2014 Annual Report

Becker SWCD and its partner agencies are equal opportunity employers and providers

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Becker SWCD Mission Statement

The mission of the Becker Soil and Water Conservation District is to provide leadership

in the conservation of all natural resources, especially soil and water through programs

and partnerships with individuals, businesses, organizations and governments.

2014 Supervisors (Left-to-Right)

Tony Beck, Treasurer – District 5

Duane Grossman, Secretary – District 3

Jerome Flottemesch, Vice-Chair – District 1

Kathy Stenger, Chair – District 2

Gen Pavelko, Member – District 4

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2014 Staff

Rear L-R: Ray Hummel, Marsha Watland, Phil Doll, Peter Mead, Adam Kleinschmidt, Jen Wentz, Jeff Norby

Front L-R: Ed Musielewicz, Leticia Kiehl, Claire Olson, Ed Clem.

District Staff NRCS Staff_____________

Peter Mead, District Administrator Ed Musielewicz, District Conservationist

Jennifer Wentz, Administrative Assistant Jeff Norby, Soil Conservation Technician

Leticia Kiehl, Office Assistant

Ed Clem, Water Resource Technician

Marsha Watland, Shoreland Specialist/Ag Inspector

Claire Olson, Engineering Technician

Partner Staff___________________

Adam Kleinschmidt, Farm Bill Biologist, Pheasants Forever

Phil Doll, Wetland Restoration Specialist, Ducks Unlimited

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2014 Program Summaries

Supervisor Highlights

Re-organized the Board of Supervisors positions as follows – Kathy Stenger, Chair,

Jerome Flottemesch, Vice-Chair, Tony Beck, Treasurer, Duane Grossman, Secretary and

Gene Pavelko, Member.

Approved payment of Minn. Assn. of Soil and Water Conservation District dues,

MASWCD Area I dues and the Assn. of County Ag Inspectors dues for 2014.

Approved funding for the following educational programs – Jr. & Sr. Envirothon

Programs, Ag-in-the-Classroom, and the 5th

Grade Conservation Tour.

Reviewed and approved the 2014 Annual Plan of Operations.

Reviewed the Memorandum of Understanding between the SWCD and NRCS.

Held Local EQIP Workgroup meeting.

Approved the application for $200,000 for the 2014 AgBMP Loan Program.

Attended two Area I, Minn. Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts Meetings.

Four supervisors and three staff attended the MASWCD Conference in Bloomington.

Sponsored and attended the Township Weed Inspectors Training for township officials.

Attended the MASWCD/BWSR/NRCS Technical Capacity summit in St Cloud.

Authorized the purchase of office equipment, ArcGIS Online and AutoCAD software.

Selected Phil Doll & The Brink Lake Group as 2014’s Outstanding Conservationist(s)

Authorized contribution agreements between MASWCD and NRCS for CRP Planning

and Wetland Easement Monitoring.

Supervisor Flottemesch served on the MASWCD Resolution Committee.

Approved the DNR well monitoring contract to monitor wells in the Pineland Sandplain

and the Pelican River Sandplain areas of Becker County.

Attended the fall tour of the Buffalo-Red River Watershed District.

Presented the 2015 budget to the Becker County Commissioners.

Approved submittal of two Clean Water Legacy Grants to BWSR totaling $655,000.

Approved submittal of Farm Bill Assistance Program Grant Application totaling $45,000.

Approved submittal of Conservation Academy grant application to Conservation Corps.

Approved submittal of Clean Water funded Conservation Corps Labor Crew Grant.

Approved submittal of Targeted Watershed Demonstration Program grant application

for the restoration of Upper Rice Lake.

Approved Joint Powers Agreement with MN DNR to serve as fiscal agent for Agassiz

Beach Ridges Local Technical Team Projects.

Approved 2014-15 tree and native plant order form and prices.

Received notice that the Farm Bill Assistance Grant was approved.

Entered farm bill assistance partnership with Pheasants Forever.

