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Chances are pretty good you won’t ever see projects that the county’s Soil and Water Conservation District has helped make happen. Except for the county park at Kost Dam-- most of what the district staff has assisted in lately is on private property.

But, the public does benefit. The soil and water conservation district helps landowners restore and maintain sites for wildlife and waterfowl habitat, helps protect public waters and the district keeps stuff like feedlot manure from stressing-out the local environment. Not to mention the district’s underlying goal to preserve soil and eliminate soil loss due to erosion and wind.

The annual Soil and Water Tour last week was a special opportunity to see the extent of the district’s projects, starting at the Panola Family Farm south of Lindstrom, followed by stops at other sites involving streambank stabilization, wetland management and woodlot stewardship.

Chisago County Commissioners Bob Gustafson and Mike Robinson went along on the bus tour led by SWCD supervisors and staff.

The Ron and Sue Johnson farm in the historic “Panola” region has benefited by working with SWCD staff on halting an eroding pond bank and improving manure management.

The walk through the farm was punctuated with explanations of natural systems enhanced with technology to reduce pollution and maintain soils.

The Johnsons got help from the SWCD developing and installing a system that diverts liquid manure into an underground pipe laid in a long, rectangular section of field; where plants take up the manure nutrients. By the time the manure filters into the soil the concentration of nutrients is drastically reduced.

Ron Johnson said prior to the comprehensive management practices being put in place he had daily hauls of manure, and/or was stockpiling in less than ideal locations. He has seen the amount of starter fertilizer he needs reduced by being able to store the manure and then custom apply it.

Run-off from one of the Johnson’s barn roofs was washing away a bank alongside a small lake on the farmstead.

SWCD staff helped design a collection process and run-off outlet, plus advised on no-maintenance plantings along the bank, to halt the damage. The water quality is improving because there is no sediment washing into the lake and the bank is stable.

You don’t have to be a farmer to work with SWCD programs.

The Conservation Reserve Program was useful to allow a native prairie project on a residential parcel outside of Center City. Craig Mell, of the SWCD, explained that at payments to idle the land around $30 to $50 per acre per year, “...it’s not a money maker” but many do take advantage of it.

CRP payments depend on the type of soil. There are two types of sign-up, a continuous sign-up or a general sign up. If you are considering what to do with an idle field on your property consider looking into this assistance. The SWCD also may be able to cover native planting seed costs, which at one location ran $140 per acre.

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Staff members of the Soil and Water Conservation District are directed by an elected Board of Supervisors. There are 91 soil and water conservation districts in Minnesota. Chisago County’s was established in 1950.

The state Board of Soil and Water Resources is the administrative agency and channels funding to the local districts. SWCD staff also work with the National Resources Conservation Service.

You may contact the staff in North Branch, at 674-2333 or the supervisor representing your area. The website is www.chisagoswcd.org.

On ballots in the fall you may see a name of a supervisor up for election every four years. The SWCD Board reviews certain funding requests and organizes priorities for the work plan that addresses needs in this county.

Soil and water district supervisors are: Craig Mold from the northern area, Mary Ann Jay for Amador-Sunrise, Roland Cleveland representing North Branch-Harris-Lent, Joe Eichten has the seat for the Franconia-Shafer territory and Joan Barnes represents the Chisago-Wyoming general area.

They meet in North Branch the second Tuesday of the month.

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