring eradication in Minnesota. The weed was not known to exist in the state until September 2016, when Palmer amaranth was discovered to be growing in several fields in Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota. Palmer amaranth is a prolific seed producer. A single plant has the ability to produce 250,000 seeds. It can also grow quickly to a height of 6-8 feet, greatly inhibiting cultivated crop growth. Palmar amaranth looks very similar to our native pigweeds such as common waterhemp, redroot and smooth pigweeds but has some distinguishable characteristics: Redroot and smooth pigweeds have fine hairs on their leaves. Palmer amaranth and waterhemp do not have hairs. The petiole (stalk connecting a leaf to the stem) of Palmer is longer than the total length of the leaf. The petiole of common waterhemp is typically only half the length of the leaf. Seedhead spikes on female Palmer amaranth plants are much taller (up to 3 feet long) and more prickly than waterhemp or redroot and smooth pigweed spikes. If you suspect Palmer Amaranth on your property, you are encouraged to contact John Fridgen our local ag inspector at You may also call your crop consultant for plant identification or MN Department of Agriculture s Arrest the Pest hotline to report locations Traverse SWCD staff are also available to assist with Palmer amaranth identification in CRP fields. Traverse SWCD has been working with the MN Department of Agriculture for over 10 years to test native grass seed mixes for content and germination. Our primary seed vendor is mindful of the serious concerns this weed poses to the agricultural industry and is wary of seed sources. We understand the threat that Palmer amaranth represents and we actively take precautionary measures to prevent the spread of any weeds and especially Palmer amaranth. New No-Till Grain Drill The Traverse SWCD has a brand new John Deere 1590 no-till grain drill available for rent this spring! The SWCD board decided to retire and upgrade the 1993 John Deere 750 drill after 30 years of service in Traverse County. The new drill is 15 feet wide and can be calibrated to plant wheat, soybeans, and alfalfa along with the ability to plant cool season grass mixes with limitations - because it doesn t have an agitator in the seed box. This drill will work well in minimum tillage conditions on dry soil. Rental fees are $9.00 per acre with a $100 minimum charge. SWCD staff will deliver the equipment to your farm. You must sign the SWCD s rental agreement before using the equipment.

6 PAGE 6 TRAVERSE COUNTY CONSERVA TION UPDATE SPRING EDITION Traverse SWCD Celebrates 60 Years! The Traverse Soil and Water Conservation District is excited to announce the 60th anniversary of the inception of the District! The first official meeting was held July 17, The SWCD has experienced many changes since that day. The agency began with one employee hired in July 1957 and has Supervisor Alan Bruce was recognized for his 50 years of service with the Traverse SWCD! Alan was initially appointed to serve as Supervisor of the SWCD Board on March 9, Later that year, Alan was successfully elected to the position and has been re-elected and served every consecutive term to date. He has faithfully fulfilled the duties and responsibilities of the position and continues to serve as a respected and valued member of the Board. Alan operates a grain farm in Traverse County and also serves on the Taylor Township Board. Alan s wife of 37 years, Lois Ann, has always been supportive of his commitment to the SWCD. grown to employ five full time staff in 2016! The office location has also changed several times over the years. The office was initially located in the corner bank building on Broadway Avenue, moved to the west wing of the Wheaton High School, and finally settled into its current location in The mission of the Traverse Soil and Water Conservation District is to provide equal opportunity assistance to landowners, producers and residents of Traverse County for the education and promotion of conservation practices and proper land use to protect and enhance Traverse County s natural resources. 50 Years Service Award for Alan Bruce Conservation Corps Apprentice Intern The Traverse SWCD has been approved for placement of a Conservation Corps Apprentice intern to work through the summer of 2017! This intern is employed through the Conservation Corps of MN and Iowa and supervised in part by SWCD staff. The SWCD has successfully hosted three summer interns in past years. The position is an excellent opportunity for the SWCD an educational opportunity for the individual hired to fill the position! We are excited to be selected to host the position for the summer.