Received notice that the BWSR CWMA grant was approved for $15,000.

Received notice that the CWL SEDLCP grant was approved for $40,710.

Received notice that the MCC Site Apprentice application was approved.

Received notice that the MCC CWL Crew Labor application was approved.

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Staff Activities & Training

Jennifer served on the Area 1 (south counties) Junior and Senior Envirothon Committees

and assisted at both events.

Peter, Jennifer, Ed, Marsha, Claire and Leticia attended the Board of Water and Soil

Resources Training Academy held in October at Breezy Point in Brainerd.

Completed all technical and financial reporting requirements of eLink.

Marsha Watland attended 4 MN Assn. of Cty. Ag Inspectors Board meetings representing

District 1 and was elected MACAI President.

Guided BWSR’s Senior Management team on tour of Becker SWCD’s CWL funded

projects in the Hay Creek Watershed.

Submitted 2 Clean Water Legacy grant applications for Programs & Practices.

Submitted Targeted Watershed Demonstration application for the Rice Lake Project.

Submitted 2 applications to the MN Conservation Corps for Crew Labor and Apprentice.

Completed the 2014 AgBMP Loan Program Application.

Prepared Conservation Reserve Program plans and Wetland Reserve Program

inspections as part of Contribution Agreements with NRCS.

Prepared three wetland replacement plans.

Prepared 12 windbreak plans for spring planting.

Presented to Clean Water Council on project targeting and prioritization.

Fulfilled requirements of the Central Sands Private Well Network study.

Monitored observation wells in Pineland Sandplain and the Pelican River Sandplain.

Claire Olson fulfilled necessary requirements as Certified Wetland Delineator.

Ed Clem maintained Certified Wetland Delineator certification through EDP Credits.

Claire Olson recieved training in hydric soils from NRCS MLRA Soil Scientist(s).

Marsha Watland maintained her Certified Landscape Planner credentials through EDP.

Participated in Becker County Zoning Ordinance Advisory Committee proceedings.

Provided Administration for the Red River Valley Conservation Service Area (TSA1).

Hired GIS Specialist and GIS Technicians for the RRVCSA/TSA8 AQPIP Program.

Hosted and mentored 2 interns from Detroit Lakes High School.

Participated in the MASWCD/BWSR/NRCS Technical Capacity summit in St Cloud.

Served as a host-site for a grant funded MN Conservation Corps conservation apprentice.

Surveyed the 7.8 mile length of Becker Co Ditch 16 under the 2014 CWL SEDLCP grant.

Held monthly Technical Evaluation Panel meetings with BWSR, DNR & US Army COE.

Attended meetings regarding the expansion of the RIM Wild Rice Easement Program.

Made 923 new landowner contacts resulting in 62 EQIP and CRP Applications.

Implemented 52 Water and Sediment Control Basins & 3 grade stabilization structures.

Completed 13 Shoreland Stabilization and Shoreland Restoration projects.

Installed 3 rain gardens and infiltration basins.

Completed 55 CRP Contracts totaling just over 1,358 Acres.

Planned and contracted 158.5 Acres of Filter Strips & Buffers adjacent to public waters.

Planned and contracted 137 Acres of Riparian Forest Buffers adjacent to public waters.

Organized and participated in the following educational & outreach programs, 5th Grade

Conservation Tour, Ag-in-the Classroom, Cormorant Outdoor Education Days, Jr. & Sr.

Envirothons, Becker County Fair and DL Water Carnival in addition to speaking at local

science classes and vocational events as requested.

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Conservation Programs and Practice Application Becker SWCD administers grants and programs to provide both technical and financial

assistance for a suite of conservation practices addressing a variety of resource concerns across

Becker County and 2014, was by all accounts, a record year for planning and implementation at

Becker SWCD. The following figures and narrative highlight the past year’s accomplishments

and financial contributions.

State Cost-share Program Summary

Practice No.

