The Sherburne Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) along with the Benton SWCD, have begun conducting voluntary farm and property assessments within both counties.

 

Through a Clean Water Fund Grant, the SWCDs are specifically targeting areas affecting the Elk River Watershed which have been identified by the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) study completed in 2012. In this study, it was identified that summer season phosphorus loading is a primary pollutant source for lakes and streams within the Watershed and numerous priority source zones. The goal is to improve water quality within the Watershed by annually reducing the amount of nutrients entering the Watershed in mid to late summer as well as reduce erosion, sediment loading, and feedlot runoff from entering surface and groundwater. 

 

Some potential projects that may improve these conditions include but are not limited to: managing runoff from feedlots, managing riparian pastures to protect riparian areas, installing buffers along surface water, repair/replacement of leaking/failing septic systems, cover crops, irrigation scheduling, and cropland erosion control projects. 

The information collected during the property assessments will be crop rotation, nutrient and manure management, tillage, pasture, shoreline and woodland management, irrigation water management, and other practices to help solve water quality concerns.

 

The goal of these assessments is to review the property with the landowner and see what is working well, and discuss any areas that could be improved upon. If areas are identified that can be enhanced, and the landowner is interested in implementing projects, then the District will work together with the landowner to develop a plan and explore cost-share opportunities. The assessment is 100% voluntary for landowners, and upon completion there are no requirements to go any further.

 

The District will be contacting landowners within the priority areas of the Elk River Watershed over the next 2 years to set up a time to complete an assessment. The District’s goal is to complete assessments on 80% of the priority areas, and 50% of the remaining areas. 

 

If you have any questions about this article, cost-share programs, or would like to have an assessment completed, please contact Miranda Wagner or Kelly Molitor at (763) 241-1170 ext. 4 or kmolitor@sherburneswcd.org.