|
In what may have been its final meeting, the Minnesota River Board gathered Feb. 24 in North Mankato to work on administrative details prior to closing down the organization, and the State of the Minnesota River progress report. Following the board meeting, several presentations comprised the annual conference: Tina Stueber, MRB research assistant, status of redetermination benefits in the basin; Rick Moore, Water Resources Center research analyst, water storage approaches update; Kerry Netzke, Area II River Basin Projects, storing water on the landscape in southwestern Minnesota; and Zach Hermann, Houston Engineering, detention planning efforts in the Red River Basin. On Dec. 16, 2013, the Board voted to disband, with a recommendation only that the state look at creating a new entity with a stable funding source to replace it.
 Although spring may seem far off, it's getting time to start planning for the Watershed Network spring meeting, tentatively set for Thursday, April 17 at the Redwood Falls Pizza Ranch. The spring and fall meetings offer the opportunity to meet informally with other watershed professionals, and hear interesting presentations on a wide variety of topics. If you have ideas for topics, or other suggestions for the event, please contact Forrest Peterson at 320-441-6972, forrest.peterson@state.mn.us. A list of past meetings, with links to some of the presentations, is available on the Watershed Network webpage.
Back to top
|
 Catherine Sereg is Heron Lake Watershed District technician
Catherine Sereg started in January as the new Heron Lake Watershed District technician. She graduated in 2011 from Iowa State majoring in environmental science. Catherine started her career working for a watershed
project in northwest Iowa and is excited to continue her passion for
agriculture and conservation in southwest Minnesota. So far she has been
learning a lot and has had an opportunity to meet with farmers in the area. Catherine says, “Everyone has been great to work with and I am looking forward to being
a part of the Heron Lake Watershed District and all its great endeavors!”
|
 Jared House new coordinator for Pomme de Terre River Association
Jared House started Feb. 3 as the new project coordinator for the Pomme de Terre River Association. He replaces Brett Arne, who is now with BWSR in the Detroit Lakes region. Jared is working on Clean Water Fund projects for 2014 in the Pomme de Terre River watershed, while completing his master’s thesis in biology from Bemidji State University. Originally from Stillwater, Jared lives in Morris with his wife, Britney, who is from the Morris area. The Pomme de Terre is the first watershed in the state with a Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy report. Jared’s contact info: jared.house@pdtriver.org, 320-589-4886x109.
|
 Retirement recognition Feb. 28 for Bob Finley
The
Mankato MPCA office will be hosting a retirement recognition for Bob Finley at
4 p.m., Friday, Feb. 28. Finley joined the MPCA staff in July 2004 as Southwest
Region and feedlot program manager. Several years later he transferred to the
Mankato office as Southeast Region and south watershed section manager.
Previously, Finley was director of the Water Resources Center at MSU-Mankato.
Prior to that he served as Executive Director of the Redwood-Cottonwood Rivers
Control Area in Redwood Falls.
|
 Karen Galles is Seven Mile Creek Watershed coordinator
Karen Galles started work In November as the Seven Mile Creek Watershed coordinator. Based in St. Peter, it is a partnership between Great
River Greening and Nicollet SWCD. Prior Seven Mile Creek,
Karen worked on United Nations projects in southern Africa, southeast Asia, and
South America to provide technical assistance on the compilation of
agricultural greenhouse gas inventories. She has also worked in environmental
education for the World Wildlife Fund, performed research on beef cattle
feedlot BMPs in Colorado, and coordinated agricultural policy and advocacy
activity for the National Council of Churches. Karen is a native of the Red
River Basin in northern Minnesota. She earned an MS in ecology from the
Dept. of Soil and Crop Science at Colorado State University and is an
alumnus of St. Olaf College. She can be reached at karen.galles@nicolletswcd.org or
507/931.2550, ext. 117.