Installed Cost Share Match

Abandoned Well Sealing 4 $ 960 $ 960

Field Windbreaks / Shelterbelts 8 $ 5,188 $ 1,729

Shoreland Erosion Control 7 $ 9,871 $ 9,871

Raingardens / Infiltration Basins 3 $ 4,652 $ 4,652

Water and Sediment Control Basins 2 $ 500 $ 16,033

Ag Waste Systems 1 $ 3,500 $ 96,500

Total: 25 $ 24,671 $ 129,745

A total of 25 contracts were approved for payments totaling $24,671 from 2014 and remaining

2013 state cost-share funds with $129,745 matching dollars in local, federal and landowner

contributions.

Clean Water Legacy Program Summary

Practice No. Installed Cost Share Match

Grade Stabilizations 3 $ 47,487 $ 144,940

Water & Sediment Control Basins 48 $ 101,720 $ 189,800

Filter Strips 6 $ 66,567 $ 50,336

Total: 57 $ 215,774 $ 385,076

The Clean Water Legacy Grants Program provided funding for 57 practices

encumbering and/or spending $215,774. Matching funds of $385,000 were

provided by the Buffalo-Red River Watershed District, Federal EQIP and

CRP programs as well as landowner contributions.

Tree Program

The 2014 Becker SWCD Tree Program was once again a success. The District sold 19,471 trees

in 2014, roughly 2,000 less than 2013. Eight landowners installed windbreaks that were eligible

for state cost-share, totaling payments of $5,188. Total sales were $48,078 with program costs of

$32,227 for a gross profit of $15,851, roughly 5% above projected sales for the year. Tree

plantings also generated $1,849 in revenue for the District.

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County Agriculture Inpector Program

Since 2006, the Becker SWCD has served as the County Agriculture Inspector for Becker

County. In addition to carrying out the duties of noxious weed control, the District has actively

pursued a variety of grant opportunities to help develop management plans to control or

eradicate invasive species that are being found throughout the County. In 2014, the SWCD also

conducted work under the Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) grant received in

2013 from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR).

2014 Ag Inspector Program Summary

Activity Hrs / No. Activity Hrs / No.

Administration 87 Biological Control 66

Noxious Weed Inspection 54 Miles Traveled (No.) 3,419

Noxious Weed Control 85 Landowner Contacts (No.) 441

General Education / Outreach 25 Violation notice #1 (No.) 34

Seed Inspection 11 Violation notice #2 (No.) 4

Pesticide Program 25 Seed Samples (No.) 35

Gravel Pit Certification Program 107 Seed Warnings (No.) 4

County Ag Inspector Training 107 Seed Violations (No.) 0

Becker County Shoreland Program

2014 marked the second year of the SWCD’s Shoreland Program, and the District once again

saw overwhelming interest. In addition to planning, developing and implementing best

management practices for landowners, District staff also provided technical assistance to the

Zoning Ordinance Advisory Committee, Planning and Zoning regarding the County Shoreland

Ordinance, mitigation and variance requests. The SWCD was successful in securing $35,000

from the MN DNR’s Aquatic Habitat Management block grant and solicited financial support

for projects from the Pelican River, Buffalo-Red River and Cormorant Lakes Watershed

Districts to supplement the limited amount of state cost share funds available for shoreline

stabilizations and restorations.

2014 Shoreland Program Summary

Practice No. Installed Cost Share Match

Shoreland Restorations 5 $ 30,051 $ 47,500

Raingardens / Infiltration Basins 3 $ 4,652 $ 4,652

Shoreland Erosion Control 7 $ 9,871 $ 9,871

Mitigation Plans 3 -- $ 450

Site Visits 23 -- $ 1,380

Total: 41 $ 44,574 $ 63,853 *Note: Above totals for Raingarden and Erosion control are also reported under State-Cost Share Program Summary Figures

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Wetland Conservation Act

The Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) became a Minnesota law in 1992 and was passed to

maintain and protect Minnesota’s wetlands and the benefits they provide. Local units of

government such as cities, counties, watershed management organizations, townships and soil

and water conservation districts implement the act locally. The Becker SWCD administers the

act in Becker County for all lands in the county and for all cities in the county. The law requires

anyone proposing to drain, fill or excavate a wetland first try to avoid the wetland, second try to minimize any impact on the wetland and finally to replace any lost wetland acres, functions

and values. Certain wetland activities are exempt from the act, allowing projects with minimal

impacts or projects located on land where certain pre-established land uses are present to

proceed without regulation.

