Wabasha SWCD
2011 Annual Report
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WABASHA SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
2011 ANNUAL REPORT
INTRODUCTION
Wabasha Soil and Water Conservation District’s Annual report reflects the projects, activities and
accomplishments for the period of January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011.
Wabasha Soil and Water District Supervisors are:
Roland Wood
Chairman
Ralph Breuer
Vice-Chairman
Chuck Fick
Secretary
Nate Arendt
Treasurer
Tom Gosse
Member
Wabasha Field Office Staff are:
James Fritz, District Conservationist
Jennifer George, District Manager
Matt Kruger, Feedlot Technician
Raelene Marquez, NRCS Technician
Terri Peters, Administrative Assistant
Donald Sylvester, District Technician
Assisting agencies are:
Wabasha County Commissioners
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)
Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR)
Minnesota Association of Conservation Districts (MASD)
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)
MN Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Division of Land and Forestry
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Southeast Minnesota Water Resources Board
University of Minnesota County Extension Service
Wabasha County Environmental Services Department
Minnesota Department of Health
City of Plainview
Basin Alliance for the Lower Mississippi in Minnesota (BALMM)
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WABASHA SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
611 BROADWAY, SUITE 10
WABASHA MN 55981-1600
651-565-4673 Ext. 4
Committees 2011
Ag BMP (SRF) Program------------------------------------------Gosse*
George#
Education & Research---------------------------------------------Gosse*
Peters+
Wood*
George#
Conservation Farmer Contest-------------------------------------Fick*
Gosse*
Forest & Public Land----------------------------------------------Gosse*
Helbig@
Conservation Tour-------------------------------------------------Wood*
George#
Fritz@
Contractors Meeting-----------------------------------------------Gosse*
Fritz@
Fritz@
George#
Good Year Contest-------------------------------------------------SWCD Board*
Public Relations & Information----------------------------------Arendt*
Fritz@
George#
Legislation----------------------------------------------------------Fick*
Gosse*
Long Range Program----------------------------------------------Breuer*
Fritz@
Wood*
Sylvester+
George#
Fick*
Personnel Committee----------------------------------------------Arendt*
Fick*
George#
Pollution Control---------------------------------------------------Wood*
Fritz@
Sylvester+
RC&D----------------------------------------------------------------Breuer*
Wood*
Hall@
Rural & Urban Development-------------------------------------Gosse*
Fick*
Sylvester+
Tillage---------------------------------------------------------------Gosse*
Fritz@
Wood*
Sylvester+
Water Quality-------------------------------------------------------Arendt*
Fritz@
Kruger+
Thompson@
George#
Whitewater----------------------------------------------------------Wood*
Fritz@
Sylvester+
*SWCD Supervisor
#District Manager
+District Employee
^Citizen Committee Member
@Cooperating Agency Personnel
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MISSION STATEMENT
Provide technical assistance to Wabasha County residents to manage their private lands in a way that promotes
a sound economy and sustains/enhances natural resources.
SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE DISTRICT
Services include, but are not limited to, the following:

Conservation Planning

Technical assistance with engineering, planning and layout of constructions of conservation practices, such
as waterways, grade stabilization structures, terraces, diversions, layout of contour strips, run off control
systems, etc.

Administration of the following Programs:
State Cost Share Program
Wetlands Conservation Act (WCA)
Private Forest Management Program
Reinvest In Minnesota (RIM)
Ag Best Management Practices Revolving Loan Program (SRF)
Wabasha County Water Planning
Cooperative Area Weed Grant

Assist with the following program:
Wabasha County Comprehensive Water Plan

Planning windbreaks and providing tree sales

Conservation education and information provided through Field Days, Workshops, Demonstrations, Tours,
Contests and materials

Conservation plan assistance in the form of residue management, contouring and strip cropping layout

Development of a local Nutrient Management program with interaction of a local crop
consultant/agronomists and Ag producers including spreader calibrations

