Download Summer - Sibley County

RIVER WATCHER
NEWSLETTER
400 Court Ave P.O. Box 1051
Gaylord, MN 55334
Summer of 2012
Vol. 9 Issue 2
High Island Creek & Rush River
Watershed 319 TMDL Projects
Drown-outs to Drought, 2012 Growing Season
With over 60% of the state currently experiencing some degree of
drought, it maybe difficult to recall the rainy month of May. Though it has been
several months since we last saw water standing in a field, the evidence still lies
across the county. Whether it is drown-outs, growing ravines, stream bank
failures, or rill and gully erosion, the evidence is beginning to reappear as fast as
the leaves disappear.
During the month of May, the High Island Creek stream monitoring
station in Arlington logged 9.26 inches of precipitation. Though this may seem
like a rather small number, the monthly average precipitation for May in eastern
Sibley County is merely a third of that, 3.25 inches. June logged near normal
precipitation trends with 4.76 inches, roughly a quarter of an inch above normal
June precipitation averages. July and August, however, started to resemble the
trends of last summer. July experienced 1.5 inches less precipitation than the
monthly average for Sibley County (4 inches), while August is a full 3 inches
short of its monthly average (4.5 inches).
With such dry conditions as of late, it is no wonder we may not remember
the month of May. However, as the leaves begin to fall and the crops get taken
out, evidence of the wet spring will begin to reemerge. One such reoccurring
sight will be that of rill and gully erosion. Rill and gully erosion occurs when
surface water run off is concentrated into a more refined area. Sheet water
flow, or sheet erosion, rarely flows more than several meters before excess water
begins to accumulate in depressions and low points.
Rill erosion begins when this concentrated water begins to flow down hill over areas with impacted vegetation cover.
This was the case in May when crop stands were still small and quite immature. Concentrated water flow begins to entrain
soil particles which are then washed away. As this flow continues, more and more productive soil is carried downhill and
more water arrives to the area as precipitation continues. These small, newly formed channels hold the capacity to move large
volumes of soil and gradually evolve into gully erosion.
Continued on page 4….
UPCOMING EVENTS
Tri-County Ag Bag Collections
Subsurface Sewage Treatment
System (SSTS) / Septic System
Workshop
Sibley County Court House Basement
November 20th, 2012
7:00 p.m.
Agricultural Bag Disposal
Sibley county farmers can dispose of their Ag bags for the
entire month of October! Bring your bags to one of three
convenient locations.
South Central Grain & Energy—Gibbon
United Farmers Coop—Gaylord
Hutchinson Coop—Arlington
Collection is for agricultural and seed bags only, and FREE of
charge to you!
Contact Tri-County Solid Waste for more information at
507-237-4321 or 507-381-9196
A FREE Subsurface Sewage Treatment System workshop
will be held for Sibley county, Rush River, and High Island
Creek watershed residents. Brief presentations will be given
by an inspector/installer, Sibley County Environmental
Services, Sibley SWCD, and High Island/Rush River
Watershed projects.
Topics will include
-System Maintenance
-System Upgrades
-County SSTS Process
-Mound Systems
-Compliance Inspections
-Inspection Triggers
-Soil Verifications
-Loan Program
*SSTS loan applications will be available during workshop*
2012 Photo Contest / 2013 Watershed Calendar
Take part and enter your photos in the 4th annual High Island
Creek and Rush River Watershed photo contest! Similar to past
years, winning photographs will appear in the 2013 watershed
calendar, and on each watershed’s website. A $50 cash prize
will also be given to the person whose photograph is selected as
the grand prize winner. All photographs must be taken within
the watersheds’ boundaries.
This years contest will end on October 15th, 2012.
Photographers can submit their pictures via email to:
[email protected]
Please include the following information in your email:
·Photographer’s name and address.
·Small picture description, including
the general location of photograph.
·Date of Photo
(please remove timestamp)
2011 Entry - Rush River at Rush River Park
Submitted by Missy Jasinski
2012 Sibley County SWCD Conservationist of the Year
Each year the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water
Conservation Districts (MASWCD), with support from The
Farmer Magazine, gives MASWCD Outstanding Conservation
Awards. The award recognizes individuals, conservation
organizations, and others for outstanding accomplishments with
implementing conservation practices and improving Minnesota’s
natural resources.
The MASWCD Outstanding Conservationist Awards are
selected by county Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and
individuals are recognized at the annual state MASWCD
convention. This year, the Sibley County SWCD has recognized
Peter Kramer and his family as the areas 2012 Outstanding
(Peter & Linda Kramer Family; Ben, Jonah, Emma Grace & Anna)
Conservationist of the Year.
