OLMSTED COUNTY

SOIL AND WATER

CONSERVATION DISTRICT

2018 OPERATIONAL PLAN

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MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of Olmsted Soil and Water Conservation District is to promote sustainable

resource utilization and protection of natural resources in the County. The District as-

sists farmers, communities, watershed planners and landowners in developing and im-

plementing conservation and resource management systems and practices. The District

also serves as a source for conservation programs, resource information and environ-

mental education for county residents.

Introduction

The purpose of Olmsted Soil and Water Conservation District’s Operational Plan is to provide

guidance and direction to District staff and supervisors for the goals and mission set forth by

Olmsted Soil and Water Conservation District. The Operation Plan is the “working plan” for the

District and is utilized through the comprehensive plan for determining important program appli-

cations, staffing, and financial requirements for District Operation.

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Operational Objective: WATER QUALITY The District is participating in the State of Minnesota’s One Water, One Plan (1W1P) watershed planning efforts. This process focus-

es on watershed planning and moves away from the traditional county based water planning. The Olmsted County Water Manage-

ment Plan continues to inform our local goals and objectives in the 1W1P processes in the Root, Zumbro and Mississippi–Winona

watersheds. The County’s Land Use Plan also has water quality elements that help to infom the 1W1P processes as they develop.

The ultimate goal is to have a watershed based implementation plan that is prioritized, targeted and measurable and will guide effec-

tive, efficient project implementation.

The District will participate in the planning efforts, provide technical assistance, deliver programming and participate in the develop-

ment of an implementation plan for these major watersheds.

Actions:

• Bear Creek, Cascade Creek, South Zumbro, Mill Creek and Lake Shady watersheds have been identified as priority sub-

watersheds: assist in developing prioritized and targeted application of best management practices to achieve measurable results.

• Assist watersheds in developing an organizational structure, finding partners with similar interest and objectives to further the

“One Watershed, One Plan” effort. Olmsted SWCD will focus on development of the Zumbro 1W1P efforts in 2018.

• Serve in a technical capacity for the SE MN Technical Service Area Joint Powers Board, Olmsted County Environmental Commis-

sion and the Southeast MN Water Resource Board.

• Provide technical assistance to producers and landowners through the State Cost Share Program and promote and administer the

Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) Program.

• Promote Agriculture Best Management Practices Loan Program to address failing septic systems, well sealing, conservation till-

age, best management practice implementation, feedlot abatement systems and ag-waste systems.

• Serve as a cooperative technical partner with Olmsted County, City of Rochester and Olmsted County Townships for plat and

grading plan reviews, stormwater management and suburban erosion control.

• Work cooperatively with Olmsted County staff, other watershed Counties and SWCD’s to secure funding to develop 1W1P imple-

mentation plans.

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Operational Objective: PROTECTION OF NATURAL RESOURCES

A mission of Olmsted County is to promote sustainable resource utilization and protection of natural resources.

The District will provide assistance to landowners and operators to reduce erosion in upland landscapes and riparian floodplains

adjacent to streams. A reduction in pollution delivery to streams is a key component of this objective.

Actions:

• Provide landowners with technical assistance to control erosion by promoting upland best management practice implementation

utilizing state and federal cost share programs.

• Identify riparian parcels that are non-compliant with the 2015 Buffer Initiative requiring 50 feet of perennial vegetation on public

waters streams and assist landowners with meeting compliance obligations. Update and maintain BuffCAT database for BWSR.

• Identify properties eligible for the CREP program. Target riparian, floodplain areas and wellhead protection areas

• Serve as a cooperative technical agency to City, County and Townships to conduct plat, grading plan and development reviews

for proposed projects with emphasis on controlling runoff, reducing erosion and protecting wetlands.

• Implement elements of the County Soil Loss ordinance. Investigate erosion complaints in suburban development and rural

landscapes.

• Promote Ag Best Management Practices Loan (SRF) program to fund soil and water conservation practices, no and reduced-

tillage equipment purchases, ag-waste systems, septic upgrades and well drilling and sealing.

• Promote State and Federal Programs that enhance wildlife habitat and protect sensitive landscape features.

• Promote soil health principles by encouraging the adoption of cover crops, no and reduced till practices and the use of perennial

alternative crops.

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Operational Objective: WETLAND CONSERVATION ACT

Olmsted County is responsible for the administration of the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) of 1991.