Continue to support tillage transect survey to maintain continuous crop history and transect points.
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STATE COST SHARE PROGRAM
The State grant agreement received for Cost Share on Erosion, Sediment Control or Water Quality
Improvement Work received for fiscal Year 2011 was $14,913.00 of which s much as $14,913.00 was
designated for administrative costs. Two projects have been completed with cost share, a well sealing and a sink
hole fix for $1265.
319 OPEN LOT ASSISTANCE (OLA) & CLEAN WATER LEGACY (CWL)
The District supported Troy Dankemeyer, County Feedlot Officer with the 319 OLA and CWL funding with
technical assistance which helped to assist landowners with low cost feedlot improvements.
DISTRICT SERVICES GRANT
The District Services Grant Agreement of $35,302 for fiscal year 2011 was used for administrative services
provided by the District for compensation and expenses incurred for the State.
SUMMARY OF RIM SERVICES
The Wabasha Soil and Water Conservation District continues to be active with the Reinvest in Minnesota
(RIM) Services Agreement Grant, for fiscal year 2011.
The funding was expended for promoting the RIM Program, encouraging enrollment by providing on the
accomplishments and progress in the county of the environmental benefits of this program.
Technical assistance included checking eligibility; conducting spot checks and follow-up, providing
administrative services and related expenses.
The RIM Reserve Program began in 1986 and changes have been on going to improve the delivery of the
program and keep the priorities in place. The RIM Reserve Program updated plan defines its top priority as
water quality protection and improvement; its second priority as soil erosion reduction and its third priority as
fish and wildlife habitat enhancement.
With these priorities in mind the Wabasha SWCD will keep the public informed on RIM Reserve Program signup periods and any changes forthcoming.
Two landowners signed up for RIM/WRP after the 2010 flood, for a total of 306.5 acres.
Cooperative Weed Management Area Program
Zumbro Delta CWMA
The Wabasha Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) has received a grant from the Minnesota
Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) to enable their participation as a partner in a Cooperative Weed
Management Area (CWMA).
Six highly invasive plants that threaten landowner investments and the health of natural areas will be
controlled by landowners through information and cost-share assistance.
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If you own property within Wabasha County and would like the CWMA specialist to visit and confirm
suspected invasive plants on your property, please call the SWCD office at (651)565-4673. The specialist will
make specific recommendations on how to control them, arrange for outside assistance in the extermination of
the invasive plants if requested, and evaluate your land for cost-share eligibility.
AG BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES LOAN PROGRAM
This was the thirteenth year of the Ag Best Management Practices Loan Program by the MN Department of
Agriculture. The District was designated the applicant by Wabasha County and AgStar Farm Credit Services,
Peoples Bank of Plainview and First National Bank of Plainview are the local lenders.
Farmers, individual rural landowners and agribusiness’s are eligible for these 3.5% interest loans if the project
is for water-quality improvement for protection. These loans must meet the criteria that are prioritized in the
county’s water plan.
The eligible projects that were approved for 2011 were conservation tillage equipment; animal waste
management systems and equipment; and individual rural landowner sewage treatment systems.
Four loan applications were approved in 2011,3 for septic systems and1 for conservation tillage equipment,
totaling $100,040.
This Loan program has utilized over $2,788,186.95 for rural landowners over a fourteen-year period in
Wabasha County. Loans have also been approved on a continuing basis from revolving funds.
BEAR VALLEY WATERSHED
Technical assistance for survey, design, drafting and construction inspection was provided, along with
completing their Comprehensive Watershed Plan for State approval and implementation.
Board include: Paul Huneke, Warren Majerus and Neil Stehr.
RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT (RC&D)
The Hiawatha Valley Resource Conservation and Development Project (RC&D) was organized in 1972 and has
recently had funding revoked for all RC&D offices, although this office is still continuing with limited
resources.
The RC&D Program is a rural development program designed to help local people help themselves. It is a
“grass roots” program where local community problems, opportunities, and needs are identified form within the
local community. Action proposals are submitted to Hiawatha Valley through County Boards of
Commissioners and SWCD’s. When Hiawatha Valley, our technical staff, adopts action proposals and advisors
then seek out sources of assistance and identify these sources to local people. The Hiawatha Valley RC&D
Committee is a coordinating action organization that helps local people implements actions.
The 2011 members serving on this committee for Wabasha County are – Frank Irwin appointed by the County
Commissioners; Dave Harms; County Commissioners, alternate, Delmar Holst, member at large and Ralph
Breuer, Soil and Water Supervisor.
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NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE REPORT
During calendar year 2011, the field office staff at Wabasha worked on a wide array of conservation projects.
The following highlights some of those services and conservation practices:
Application – Three different forms of Federal cost share were used for projects in 2011 which included
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP/CCRP). Conservation projects which were funded with these programs
include: structures, contour buffer strips, diversions, windbreaks, fencing, grade stabilization structures, grassed
waterways, pipeline, prescribed grazing, terraces, sinkhole treatment, animal waste storage and cover crop.
WABASHA COUNTY FAIR BOOTH
The District chose not to continue with a booth at the Wabasha County Fair, since there isn’t much traffic for
