Recent News | Yellow Medicine SWCD

SWCD News and Updates

Major funding for controlling your tile available, sign up events scheduled! November 2023

If only we could get the right amount of rain when needed… We can’t make that come true, but technology is offering alternatives to better manage the water that falls on our fields. Traditional tile drainage has been used for years to convert land that would otherwise be too wet to consistently farm productively. While drainage has increased crop yields, the practice leaves the producer with little control of the timing and amount of water leaving a field.

For a few years, Yellow Medicine SWCD has partnered with USDA and Ecosystem Services Exchange of Adair, Iowa to implement these projects without the normal roadblocks of government programs. Beginning this fall, fields in Yellow Medicine, Renville, Lac qui Parle, Lyon, and Lincoln Counties are eligible for automatically approved funding on feasible sites. Systems may have control structures and saturated buffers installed at ZERO cost to the customer.

Join us on November 29, 2023 to discuss options and share a light breakfast at the Porter Café, Highway 68 in Porter, MN from 9-10 AM or have lunch with us at the Granite Falls American Legion Post 69 in Granite Falls, MN12-1 PM. Industry experts and local staff will be available for questions and prepared to get you signed up for this opportunity.

Contact the SWCD office (320) 669-4442 x 3 to get your name on the list for a review of your fields to see where these projects are possible.

drainage water MGMT system

saturated buffer system

Study Shows Higher Profits for Ag Water Quality Certified Farms for Fourth Straight Year July 2023

Farmers also saw other improved financial metrics

From the MN DEPT of AG, St. Paul: Farmers enrolled in the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) have higher profits than non-certified farms, according to a recent study by the Minnesota State Agricultural Centers of Excellence. This marks the fourth year of data highlighting improved financial outcomes.

The “Influence of Intensified Environmental Practices on Farm Profitability” study examined financial and crop production information from farmers enrolled in the Minnesota State Farm Business Management education program. The 101 MAWQCP farms in the study saw 2022 net farm income an average of more than $23,500 or 7.5% higher than non-certified farms. Looking at four years of data, the average income for MAWQCP farms was $16,000 - $40,000 higher. Other key financial metrics are also better for those enrolled in the MAWQCP, such as debt-to-asset ratios and operating expense ratios.

The four years of data serve as an indicator of a positive return on investment for whole-farm conservation management that farmers implement to become certified.

“For four years now, we see that farm operations in the Minnesota Ag Water Quality Certification Program have, on average, better economic outcomes on top of the known environmental benefits,” said Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. “There are many advantages to the MAWQCP, and I encourage all farmers and landowners to look into certifying their land and contact their local Soil and Water Conservation District for more information.”

“Minnesota Farm Business Management is proud to support farmers who are water quality certified and continue to demonstrate profitability compared to their peers,” said Keith Olander, Executive Director of AgCentric, and Agricultural Partnerships. “The water quality certified cohort sets a standard for other environmental enhancements to be implemented on-farm through a data supported process as farmers continue to improve their soil health while protecting their economic viability.”

To find details on the economic study, visit: https://www.agcentric.org/farm-business-management/annual-fbm-reports/.

The MAWQCP puts farmers in touch with local conservation district experts to identify and mitigate any risks their farm poses to water quality on a field-by-field basis. Producers going through the certification process have priority access to financial assistance. After being certified, each farm is deemed in compliance with new water quality laws and regulations for 10 years.

Since the program’s statewide launch in 2016, 1,326 farms totaling nearly 970,000 acres have been certified across Minnesota. Farms have added over 2,615 new conservation practices, which protect Minnesota’s waters. Those new practices help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 50,000 metric tons each year.

Farmers and landowners interested in becoming water quality certified can contact their local Soil and Water Conservation District or visit MyLandMyLegacy.com.

The weather, always changing, ALWAYS giving us something to talk about! June 2023

Dedicated volunteer observers state-wide not only talk about the weather. They monitor rainfall and weather observations and provide monthly summaries of their findings to the SWCDs, who in turn send them in to the State Climatology Office for recording and further study and comparisons. These observers use uniform, scientific equipment and methods to ensure accuracy in data collection.

Yellow Medicine County has a great group of volunteers monitoring and recording rainfalls for our area. They include: Wanda Luepke, Echo; Menno Fokken, Canby; Kevin Doom, Canby; Kris Brusven, Cottonwood; Dean Pearson, Canby; Jeff Remiger, Hanley Falls; Rodney Gaffney, Minneota; Ed Krosch, Wood Lake. We appreciate their time and hard work.

Thanks to Pete Boulay of the MN State Climatology office for providing the following summary of weather in 2022:

2022 Weather Summary:

Overall, 2022 was a cooler and drier than normal year statewide. The dryness was no surprise due to the drought that reasserted itself, albeit farther south and a more rapid intensification than in 2021. However, the 2021 drought was worse in magnitude and state coverage.