Mr. Kramer and his family operate a corn and soybean farm near Gibbon, Minnesota. As a farmer and certified crop
consultant, Mr. Kramer understands and utilizes the soil quality benefits offered by conservation tillage techniques on their
own farm. For nearly a decade, they have employed strip tillage techniques as well as no-till drilling. Strip tillage techniques
utilize precise fertilizer placement in correlation to seed, increased surface residue to reduce wind and water erosion, and in
row residue removal to increase spring soil temperatures. Peter notes that strip tillage technique encompass nutrient and
organic matter management as well as being a steward of the land.
Together with the use of strip tillage and no till drilling, Peter Kramer and his family have also implemented other
conservation practices that solidify them as exceptional stewards of the land. Among these techniques are nutrient
management practices, tree plantings, and buffer strips. The Kramer family has planted buffer strips ranging in width from 30
to 150 feet on all public drainage ditches that adjoin their land. These buffer strips, and others like them, are exceptional water
quality conservation practices that have multiple other advantages.
Buffer strips have consistently been shown through studies to effectively and efficiently remove excess nutrients from
surface and subsurface water flow. This becomes important when considering nutrient loading to surface waters such as
drainage ditches, streams, and rivers. Buffer strips increase soil stability, reduce erosion and ditch bank issues, all while
providing habitat for wildlife.
(Below: No-till Drilled Soybeans)
The land stewardship and conservation practices that Peter
Kramer and his family have implemented not only benefits
their land, but also the water, habitat, and wildlife of the Rush
River Watershed and Sibley County. A congratulations goes out to
the Peter Kramer family for being recognized as the 2012 Sibley
County Outstanding Conservationist of the year.
If you are interested in employing conservation techniques on your farm
or property, contact your local SWCD or NRCS office at 507-237-5435
Grants Available for Septic System Upgrades
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)
has made funding available to counties for Subsurface
Sewage Treatment systems (SSTS) in order to protect and
prevent against groundwater degradation. These funds
will be available to low income homeowners for updating
imminent health threat septic systems.
Specific criteria for the program are currently being
developed by county staff. However, the program will be
administered by the Sibley Soil and Water Conservation
District (SWCD) in conjunction with Sibley County
Environmental Services and the County Auditor.
Funding for this program is grant based, and therefore
will not require repayment responsibility by the land owner. These funds will only cover a portion of the cost of a
septic system. However, Sibley County’s low interest low program can still be used to finance additionally needed
funds.
If you have questions or would like an application please contact Ron Otto at the Sibley County SWCD
office, (507)237-5435 ext. 105, or stop by at 111 6th St. in Gaylord.
Continued from front page…..
Gully erosion is any rill that grows deeper than 30 cm, or roughly 11.8 inches. Together, rill and gully erosion can
move large volumes of soil across the landscape. When these occur in agricultural fields, productive soils are redistributed
leaving some areas less productive than others. Furthermore, rill and gully erosion can move soils into open tile intakes and
near by surface waters. This increases turbidity and sedimentation in rivers and streams which in turn alters natural substrate
and habitats.
Though rill and gully erosion can be harmful to both
crop production and aquatic systems, they can be stopped
with rather simple methods. There are several options
when it comes to Best Management Practices (BMPs) for
rill and gully erosion. However, two of the more popular
options are grassed water ways, and wide based water and
sediment control basins (WASCOB). WASCOBs are
popular options due to the fact that these terrace like
structures are actually farmed over while the sediment
grading done for the structure prevents against soil loss
from sheet, rill, and gully erosion.
This fall, when you see rill or gully erosion on your
land, think about whether a BMP should be implemented
to protect both your land and water resource.
(Rill erosion flowing toward High Island Creek)
Low Interest Loans available for upgrading of
Noncompliant Septic Systems
Owners of a Subsurface Sewage Treatment System (SSTS) are
eligible for low-interest loans to upgrade their non-conforming
septic system. Furthermore, those in the High Island Creek Watershed
are eligible for an addition $500 incentive from the High Island Creek
Watershed District. Check with your county contact for further details.
To Be Eligible:
○ Applicant must be a property owner of a non-conforming
septic system:
Discharge to the surface
Tiled to drainage or road ditch
Discharge to cesspool, seep-age pits or dry wells
Less than a 2-foot separation to seasonally
saturated soil
Lack of a system
Does not meet setbacks to existing well
Not Eligible:
Refinancing a previously installed system
Septic for new homes
Non-residential property
Project started before design and loan approval
Under court order to repair system
Cost Share & Incentive Monies
Available for Best Management
Practices
A variety of cost-share and incentive monies are available to
producers looking to implement conservation practices within
the High Island Creek & Rush River watersheds.