7 Traverse SWCD offers many services to property owners in Traverse County and our staff are willing to discuss details of all services we are able to provide! MOWING can be done to meet your CRP mid contract management requirements. Mowing is also recommended as a part of some site preparation or weed control regimens. SPRAYING services are offered for site preparation and weed control. Our staff are licensed and insured for commercial pesticide application. We are working into our 7th year of providing this service and our staff have experience with choosing appropriate chemical rates for each specific purpose. Ask us about plans for controlling Canadian Thistle in CRP! TRAVERSE COUNTY CONSERVA TION UPDATE PLANTING GRASS SEED encompasses a large share of the field work our SWCD staff complete each year. We can order grass seed mixes to meet conservation program needs. Site preparation is important and we work with landowners to make sure the site is ideally prepared before planting. Our seed mixes are tested annually by the MN Department of Agriculture to ensure accuracy of labeled germination and species included in the seed mix. GRASS COVER UPGRADES are sometimes required as a part of re-enrollment of fields into CRP contracts. Our staff have experience with determination of the most cost effective methods for re-seeding the grass in your field to obtain the most successful results. We strive for your complete PAGE 7 SWCD Provides Conservation Services Traverse County has GRANT funding available for qualified low income homeowners to upgrade septic systems that fail to meet state water quality or health standards. ELIGIBILITY is determined by proof of household gross annual income from a family s previous year s tax statements. The income limit for Traverse County applicants are split into two brackets. A homeowner could receive 100% the project cost reimbursed (up to $11,000 maximum) if the family s income qualifies under the lowest income bracket. Income limits begin at $23,760/one person, $48,600 for a family of four, or calculated for additional members. A second, higher income bracket is also available offering 50% of project cost reimbursement (up to $5,500 maximum). Income limits in this bracket begin at $35,640/ one person, $72,900 for a family of 4, or calculated for additional members. GRANT ASSISTANCE is available for the cost of installation of the replacement septic system. Funding is limited. The property owner MUST complete an application satisfaction with the services we provide. WINDBREAK DESIGN and planting are also services that are offered by the Traverse SWCD. Bruce Johnson has nearly thirteen years of experience with the successful design and installation of field and farm windbreaks. He will work with you to create an accurate design and cost estimate and has thorough knowledge of which tree species to recommend for soil conditions at a particular site. He is also upto-date with the standards of all of the conservation programs and cost share assistance rates. Our staff are very particular when it comes to planting trees and installing fabric weed control mat. We want your tree planting to be successful and will do our best to ensure it is done right. Grant Funding to Fix Septic Systems and obtain contract approval BE- FORE work on the project is started. After completion of an approved project, a paid receipt must be presented before final payment of the project will be issued. APPLICATION FORMS are available at the Traverse SWCD office by calling ext. 3, ask for Sara. Grant funding will be allocated to eligible property owners who meet the income guidelines on a first come, first served basis.

8 Traverse Soil & Water Conservation District 304 4th Street North Wheaton, MN Phone: (320) Ext. 3 U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO.??? Services may be obtained without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, or handicap. SWCD SUPERVISORS Greg Hoppe... Vice Chair Carol Johnson... Secretary Alan Bruce... Treasurer David Rinke... Public Relations Dennis Zimbrick... Chairman SWCD STAFF: Sara Gronfeld... Manager Bruce Johnson... Technical Manager Trudy Determan... Admin. Assistant Casey O Leary...Program Technician Taylor Hufford... Conservation Technician NRCS STAFF: Christopher Hogge... District Conservationist IN THIS ISSUE: New CREP Signup in MN Buffer Law Update $cholarship Information One Watershed, One Plan Palmer Amaranth 60 Years for Traverse SWCD! Community Tree Project BOARD MEETINGS Regular board meetings are scheduled the first Thursday of each month at 7:30 a.m. Open to the public! Visit us Online: Office Hours 8:00 to 4:30 Monday - Friday