2014 WCA Program Summary

Activity No. Activity No.

Requests from Landowners 116 Diminimus Exemptions 2

Total Applications received 7 Agricultural Exemptions 5

No Loss Applications 2 Potential Violations Investigated 10

Replacement Plans approved 3 Enforcement Actions 3

Sq Ft Impacted (via approved plan) 123,816 Restoration Orders Issued 2

Agricultural Best Management Loan Program (AgBMP)

Since 1995, the Becker SWCD has participated in the AgBMP Loan Program. This program

makes available low interest loans to qualifying landowners who wish to install eligible practices

for loans including conservation tillage equipment, erosion control practices, upgrading of septic

systems and Ag waste systems and equipment. While no projects were completed in 2014,

planning began on three Ag Waste Systems that will be utilizing up to $300,000 of funds

available through the Ag BMP Program and 7 landowners received applications for SSTS

upgrades.

Local Water Management Plan

The purpose of the Local Water Management Program is to

protect water resources through the adoption and

implementation of local water management plans that are based

on local priorities. The current water plan was updated and

approved by the MN Board of Water and Soil Resources

(BWSR) in October of 2010. In 2014, at the request of the

SWCD, the Becker County Board of Commissioners passed a

resolution and BWSR granted an extension of the current plan

through December 31, 2016. Drafting the next Local Water

Management plan will commence in mid-2015. The current

complete plan can be found on our web site by going to

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http://www.co.becker.mn.us/dept/soil_water and selecting BSWCD Programs.

Reinvest in Minnesota / RIM Reserve Program

RIM and the RIM Reserve Program are voluntary permanent easement

programs that pay landowners to set aside land so that it can be restored to

wetlands and prairie and to provide habitat for migratory birds and other

wildlife. Eligible land must contain drained wetlands that are restorable.

RIM is administered through the Minnesota Board of Water & Soil

Resources (BWSR) with technical assistance from SWCD’s and partner

agencies such as Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever. In 2014, three

easements totaling approximately 425 acres were approved in Becker County

under the RIM Reserve Program.

Federal Programs

Our local NRCS partners had a total of 48 new contracts funded in

2014, totaling $385,400. Payment was made on 94 contracts in the

county for a total of 1.506 million in Federal program dollars. The

following conservation measures were implemented with funding

through the various federal USDA programs.

Local USDA/NRCS Federal Program Summary (selected practices)

Practice Amt Units Practice Amt Units

Tree / Grass Planting 2,172 Acres Forest & grass Buffers 290 Acres

Nutrient Management 1,932 Acres Cover Crop 181 Acres

Forage Planting 166 Acres Fencing 21,750 Feet

Sediment Basins 38 Units Residue Management 507 Acres

Prescribed Grazing 1,281 Acres Conservation Stewardship 45,852 Acres

Manure Facility Closure 1 Unit Wetland Restoration 68 Acres

Forest Stand Improvement 138 Acres Seasonal High Tunnel 1 Unit

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Education Programs

Educational programs have long been recognized as an important part of the Becker SWCD

mission in educating our youth on conservation of our resources. In 2014, the District board of

supervisors authorized and/or sponsored the following activities:

5th

Grade Conservation Tour

Becker SWCD sponsored the 47th

Annual 5th

Grade Conservation Tour

held May 12th

& 13th

at the Ike Fischer

Farm near Frazee. Over 300 students

from five area schools were able to

take part in this year’s event learning

about conservation, furbearing

animals, aquatic invasive species,

birding and water quality.

