Karen Newman
Clay County’s Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) Manager Keven Kassenborg outlined his department’s budget proposal for 2022 at the August 2 meeting of the county commission.
Kassenborg began his presentation by saying, “One thing about our budget is that it stays fairly consistent from year-to-year. We have five full-time employees.” He added that his proposed budget reflects a 2.2% increase over 2021 with most of the increase attributed to salary and benefits. The workload appears that it will be relatively unchanged from the previous year.
In the past year, keeping the doors open to consumers was difficult due to the Covid pandemic and the location of the SWCD office. Because it shares space with USDA offices, federal guidelines have kept the front entry to the SWCD offices closed. However, Kassenborg reassured the commission, “We do have our back door open to landowners and let them know that they are welcome to come in.”
To provide information for the newer commissioners, Kassenborg highlighted a typical year’s activities for the SWCD.
Clay County’s SWCD cooperates with about 130 landowners annually for the tree program which provides a choice of 30 different varieties. Kassenborg mused, “I never thought we would be selling cottonwoods. It doesn’t have much problem with disease and insects and it is native to the area.” He added that his department carries seedless cottonwoods which are the male plants.
SWCD’s Wetland Specialist assists landowners to avoid or minimize wetland impacts. If avoidance doesn’t work, wetland banks may offer banked-acre purchasing assistance. The No-Till/ Minimum Drill Rental Program is utilized by about 25 landowners annually to reduce wind erosion and input costs.
SWCD works with livestock producers in Clay County. The county’s Feedlot Officer Program works to assure that water isn’t polluted and that feedlot operations remain within the guidelines of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. SWCD administers Clay County’s Ag Inspectors and works with the townships to keep them up-to-date on annual changes to Minnesota’s noxious weed laws. Kassenborg explained, “Most of our responsibilities are with county land, ditches and county property.”
SWCD offers a low-interest loan program which can be used for septic system updates and conservation tillage equipment. Kassenborg explained, “The program is primarily for farmers, rural landowners and ag businesses in the community.”
While the pandemic delayed work with the Buffalo/Red River Watershed District, Kassenborg reports that the district is now working on resuming hearings with those required to have grass buffer strips. He says they are nearing 100% compliance with Minnesota law. Participation in the One Watershed, One Plan funding program for the Buffalo/Red River and Wild Rice Watershed Districts is a relatively recent cooperative program for SWCD. It brings more money to the county to resolve erosion issues along streams, rivers and cropland in Clay County.
SWCD provides assistance for landowners to enroll in the Joint Federal and State Land Retirement Program, also known as the Conservation Reserve and Enhancement Program (CREP). CREP offers landowners the opportunity to enroll land into a permanent easement which idle acres, requires the landowner to plant grass or trees, and ultimately receive a payment from the state and federal governments.
The SWCD cooperates with other agencies to promote and educate the public about aquatic invasive species. The public schools and the River Keepers Organization join SWCD in presenting an annual water festival.
Although conservation practices are frequently connected with agriculture, the SWCD provides the Urban Conservation Program which promotes an understanding of the importance of preserving water resources at the regional level to all citizens.
Commissioner Frank Gross summed up, “Our water supply is diminishing. It really shows how important that buffer program is to keep our water supply clean.”