Conservation Programs
State Programs
Buffer Law Implementation Grant
This grant provides funding and assistance for buffer law implementation. It allows SWCDs to offer landowner technical assistance and outreach services. Grant dollars may also be used for any necessary equipment purchases and drainage system mapping and map reviewing as needed. Funding for this grant is provided through the Clean Water Fund.
Conservation Contracts
Through the Conservation Contract Program, landowners or occupiers can request technical assistance from the SWCD office to implement best management practices. Eligible practices include: grassed waterways, terraces, grade stabilization structures, and water & sediment control basins.
CWL - Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment Cost-Share
The Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment Cost-Share funding has been made available for select projects that will accelerate the protection or restoration of water quality. SWCDs and other local units of government (LGUs) submit application requests for specific projects. Click here for more information: Legislative Coordinating Commission
Clean Water Fund Stories http://www.bwsr.state.mn.us/cleanwaterfund/stories
MDA (MN Department of Agriculture) Private Well Mitigation – RO Systems
This grant provides funds for nitrate and pesticide treatment in private drinking water wells with concentrations at or above the Health Risk Limit (10mg/L or above nitrate – N concentrations and/or elevated pesticide concentrations).
The grant provides mitigation through professional installation of reverse osmosis treatment systems, adhering to the specifications of the grant’s Scope of Work and including one year of system maintenance.
RCPP - Regional Conservation Partnership Program
The Lower Mississippi River Feedlot Management in Minnesota project is leveraging State funding from BWSR to provide match for a United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) project. BWSR provides technical and financial assistance to plan and design projects to mitigate feedlot run-off from smaller open lot feedlots in southeastern Minnesota.
RIM – Reinvest in Minnesota
The Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) Reserve Program, one of the first such programs of its kind in the country, began in 1986 and is administered by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources. Landowners are compensated for retiring environmentally sensitive lands into easements that protect and improve water quality, reduce soil erosion, and enhance fish and wildlife habitat on privately owned lands. Managed through a conservation plan, practices are established by planting native vegetation and restoring wetlands. Other benefits include flood control and groundwater recharge.
Root River One Watershed, One Plan Program
Root River, Olmsted, Fillmore, Winona, Mower and Steele counties’ and SWCDs along with the Crooked Creek watershed district have joined together to work cooperatively as one watershed rather than individual counties and SWCDs to protect water quality as the Root River Watershed as a whole. Project specific funding has been awarded to the Root River One Watershed, One Plan group.
Safe Drinking Water for Private Well Users Assistance Program
Private well owners in Houston, Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Wabasha and Winona counties are eligible for financial assistance to address drinking water quality concerns in their private wells. Phase II of the Safe Drinking Water for Private Well Users’ Assistance Program offers free certified testing results for arsenic, bacteria, lead, manganese and nitrate testing. It also provides funding to eligible landowners or renters to repair an existing well, drill a new well or install a water treatment system by a licensed well driller and/or licensed plumber. The SWCDs in these counties were provided funding through the MN Department of Health’s Clean Water Funds to facilitate the program.
Well owners that meet the financial hardship criteria, and the well eligibility requirements will be prioritized for funding. The private water supply must be used as a source of potable drinking water for the residence to qualify for financial assistance. Funding is available on a first come, first served basis.
SWCD Aid
Root River Soil and Water Conservation Aid Resolution
Southeast MN Volunteer Nitrate Monitoring Network
This program is a continued partnership with the SE MN Water Resources Board. Funding assistance has been awarded by the state of Minnesota through a Minnesota Department of Agriculture grant. The program is a study of long-term trend monitoring for nitrates in drinking water from private wells. Volunteer participants from various nodes throughout the county provide samples of their well water for nitrate testing. These samples are submitted to a certified lab. Through testing, the nitrate level is determined. The Root River SWCD acts as the county well network coordinator. An up-to-date database is maintained with well locations of the volunteer participants along with their contact information. The SWCD works with a certified lab by providing them the volunteer participants’ information and serves as a local contact for the volunteer participants. They also distribute newsletters to well owner participants semi-annually and provide written reports of activity to the SE Minnesota Water Resource Board and participates in organizing an annual volunteer appreciation event.
WCA - Wetland Conservation Act
The purpose of the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) of 1991 is to maintain and protect Minnesota's wetlands and the benefits they provide. The Root River SWCD recognizes the importance of the wetlands and partners with Houston County (LGU).
An SWCD representative serves on the Technical Evaluation Panel (TEP), reviews various wetland conservation applications, provides guidance and technical assistance to consultants, developers and private landowners while mitigating and verifying that projects will be in compliance with the Wetland Conservation Act. They also write restoration plans for violations or provide exemptions where they apply.