Back to top
|
Chippewa accepting summer intern applications
The Chippewa River Watershed Project (CRWP) is accepting applications for a summer intern. Seeking individuals pursuing degrees in Environmental Studies/Science, Biology, Hydrology, Soil and Water Conservation or related fields. Coursework in biology, chemistry, or hydrology recommended. Preference will be given to candidates who have completed their sophomore year of post-secondary education. This is a temporary, seasonal environmental internship for approximately 12 weeks in the summer of 2014. Interns will work approximately 40 hours a week. Flexible start date in May 2014 and end date in August 2014. Wage: $10/hr. Applications by mail or e-mail are due/postmarked by March 7. For more information contact Jennifer at 320-269-2139 x120 or jennifer.hoffman@chippewariver.org.
Hawk Creek annual meeting March 7
The annual information and appreciation meeting for the Hawk Creek Watershed Project is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. (registration), Friday, March 7, at the MinnWest Technology Life Center auditorium, 1800 Tech Dr. NE, Willmar. Program: Hawk Creek Watershed Project update, Heidi Rauenhorst; Does organic really matter?, Jodi DeJong-Hughes, U of M Extension; Aquatic invasive species, Nick Brown, DNR; and Farm bill overview and CRP update, Wes Nelson, Farm Service Agency. Lunch will follow at 12:30 p.m. at no charge to those who have pre-registered by Feb. 28 by calling 320-523-3666.
Soil health topic at Chippewa River annual meeting March 27
The annual meeting for the Chippewa River Watershed Project is scheduled for 5 p.m. March 27 at the Starbuck community center. Featured speaker is Don Reicosky, who will be talking about the importance of soil health. He is a retired soil scientist for the USDA-ARS, North Central Soil Conservation Research
Laboratory, Morris, and adjunct professor in the Soil Science Department,
University of Minnesota, St. Paul. His early research involved describing crop response
and water use on conventional till and no-till systems with and without
irrigation. Later research focused on
tillage and residue management as related to global change issues. To make a reservation, contact Jennifer Hoffman at 320-26902139x116, jennifer.hoffman@chippewariver.org.
Back to top
 The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the Stearns
County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) invite farmers in the Middle
Sauk River area to two open houses on March 4 and 5 to learn how they can get
involved in the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program
(MAWQCP).
MAWQCP is a voluntary program designed to accelerate
adoption of on-farm conservation practices that protect Minnesota’s lakes and
rivers. Producers who implement and maintain approved farm management practices
will be certified and in turn assured that their operation meets the state’s
water quality goals and standards for a period of ten years. The Middle Sauk
River area was selected as one of four pilot watersheds throughout the state to
test and refine the program. This includes most of Stearns County.
At the open houses, MDA and SWCD staff will provide a brief
presentation on the program and demonstrate the assessment tool used to
evaluate individual operations. A panel discussion will feature local farmers,
advisory committee members, and technical staff. Attendees will also have the
opportunity to ask questions about the program or receive a free assessment of
their farms.
The open houses will be held 1-3 p.m. Tuesday, March 4 at the Melrose City Center, 225 1st St. NE, Melrose; and 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, Rocori District
Education Facility, 527 Main St.,
Cold Spring. No registration is required. Farmers
with questions about the events can contact Mark Lefebvre, Stearns County SWCD,
at 320-251-7800 ext. 3.
For more information on the Minnesota Agricultural Water
Quality Certification Program visit www.mda.state.mn.us/awqcp
or http://www.stearnscountyswcd.net.
|
Certification program seeks to enroll farms
The
Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) is now enrolling
farms in four pilot watersheds: Elm
Creek in Faribault, Jackson, and Martin counties; the Middle Sauk River in
Stearns County; Whiskey Creek in Otter Tail and Wilkin counties; and the
Whitewater River in Olmsted, Wabasha and Winona counties. Farmers with land in
the pilot areas are encouraged to contact their local SWCD office for more
information about becoming a Certified Farm. Local advisory committees have been established in each of
the pilot areas to ensure that the program meets the needs of farmers in different
geographic regions. The committees held their first
meetings early in 2014.
For more information, please visit the MAWQCP webpage, or call a local partner: Elm Creek:
Rural Advantage (507) 238-5449, www.ruraladvantage.org; Whiskey
Creek: Buffalo-Red River Watershed
District, (218) 354-7710, www.brrwd.org. Middle Sauk
River: Stearns County SWCD (320)
251-7800 ext. 3, www.stearnscountyswcd.net; Whitewater
River: Whitewater River Watershed
Project (507) 523-2171, www.whitewaterwatershed.org.
