Brown Soil & Water Conservation District

Ever wonder where the rain goes once it hits the ground?   That depends on what it lands on and where the water will shed. If it hits a roof, it might go into a gutter and then down a downspout into a grassed lawn. If it hits a parking lot, it can’t soak in so it travels to the lowest point until it reaches an area that it may travel to a retention pond or grass area. If it lands on the soil, it will soak into the ground and travel to the groundwater aquifer. But if it lands on bare ground – it might cause erosion, depending on the amount of rain.

This year, students submitted posters highlighting the Where Does Your Water Shed? theme.  Brown SWCD received 93 posters this year, all of which were done by 6th grade students of Mr. Ellingson at Washington Elementary in New Ulm.

Mr. Ellingson with students Emma Maudal, Aubrey Hauser, and Iyanna Wieland.

Each poster entrant received an evergreen tree seedling for participating with cash prizes for the top three winners. Winning poster artists for Brown County were: Iyanna Wieland (1st Place), Emma Maudal (2nd Place), and Aubrey Hauser (3rd Place).  The three finalists’ posters will move on to the Area VI competition in June.  Check out the winning posters below.

Click on poster to enlarge

1st Place – Iyanna Wieland

2nd Place – Emma Maudal

3rd Place – Aubrey Hauser

In accordance with the Minnesota Open Meeting Law, notice is hereby given that the May 27^th, 2013 Regular Board Meeting of the Brown Soil & Water Conservation District has been rescheduled for Monday, May 20^th, 2013 at 7:00PM.   The meeting will still be held at:

Brown Soil & Water Conservation District Office
300 2^nd Ave. SW, Sleepy Eye, MN 56085

Questions about the rescheduling of this meeting may be directed to the Brown SWCD office at (507) 794-2553.

Date of Notice:                       May 6^th, 2013
Person Preparing Notice:     Vanessa Grausam, Brown SWCD Administrative Assistant

This notification has been…

• Posted by the door to the Brown SWCD office/meeting location
• Posted on the Brown SWCD website at www.brownswcdmn.org
• Distributed to those who have requested notification of special meetings

The tree sales for 2013 have come and gone.   If you would like to be added to our mailing list to receive a tree order form in the fall, please contact us at (507) 794-2553 or email Vanessa.Grausam@brownswcdmn.org.

Did you know that the Brown SWCD offers a tree planting service?   We provide the pull behind tree planter and 2 people to plant, you provide a tractor and driver.  Contact the district for more information.

More Information:

• Brown SWCD – Tree Program and Sales Information

Walk-In Access boundary sign in Brown County

Sign up is now OPEN for the Walk-In Access hunting program

If you are a landowner with land enrolled in CRP, CREP, RIM, or WRP you may be eligible to enroll in the Walk-In Access program for the 2013-2014 hunting season.  If you are interested in enrolling your land, please contact the district office at (507) 794-2553 for more information.

• Walk-In Access Kicks Off March 1 Landowner Sign-up with 14 New Counties (DNR Press Release, March 1st, 2013)

Sign up deadline is Friday, May 31st!

Minnesota Walk-In Access hunting land is now OPEN for public hunting through May 31st.  Brown County is currently home to 5 Walk-In Access hunting sites.   These sites are open to the public for the entire hunting season.  Other counties participating in the program include: Clay, Becker, Wilkin, Otter Tail, Douglas Traverse, Stevens, Pope, Big Stone, Grant, Swift, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Chippewa, Lac Qui Parle, Yellow Medicine, Renville, McLeod, Sibley, Redwood, Lyon, Lincoln, Pipestone, Murray, Cottonwood, Watonwan, Blue Earth, Nicollet, Le Sueur, Faribault, Martin, Jackson, Nobles, and Rock.  (Map of participating counties)

 More Walk-In Access information:

• Brown SWCD – Walk-In Access Program Information
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources – Walk-In Access Information
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources – Walk-In Access Atlas
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources – Walk-In Access Code of Conduct

Sign up is now OPEN for RIM Reserve Riparian Buffers

Funding as become available through the Clean Water Fund to install riparian buffers in Brown County.  Buffer widths must be a minimum of 50′.  Buffers may extend to a maximum of 200′ for wildlife habitat enhancement purposes.  Frequently/occasionally flooded areas are eligible for out to 350′ for clean water flood plain.  Clean water buffers are also eligible when adjacent to and used to solve bluff land erosion problems.  Eligible land must have been owned by landowner for at least one year prior to application.  Buffers must be adjacent to public waters identified as streams, ditches, and lakes.  Buffers must total a minimum of 3 acres per application, unless it is part of a larger project initiative.  Easements must be permanent and the payment rates in Brown County vary by township, ranging from $4,838.00 to $6,787.00 per acre.   Land must either be in CRP or have been cropped for 2 of the last 5 years.  Land not currently in CRP must be seeded to native grasses and landowner will be reimbursed 100% of the seeding costs up to $300.00 per acre.

Interested landowners should call Tom Maher for an appointment at (507) 794-2553 or email tom.maher@brownswcdmn.org.  Please bring a deed for the land when applying.

More Information:

• Brown SWCD – Reinvest in Minnesota Program Information
• BWSR RIM Riparian Buffer Conservation Easements Fact Sheet