the booth, and there isn’t a designated business section under the tent. In 2010, the only other booths consisted
of political candidates.
WHITEWATER JOINT POWERS BOARD
Mission: The Whitewater Watershed Project exists to continue to nurture a land stewardship ethic amongst
those that live, work and recreate in the watershed. The project will focus on improving water quality, reducing
sedimentation, flooding and improving habitat for all plants and animals. The project will accomplish this
mission by developing a partnership among watershed citizens, governmental agencies, environmental groups
and business. The Whitewater Watershed Project also recognizes the importance of private property rights and
that agriculture is an economic business of the watershed. The project is committed to maintaining that.
Board Members; Matt Flynn – Chair – Winona SWCD, Roland Wood – Secretary/Treasurer, Wabasha SWCD,
John Keefe, Olmsted County SWCD, Richard Hall, Wabasha County Commissioner, and Mena Kaehler,
Winona County Commissioner.
Staff: Natalie Siderius – Project Coordinator.
The intent of the community outreach is to promote the project mission by connecting with people, increasing
visibility of the watershed, and providing educational opportunities. The outreach activities have included
presentations, organizing and promoting events, and coordinating with others to accomplish project objectives.
Partnership efforts have been developed and continue with dozens of organizations including federal, state and
local governmental agencies; environmental groups; farm groups; universities and local municipalities.
Efforts will continue to involve citizens in decision-making and other activities in the watershed.
CONSERVATION FIELD DAY
“Conservation Field Day” was held on May 17th for 5th grade students from Wabasha County. Approximately
500 students attended from Lake City, Wabasha-Kellogg and Plainview Elgin Millville schools.
Students visit 3 stations at the upland site, which was on the Dallas Adams and Ken Moyer farms and 3 stations
at the valley site, which is located just west of Zumbro Falls at Cold Creek. The stations consisted of soils,
upland wildlife, conservation practices, fisheries, forestry and water resources.
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Field Day is preceded by lesson plans for the classroom that pertain to the different stations (topics) that are
presented in the outdoor sessions. The District would like to thank everyone who participated to make this
experience interesting and fun for all involved.
The field Day is a unique hands-on experience for the student and teachers as well as being an educational
opportunity that highlights the need of continuous care of our natural resources.
MINNESOTA ENVIROTHON – 2011
Envirothon is an outdoor, hands-on learning experience for high school students. It centers on five or six
learning stations, such as soils, water resources, forestry, wildlife, watersheds and a current event (which
changes every year). The Oral Presentation follows the theme of the current event each year. At each station
teams of 3 – 5 students answer questions on the subject at that station. Questions involve actuarial contact with
natural resources, rather than a “paper and pencil” approach.
Local Area Winners go on to the State level and the first place winner at State then competes at the National
Level. Each winning team receives a trophy for the group, T-shirts and a medal for each participant of the
winning team.
The Area 7 Envirothon was held May 5 at Chester Woods County Park near Rochester, MN. Fourteen teams
participated in the Area Envirothon.
CONSERVATION FARMER OF THE YEAR HONORED AT THE STATE CONVENTION
Pictured: Roland Wood, Byron and Irene Wohlers
From the Wabasha district we have Byron and Irene Wohlers of Lake City, Minnesota.
Byron and Irene began their dairy farming operation in 1960 when they bought 160 acres and rented 100 acres
of highly erodible land in Lake Township. Their farming got interrupted in 1961 when Byron was called to
active duty with the 544th Army Reserve Unit. He spent the following year at Fort Polk, Louisiana and returned
to their farm in 1962. Contour Strips, Waterways, and a Grade Control Structure were installed to control sheet
and rill erosion, on all of their crop acres in 1963. In 1973 they bought another 160 acres, and increased their
dairy herd to 90 cows. A crop rotation of oats, hay, and corn along with conservation tillage maintains the soil
loss on their farm at less than 2 ton per acre. The Wohlers’ also maintain 55 acres of woodland/wildlife area, 60
acres of pasture, and two farmstead windbreaks. In 2004 when it was time to slow down a little, they sold the
dairy cows and began a 30 head cow/calve beef operation. The Wohlers continue to be good Stewards of the
land, always open minded to new conservation practices but never forgetting that conservation starts at the top
of the hill.
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Wabasha County Outstanding Forest Steward Award
Pictured: Dr. Lee and Geri Nauss
Dr. Lee Nauss has planted many trees throughout the years. He planted 3,000 trees in 2000, planted 2,000 trees
in 2001, and planted 5,000 trees in 2002. He chemical released 20 acres in 2002, planted 3,100 trees in a CRP
flood plain project in 2004, and planted 15,000 trees in 2008. He has added riparian buffers of grass and trees,
4,000 linear feet along the Zumbro River and 5,500 linear feet along Long Creek. In 2008, he under planted 10
acres of swamp white oak acorns and 2 acres of swamp white oak seedlings in the Zumbro floodplain. Wabasha
SWCD wanted to recognize his lifetime devotion to the improvement of his woodlands, wildlife land, wetlands,
and cropland.
WETLAND CONSERVATION ACT
Five wetland applications were reviewed in 2011. Two banking sites near Kellogg are in the process of
restoration and preparing for banking credits to be disbursed. Review of 5 tiling projects through NRCS were
complete. Four monitoring reports were received throughout the year.
SEPTEMBER 22-23, 2010 FLOOD
Wabasha County continues clean-up and restorative efforts throughout the county following the 2010 historic
flood. Studies, data gathering, and patience occurred in 2010 waiting for allocations to be decided.
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