Pursuant to the Joint Powers Agreement between Olmsted County and Olmsted Soil and Water Conservation District, the District as

delegated by the County will act as the local government unit (LGU) for areas designated as rural on the County Land Use Plan. The

District will carry out responsibilities of the LGU for implementation of the Wetland Conservation Act of 1991.

Actions:

• Provide assistance to County, municipalities and landowners on implementation of WCA rules and regulations.

• Provide technical assistance with affiliated agencies on WCA issues including MN Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Army

Corps of Engineers (ACOE), Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR), Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), and

local County and City government.

• Assist NRCS with highly erodible land conservation (HEL) and certified wetland determination evaluation on agricultural lands to

ensure compliance with State wetland rules.

• Provide wetland conservation information to cooperators, including rule application and interpretation, banking opportunities, pro-

gram delivery, and project evaluation.

• Provide technical assistance to landowners with unintentional wetland impacts, DNR issued RPN’s or cease and desist orders.

Assist landowners with development of restoration and/or replacement plans within WCA regulation.

• Utilize the latest technology to enhance the delivery of wetland technical services.

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Operational Objective: DEVELOP NEW PROGRAMS AND MAINTAIN

EXISTING PROGRAMS

Olmsted SWCD will continue to maintain existing programs, which have proven effective; and develop new progressive conservation

and education programs in the areas of environmental stewardship and natural resource management.

Actions:

• Provide an Olmsted County Plat Book for sale based on the latest GIS data. Update every 3-5 years.

• Continue the Annual Tree and Shrub Sale in support of other District Programs.

• Provide technical assistance for the preservation and restoration of native prairie communities to area landowners .

• Partner with DNR Forestry to provide technical assistance to landowners on forestry stewardship.

• Promote vegetative buffers on highly erodible land, riparian zones, wetland restorations, and groundwater protection zones.

• Maintain the precipitation monitoring network utilizing volunteers in the County. Report data to State Climatology Office.

• Integrate new technology and equipment into the activities of the District to enhance programs and technical capabilities.

• Promote Federal Conservation Programs to cooperators.

• Select a landowner to recognize as Olmsted County’s Outstanding Conservationist. Landowners demonstrating good land stew-

ardship through implementation of conservation and water quality improvement projects will be recognized at the Annual Minneso-

ta Association of Soil and Water Conservation District’s (MASWCD) state convention.

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Operational Objective: EDUCATION

Olmsted SWCD will provide conservation based outreach and educational programming. In addition, all Staff and Supervisors will

continue their personal education and training in conservation as it relates to their positions and duties.

Actions:

• Attend and conduct training for staff in District Operations and Programs.

• Encourage employees to seek training to build on their job skills and abilities by providing compensation for technical and contin-

ued education. Take advantage of NRCS, BWSR and County training programs.

• Promote Soil Health principles to agricultural producers by providing field days, individual consultations, research information and

dissemination through the Olmsted County Soil Health Farm demonstration site.

• Assist with coordinating the SE MN Envirothon Program providing outdoor educational competition experience to secondary

school students.

• Promote environmental and agricultural learning opportunities to elementary students like Ag in the Classroom.

• Provide the Olmsted County Land Use Model and Groundwater Model for use as tools for environmental education.

• Provide education and technical assistance to schools on conservation topics addressing teacher specific curriculum requests

and participation in Outdoor Learning Classroom opportunities.

• Promote education and outreach opportunities through Facebook, websites and other social media.

• Promote conservation topics by creating educational displays and staffing a booth at the Olmsted County Fair.

• Promote the Olmsted SWCD by providing an annual presentation to Olmsted County Board of Commissioners on our activities.

Promote conservation by selecting projects and practices to highlight on the County Road tour. Attend the Public Works

Committee meeting monthly and the Olmsted County Township Officer’s meeting quarterly.

• Promote education and outreach through Olmsted County and the City of Rochester for storm water management and treatment

principles. Include information on Graham Park stormwater implementation , rain gardens development, use of rain barrels and

sustainable storm water infiltration, filtration and run-off treatment systems.

• Promote public education through news articles, newsletters, webpage development, social media posting and event promotion.

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OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVE: STATE COST SHARE PROGRAM:

HIGH PRIORITY EROSION AND WATER QUALITY

HIGH PRIORITY EROSION:

The District will work with cooperators to reduce agricultural erosion and run-off. When applications exceed available funding, priority for

state cost share projects are based on professional staff assessment and direct evidence of ephemeral and/or gully erosion rather than

“T” and soil class. Further priority is given to applicants following approved conservation plans and/or demonstrating the willingness to

apply conservation practices that reduce runoff, erosion and improve water quality. Technical assistance is available to landowners in-

terested in reducing erosion and improving water quality. Financial assistance is available to landowners to offset the cost for practice

implementation. Geographically, priority is given to watersheds identified in the Olmsted County Water Management Plan or through

other prioritization measures like One Water, One Plan.