While the 2022 drought persisted into early 2023, ample snow and precipitation events during the winter of 2022-23 blunted the drought coverage quite a bit.

Precipitation coverages in the state for 2022 were highly variable. The far north saw an exceptionally wet spring, while southern and central Minnesota fell into a worsening drought by summer. International Falls set its wettest year on record with 35.45 inches or ten inches above normal. Lamberton had its driest year since 2003 with 20.13 inches, or 9.20 inches below normal.

In spite of the drought, it was an active year for severe storms. Minnesota finished with 71 tornadoes for 2022. The most active month was May with 47 tornadoes. There were three extreme wind events in the summer too, each with numerous wind gusts of 8`0 mph or greater. Wind gusts of 94 mph were recorded on May 12 at Madison in Lac Qui Parle County and also Verndale in Wadena County. An outbreak of storms on Memorial Day produced damaging tornadoes and more and strong thunderstorm wind gusts, reaching 90 mph in Appleton, in Swift County. Another round of destructive storms on June 20-21 produced a 91mph wind gust near Mallory in Polk County.

Temperatures for 2022 in general for Minnesota were below normal from January through May, with January having the coldest statewide average temperature since 2014. June through November was above normal, but not excessively so. The hottest day of the year was June 20 with 102 degrees at Sabin and Crookston and 101 degrees in the Twin Cities and St. Cloud. The year ended with the coldest December since 2013, averaging about four degrees below normal. The warm months were not quite enough to counter-balance the cold ones. The 2022 average temperature was 40.2 degrees F, falling short of the 1991-2020 normal of 41.8 degrees F

Aquatic Invasive Species remain a threat to area waters: Don’t bring them home with you. May 2023

As you are preparing yourselves to head out to your favorite fishing spot, remember to take precautions to keep our waters free of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS). Lakes in Yellow Medicine County, and the rest of non-lakes country, are fortunate to have relatively low levels of traffic year round. Recently, the Yellow Medicine Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) found that the main boat ramps at Wood Lake near Timm County Park and at Del Clark Lake closest to the entrance averaged about 10 watercraft trailers entering and leaving the water daily. On holiday weekends, such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day, that number rockets to over one hundred per day for those two access points. All other public accesses in the county see about one trailer entering and leaving the water on any given day through the season. The SWCD’s central concern in our area is folks moving species from a lake in another county or state, and bringing them to local waters.

Two prominent species, Zebra Mussels and Spiny Waterflea can negatively affect walleye populations due to devastating impacts on the food chain. These species consume small aquatic plants that walleye fry feed on. This starves Minnesota’s favorite sport fish.

How can you help Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers?

Clean watercraft, trailers and equipment to remove aquatic plants and prohibited invasive species.
Drain all water and leave drain plugs out during transport.
Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash.
Never release bait, plants or aquarium pets into Minnesota waters.
Dry docks, lifts and rafts for 21 days before moving them from one water body to another.

Adopt a conservation mentality. Protect our environment by not releasing unwanted fish and aquatic plants from your aquarium, backyard pond or water garden. If you have an undesirable aquatic plant or fish species in your aquarium or water garden, it is important not to release these plants or animals into the environment. While most of them will die, some survive. And they have the potential to create negative impacts on our natural environment. Become good stewards of the land we live on.

PHOTO CREDIT MN DNR: (left) Spiny Water Flea; (right) Zebra Mussels

BWSR PILOT TRACKS PROGRESS OF WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN APRIL 2023

The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR)’s pilot watershed-based assessment centered on the Yellow Medicine Partnership that wrapped up in December 2022 will help BWSR develop recommendations to enhance the delivery of conservation services.

Updates to BWSR’s Performance Review and Assistance Program (PRAP) added the pilot watershed-based assessment in March 2022. The watershed-based assessment includes a 4-part review:

Evaluates progress made toward water management entities’ goals
Reviews entities’ adherence to statutory requirements, best standards and practices, and high-performance standards
Evaluates internal and external partners’ working relationship
Reviews assurance measures, completed as part of the Watershed-Based Implementation Funding policy

Authorized by Statute 103B.102, PRAP was created to monitor and assess the performance of local water management entities responsible for the conservation of water and land resources. The pilot watershed-based assessment was conducted with the local government partnership working together to implement comprehensive watershed management plans developed through the One Watershed, One Plan program.

Members of the Yellow Medicine Partnership include the counties and soil and water conservation districts of Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon and Yellow Medicine; the Yellow Medicine Watershed District; and the Area II Minnesota River Basin Projects. The Yellow Medicine Watershed District administers the partnership.