Special thanks to our conservation

partners and volunteers from the

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency,

Natural Resource Conservation

Service, Becker County Environmental

Services and Park & Rec, Pelican River Watershed District, Pheasants Forever, Friends of

Tamarac, Sucker Creek Preserve and the MN Board of Water and Soil Resources and as always,

Ike Fischer.

Ag-in-the Classroom

Over 300 area 4th

graders took part in this year’s Ag-In-The Classroom educational program

held March 10th

& 11th

in Detroit Lakes and again March 18th

in Frazee. Many volunteers and

agencies assist annually to bring an agricultural learning experience into the classroom.

Ag topics presented to the students included the production of small grains, sugar beets, dairy

and maple syrup as well as the raising of sheep, swine, beef and turkeys. The SWCD/NRCS

presentation was on soils. Students were shown the different particles that make up soil and also

a 3-D map of Minnesota and the Red River Basin and explained how the basin was formed with

the impacts of glaciers on formation of soils. Other topics included farm safety around

equipment and electricity as well as machinery viewing.

Envirothon The Junior and Senior Envirothons are unique, hands-on, outdoor team competitions for

students in grades 6th

thru 8th

and 9th

thru 12th

. Each team consists of 5 students. Every

Envirothon competition includes 5 learning stations where participants are tested on the

following areas: wetlands, wildlife, forestry, soils and a current issue. The event is held in the

eight MASWCD areas across the state with the winners from each area advancing to the state

competition and the state winner competing at the national Envirothon.

Brink Lake restored via the RIM/WRP easement program

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__________________________________________________________________________________

The Junior Envirothon was held October 1st at the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center with 41

teams competing. Waubun-Ogema earned 1st Place, Underwood took 2

nd Place and students

from Holy Rosary won 3rd

Place in the event. There is no state competition for the Junior

Envirothon.

1st

Place Juniors: Waubun-Ogema 2

nd Place Juniors: Underwood

1st Place Seniors: Underwood

1st

Place Seniors: Underwood

In 2014, the Senior Envirothon was held May 7th

at

the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center in Fergus

Falls with 23 teams competing. Underwood placed

1st, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton earned 2

nd Place and

Fergus Falls took home the 3rd

Place trophy. All

three teams advanced to the state competition.

3rd

Place Juniors: Holy Rosary

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Cormorant Lakes Sportsmans Club Outdoor Environmental Days The SWCD and NRCS staff took part in the Cormorant Lakes Sportsman Club Outdoor

Environmental Days held September 18th

and 19th

. This annual event provides a variety of

outdoor experiences to area 4th

graders ranging from orienteering, forestry, paper making, and

scavenger hunt. The SWCD/NRCS presentation called “Soils Soakers” demonstrates the ability

of different soils types to absorb rainfall based on particle size, texture and compaction.

Adam Kleinschmidt and Leticia Kiehl assist students measuring water

used as “rainfall” in the experiment

Students conduct soil permability test during the Cormorant Outdoor

Environmental Days

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Conservationist of the Year Award

Phil Doll, Goosefoot LLC and the Participants of the Brink Lake Restoration Project

Becker SWCD’s 2014 Conservationist of the Year Award went to Phil Doll of Goosefoot LLC and the

participants in the Brink Lake Restoration Project, New Life Farms, Mike & Gayle Dretcsh, Jud

Komrosky, Ed & Ruth Ewanika and Don & Cecelia Grieser. The innovative 200+ acre restoration was

funded under the RIM/WRP Partnership and hinged upon Becker County Commissioner’s willingness to

abandon the legal ditch draining the lake since 1915. All parties have a history of working with the

SWCD and NRCS partners to incorporate BMPs in their operations, including rotational grazing, tree

plantings, establishment of rare and declining habitats, Filter Strips, CRP and enrolling additional land

into RIM /WRP easements for flood damage reduction in the Red River Basin. While it took the

willingness of all involved, Mr. Doll’s dedication and fortitude brought this project to fruition.