Win/LaC (Winona/La Crescent) One Watershed, One Plan
Root River SWCD (Pine Creek subwatershed), Houston County, Fillmore SWCD, Olmsted SWCD & county, Wabasha SWCD & county and City of Winona, Winona County & SWCD along with TSA7 (Technical Service Area 7) have joined together to work cooperatively as one watershed rather than individual entities to protect water quality as the Win/LaC Watershed as a whole. Project specific funding has been awarded to the Win/LaC One Watershed, One Plan group.
Federal Programs
CREP - Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is a voluntary land retirement program that helps agricultural producers protect environmentally sensitive land, decrease erosion, restore wildlife habitat, and safeguard ground and surface water.
Click here for more information on the CREP program.
CRP - Conservation Reserve Program
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) provides technical and financial assistance to eligible farmers and ranchers to address soil, water, and related natural resource concerns on their lands in an environmentally beneficial and cost-effective manner. The program provides assistance to farmers and ranchers in complying with Federal and State environmental laws, and encourages environmental enhancement.
Click here for a CRP Fact Sheet.
CSP – Conservation Stewardship Program
The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is a voluntary conservation program that supports ongoing stewardship of private agricultural lands by providing payments for maintaining and enhancing natural resources.
CSP identifies and rewards those who meet the highest standards of conservation and environmental management on their operations. It also creates a powerful incentive for other producers to meet the same standards of conservation performance, while providing benefits to the public for generations to come.
EQIP - Environmental Quality Incentive Program
The Root River Soil and Water Conservation District in partnership with the local USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service annually conducts an Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) Local Work Group Meeting.
The local input helps determine what practices or systems should receive priority for EQIP funds in Houston County. Parameters are set in order to prioritize funding to the most critical environmental problems in our county.
Brush Management has previously been funded through state funding. Currently, only federal funding is available for this best management practice (BMP). This BMP provides financial assistance to landowners interested in controlling invasive plant species including woody invasives such as Japanese barberry, multiflora rose, honeysuckle, buckthorn and biennials and/or perennials such as Queen Ann’s Lace, Canada Thistle and wild parsnip.
County Programs
AIS – Aquatic Invasive Species Program
The Legislature provides Minnesota counties a County Program Aid grant for Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) prevention. Houston County has designated the oversight of the county’s AIS prevention efforts to the Root River SWCD. Funds are to be used to educate the public of this resource impairment and to prevent the introduction or limit the spread of aquatic invasive species at all access sites within the county.
Building Site Inspections
The Root River SWCD technical staff assists the Houston County Zoning Department with the review of various building site applications. On-site visits as well as technical assistance are provided.
MPCA Feedlot Program Contact Houston County Planning & Zoning Dept. (507) 725-5800
The Houston County feedlot officer conducts annual feedlot compliance spot checks and provides technical assistance to county landowners/operators with their feedlot needs.
Ag BMP Loan Program Contact Houston County Planning & Zoning Dept. (507) 725-5800
The AgBest Management Practices (AgBMP) Loan Program provides low interest financing to farmers, agriculture supply businesses and rural landowners to encourage agricultural best management practices that prevent or reduce non-point source pollution identified in the local water plan. The plan reduces existing water quality problems caused by agricultural activities, helps the County implement the local water plan and can be used to fund the private portion of projects partially funded by state or federal cost-share or other sources of funding.
The AgBMP Loan Program allows local governments the flexibility needed to address specific local water quality concerns and provides financing at below-market rates. The 3% low-interest loan saves you money, making it more economical to implement practices.
Loans for:- Feedlot improvements, manure storage basins and spreading equipment
- Conservation tillage equipment
- Terraces, waterways, sediment basins
- Septic systems
- Variable Rate Technology
- Well Relocation & Sealing
- Secondary fuel containment
- Other projects that improve water quality
Local Water Management
The purpose of the local water management plan is to protect the water resources in the county from point and non-point sources of pollution. Coordination of these protection efforts between the various local, state, and federal agencies and organizations reduces duplication and eliminates gaps in implementation strategies aimed at a common goal of water protection.
Houston County is part of two main watersheds, Root River and Winona/La Crescent. The SWCD provides educational and technical assistance in the implementation of both the watershed plans. They participate in planning work groups, technical advisory meetings and policy committee meetings for both the One Watershed, One Plans.
Other Cooperative Programs
Crooked Creek Watershed District
The SWCD partners with the Crooked Creek Watershed District by providing technical and administrative assistance to meet various conservation needs in their watershed.
Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP)
This program is a voluntary opportunity for farmers and agricultural landowners to take the lead in implementing conservation practices that protect our water. Those who implement and maintain approved farm management practices are certified and in turn obtain regulatory certainty for ten years. The program will help address concerns about changing regulatory requirements from multiple state and federal agencies. Certainty is a commitment provided by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR), the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). Root River SWCD acts as an affiliate for the MAWQCP program.
Rain Monitoring Program
This program coordinates with the Minnesota Climatological Network. Volunteers throughout Houston County measure and record precipitation on a daily bases. The SWCD acts as a local point of contact, provides the volunteers with the necessary materials and provides the State Climatology Department with the collected recordings on a monthly bases.