HIGH PRIORITY WATER QUALITY:

The District will work with cooperators to reduce implement projects that improve water quality. Olmsted SWCD identifies the Zumbro

River, Root River, Cascade Creek, Bear Creek, Mill Creek, Whitewater River and the sub-watersheds identified in the County Water

Management Plan above the flood control structures as priority areas for water quality improvement implementation. The District will

promote management of riparian areas with perennially vegetated buffers. The District has and will continue to solicit applications for

State Cost Share projects, ReInvest in Minnesota, Continuous CRP, General CRP, CREP and EQIP projects in these areas. The Dis-

trict is assisting feedlot operators in understanding the MPCA feedlot compliance requirements. Priority for funding is given to applicants

with existing nutrient management plans or who have plans in preparation. High priority impaired waters identified through the MPCA’s

TMDL and WRAPS processes will be targeted for conservation best management practice implementation projects.

Soil Health Initiative:

The District will promote soil health principles to cooperators through research and field days at the Olmsted County Soil Health Farm. A

new program was established in 2017 to provide cost sharing incentives to producers who have not utilized cover crops in their man-

agement systems. Cost sharing is available to establish up to 30 acres of cover crops each year during a 3 year contract period.

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OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVE: SPECIAL PROJECTS

The District will develop partnerships and seek Clean Water Grant funding through BWSR to implement water quality improvement

projects in the South Zumbro Watershed and its subwatersheds. Olmsted SWCD will work with townships, county and state agencies,

landowners and consultants to identify potential locations for structural practices designed to attenuate flooding and reduce damage to

agricultural lands and the County’s roads and bridges. These structures would retain water and sediment upon the landscape, reduce

peak flows and sediment loads to rivers and streams.

Olmsted SWCD will provide technical assistance to producers through the USDA Resource Conservation Partnership Program

(RCPP). The program targets feedlot operations of 500 animal units or less to reduce and eliminate pollution issues and improve

manure management. In 2018, the reimbursement rate is set at 90% with the combination in federal and state funding sources. This is

a 5 year project ending in 2022.

A Clean Water grant for the South Branch of Cascade Creek will be used to implement a stream channel restoration project on the

former Meadow Lakes Golf Course property. Three water retention structures have been installed in the upstream watershed. Grant

funds have been secured to construct 5 additional wetland basins and establish diverse upland habitat as a compliment to the stream/

floodplain restoration effort currently underway. The project is a cooperative partnership between Olmsted SWCD, Olmsted County,

City of Rochester and Department of Natural Resources. When completed the project will reduce sedimentation in downstream lakes

and rivers and help reduce peak flood flows.

Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program—(Ag Certainty) sponsored by the MN Department of Agriculture. The pur-

pose of the Program is to accelerate the voluntary adoption of agricultural practices that improve water quality and maintain a produc-

tive agricultural economy. Producers who implement and maintain approved farm management practices will be certified in the pro-

gram and in turn be assured that their operation meets the state’s water quality goals and standards for a period of 10 years. Target-

ed EQIP funding from NRCS will be utilized to implement conservation projects to meet certification. The program is available

statewide.

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OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVE: SPECIAL PROJECTS

The 2015 Buffer Initiative legislation enacted during special session in June 2015 enhances the protection of Minnesota waters by

building on existing requirements to buffer public waters. The new legislation requires and provides funding for SWCD’s to work with

affected landowners to implement 50’ of perennially vegetated buffers on DNR designated public waters streams. The public waters

buffers must be implemented by November 1, 2017. Olmsted County is currently over 98% compliant. The District will continue to

work with landowners who signed the Waiver request for technical assistance and a small number of landowners who haven’t re-

sponded to the previously sent informational letters. The goal in 2018 is to achieve 100% compliance.

Olmsted SWCD and USDA NRCS has entered into a cooperative working agreement to provide landowners, producers, Federal and

State land management agencies, other individuals, groups and units of government with leadership in resource conservation.

Olmsted SWCD will continue to pursue grant opportunities to assist Olmsted County residents in addressing water quality and soil

erosion.

Olmsted SWCD will participate in future opportunities as they arise.

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OLMSTED SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

2018 BUDGET

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Olmsted SWCD 2018 Budget (continued)