Back to top
The document “Addressing Lakes in Watershed Restoration and
Protection Strategies: Lakes in WRAPS Guidance” has now been posted on the MPCA
website. It is located on both the Watershed Approach web page under Step 3 - Develop strategies to restore and protect the watershed’s water bodies, and on the TMDL Policy and Guidance web page under the
Lake Nutrients guidance documents. The purpose is to provide guidance for addressing lakes in the context of the MPCA’s watershed approach. It was developed by the MPCA Lakes
Lateral Team and incorporated significant input from MPCA staff as well as DNR
and MDA. It has four primary sections: A general discussion about integrating
lakes in the watershed approach, a technical discussion to define data
requirements and modeling approaches for lakes, implementation plans and Best
Management Practices development, and appendices providing more detail on
modeling and data as well as a list of tools to benefit BMP implementation.
Back to top
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency recently introduced an
email-based newsletter called “Minnesota Stormwater Manual News,” with plans to
publish it twice a year. The purposes of this
newsletter are to provide updates on the newest information in the manual, tips
on using it, and interesting stories from the stormwater community. Stories in the first newsletter include:
- From roofs to turf, technical content
- Minimal impact design standards (MIDS) calculator
- MIDS and Manual workshops being scheduled for spring
- Wiki tips: Using ‘Categories’ and ‘Creating a book’
- New wiki features include event listings, funding
sources and more
- Future work: Bioretention and treatment trains
- Featured article: Bioretention can decrease phosphorus
loading to lakes
To subscribe, click here and follow the prompts in the upper
right hand side of the web page (under Email alerts). The MPCA uses a service called “GovDelivery” to
manage and send its email-based newsletters.
MPCA Municipal Stormwater Program contacts: Mike Trojan, mike.trojan@state.mn.us, 651-757-2790; Anne Gelbmann, anne.gelbmann@state.mn.us, 651-757- 2384.
Back to top
The Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts is partnering with the University of Minnesota Water
Resources Center and the University of Minnesota Extension to bring the latest
land use and water quality research to local SWCD staff and supervisors through
a series of webinars. The Feb. 19 installment featured Dr. Deborah Swackhammer, co-director of the U of M Water Resources Center, discussing "Minnesota's Waters: Statue and Challenges." An online Q&A followed the presentation, which has been archived on the web.
Back to top
U of M study finds fertilization destabilizes global grassland ecosystems
News release, 2/16/14
Nutrient management: No easy answers
Agri-News, 2/25/14
Nutrient management: Where do we go from here?
Agri-News, 2/25/14
New partnership focused on helping farmers improve soil health
Minnesota Farm Guide, 2/26/14
Environmental engineering important to farms today
Minnesota Farm Guide, 2/24/14
Back to top
March 6: Shakopee Creek Headwaters Project, 10 a.m., Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center, Spicer.
March 7: Hawk Creek Watershed Project annual meeting, 8:30 a.m., MinnWest Technology auditorium, Willmar.
March 13: 'Winter Wind Down', climatologist Mark Seeley, 5:30 p.m., Starbuck Community Center, Land Stewardship Project, RSVP 320-269-2105.
March 27: Chippewa River Watershed Project annual meeting, 5 p.m., Starbuck Community Center.
April
15: Minnesota River Watershed Alliance, 6 p.m.,
Ridgewater College, Hutchinson.
April 17: Watershed Network spring meeting, 9:30 a.m., Pizza Hut, Redwood Falls.
April 26: Earth Day festival, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center, Spicer.
May 1-2: State of Water conference, Cragun's Resort, Brainerd.
Back to top
|
Watershed Network News welcomes news from partners about funding opportunities, project updates and events. Email your news to forrest.peterson@state.mn.us. Please note that the MPCA has switched to a new service, called GovDelivery. To ensure delivery of these messages, please add mpca@public.govdelivery.com to your address book or safe sender list. Please forward this to any other interested parties. Past issues are located on the Watershed Network publications webpage.
Forrest Peterson
Information Officer
MPCA-Willmar office
320-441-6972
|
|
|
|