Open Tile Intake Alternatives: cost-share monies are
available for the following options:
1. Removal of intake
2. Removal of intake and replacement with a rock inlet
Contact Information:
Sibley County: Ron Otto
Sibley SWCD office
111 6th Street, P.O. Box 161
Gaylord, MN 55334
507-237-5435 ext. 105
Nicollet County: Mandy Landkamer
Environmental Services Office
501 South Minnesota Avenue
St. Peter, MN 56082
507-934-0250
McLeod CO: Roger Berggren
Environmental Services Office
830 11th Street East, Suite 110
Glencoe, MN 55336
320-864-1214
Renville County: Diane Mitchell
Renville County Government
Services Center
105 S. 5th Street, Suite 318
Olivia, MN 56277
320-523-3760
Vegetative Practices (HICW only): Filter strips, riparian
buffers and grassed waterways installed under the USDA’s
Continuous CRP program may be eligible for an incentive
payment. An upfront one time incentive offer of $225 per acre
for a 15 year contract when a landowner enrolls a minimum of
50 feet out from the top of the ditch bank.
Manure Application Calibrations: Manure application
equipment should always be calibrated prior to applying
manure in order to ensure the proper rate of application. The
project staff will assist producers with equipment calibration
using weigh pads.
Manure Management Plans (RRW only): The project will
The project will cost-share at a rate of 75% with a cap of $300 provide a cash incentive capped at $900 or $300 per year to
per intake.
feedlot operators with 0-300 animal units to develop and
maintain a nutrient management plan. Producers are required
Structural Practices for Feedlot and Runoff Controls: The to work with a certified crop consultant, agronomist, U of M
projects will provide up to 75% cost-share in conjunction with Extension or the NRCS in the creation of their plan.
other state and federal funding, such as EQIP. These practices
Pasture Management (RRW only): The project will provide
could include clean water diversions, catch basins, waste
storage facilities, field borders, and vegetative treatment areas. operators with a $15 per acre incentive payment for their
If a potential practice application is deemed beneficial but
enrollment in and installation of a rotational grazing plan
doesn’t qualify for EQIP or state cost share, the project may
through NRCS’ EQIP program. For more details contact the
consider funding at 75% cost share upon approval.
watershed project.
High Island Creek & Rush River
Watersheds Implementation Projects
400 Court Ave, P.O. Box 1051
Gaylord, MN 55334
Project Sponsor
PRESORTED
STANDARD
US POSTAGE
PAID
GAYLORD, MN 55334
PERMIT NO 61
BMP Spotlight
Sibley County
Sponsors:
Renville, McLeod &
Nicollet Counties
Sibley, Renville, McLeod
& Nicollet SWCDs
Sibley County Water
Resource Advisory
Committee
Renville Co. Water
Protection & Management
Environmental Services:
Sibley, Renville, McLeod
& Nicollet Counties
University of Minnesota
Extension Service
High Island Creek
Watershed District
Natural Resource
Conservation Service
Do you farm in the Rush River or High Island Creek Watershed?
Are you tired of farming around your open tile intakes? If so, you
may want to look at installing rock tile inlets.
Rock tile inlets consist of muck
pipe angled, or coiled, in a rock
filled trench. Rock tile inlets
drain as efficiently as open tile
inlets, however, they reduce
sediment and phosphorus
delivery to drainage systems
and streams. Furthermore, rock
tile inlets can be planted through.
The Rush River and High Island Creek TMDL projects will
provide 75% cost share (up to $300) to land owners removing open
tile intakes, or replacing them with alternative tile intake options.
Call Ron at Sibley County SWCD 507-237-5435 or Brady at 507237-4050 for more information.
Sponsors:
Cities of Arlington, New
Auburn, Gaylord,
Winthrop, Gibbon &
Lafayette
United States Geological
Survey
United States Fish &
Wildlife Service
Minnesota Board of Water
& Soil Resources
Minnesota Department of
Natural Resources
Coalition for a Clean
Minnesota River
Pheasants Forever: Sibley
and McLeod Co. Chapters
Conservation Partners of
America
Green Isle Sportsman’s
Club
Gaylord Protective League
This newsletter is sponsored by the High Island Creek & Rush River Watershed 319 TMDL Projects. This publication is issued quarterly
and is funded through the 319 grant program from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and various local and state organizations.
Both Projects are equal opportunity organizations and employers. Questions and comments can be directed to: Brady Swanson,
Watershed Grants Coordinator, E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (507) 237-4050