The pilot project evaluated 133 action items in the Yellow Medicine Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan. The local partners worked together to determine progress made on plan goals and completed a performance standard checklist. Internal and external respondents completed anonymous surveys. That information helped BWSR staff tailor recommendations to the partnership and its needs.

The findings and recommendations are intended to give local government units constructive feedback they can use to enhance their joint and individual delivery of conservation services. BWSR staff members will check back in about two years.

“The PRAP process gave the local partners an opportunity to reflect on implementation efforts by providing feedback on what’s working and where improvements are needed. The process also showed elected and appointed officials that BWSR is committed to helping the local partners and the local partners are holding themselves to a high standard,” said BWSR Board Conservationist Jason Beckler, who assisted the partnership during the pilot watershed-based assessment process.

Yellow Medicine Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) District Manager Tyler Knutson said the questions asked during the process were valuable in reflecting on the partnership’s performance.

They gave staff members the opportunity to evaluate where they had been, and what adjustments were needed to successfully implement the Yellow Medicine’s comprehensive watershed management plan.

The watershed-based PRAP assessment provided both recommendations for improvement and commendations for the partnership’s accomplishments.

After members received the PRAP document, Knutson said the partnership began to implement a web-based workflow and database tracking system to help manage contracts and aggregate progress data.

“Don’t be thinking about it, but actively track plan progress as you go,” Knutson said when asked what advice he might have for other partnerships. “Know and act on the fact that people are going to ask how implementation is going, and you need answers.”

With dedicated One Watershed, One Plan funds, Knutson said the Yellow Medicine Partnership is now completing previously prioritized projects.

“Next, we will begin to target and market more directly into the areas of the plan that haven’t got attention yet. This will require more active coordination among partners and finding creative ways to match the needs of residents and the goals of these plans adopted by local governments,” Knutson said.

When asked what Knutson learned from the pilot project, Knutson stated, “Begin with the end in mind. Know your plan front to back and upside down, figure out your role, act where you are able, and celebrate success.”

The PRAP program will complete watershed-based assessments in 2023 for the Root River, North Fork Crow, Lake Superior North and Red Lake River partnerships. With the Yellow Medicine Partnership, those watersheds were the original One Watershed, One Plan program pilots.

LEFT:A floodplain wetland restoration adjacent to the Yellow Medicine River was nearly fully established in 2019. The land was enrolled in the Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) Wetlands Reserve Program. The project contributed to restored wetland acre goals within the Yellow Medicine River watershed.

RIGHT: An early spring view of the Yellow Medicine River unfolded from Upper Sioux Agency State Park.

NEW CONSERVATION TECHNICIAN JOINS STAFF OF THE YELLOW MEDICINE SWCD March 2023

My name is Kyle Reitmaier and I have been given the opportunity to join the team at the Yellow Medicine Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) as a Conservation Technician. I grew up on a farm in Rockford, IL and raised horses. After high school I enlisted in the Marines and spent four years as a Combat Engineer working in construction and demolitions with foreign militaries.

After the Marines I decided to study Agribusiness Management at Southwest Minnesota State University and graduated in 2020. During this time, I worked with Hefty Seed and Agnition working on ways to improve Soil Health and be able to get the best yield out of the land while conserving the resources we have given to us.

Always be a good steward of the Earth.

Remove open inlets and install structures save water for the “not so rainy” days. October 2022

Tile drainage is nearly a universally applicable investment made into cropland in our area. While the benefits of tile drainage are improved traffic-ability and increased crop yields from the removal of excess water, open inlets or intakes can convey not only corn stalks, rodents and other obstructions into your drainage system, but also can deliver sediment and phosphorus to stream systems which have a detrimental impact on water quality. Some intakes are needed to act as somewhat of a relief valve for tile flow or to act as an outlet for a conservation practice. Intakes that are necessary for operation should be utilizing a “riser” type inlet to meter water flow and prevent debris from entering the system. While many landowners and producers have seen the benefit of removing the open inlets that are malfunctioning, accidentally buried or not needed; many folks have not even thought about it.

The SWCD has funding available to you that can be made available within a month of a request to assist in the cost of removing these intakes.

Many types of intakes exist; some utilize rock, geotextile, pipe or just perforated plastic tile. Not only does it block the path of sediment, debris and potential lost nutrients, but it slows the velocity of water making its way to ditches and streams which aids in the reduction of streambank erosion, a known source of sediment in the Minnesota River.

Tile systems are also known to deliver nitrates into surface waters. One strategy that can be used to reduce nitrates in tile drainage water is drainage water management. With drainage water management, water level control structures are included as a part of the tile drainage system. These structures are used to manipulate water levels at different times during the year. The greatest nitrate removal benefits occur when water levels are maintained in the biologically active zone during the growing season where nitrates can be converted to nitrogen gas by denitrifying bacteria or taken up by a crop when most readily available. A properly managed system can also increase crop yields by conserving water in the soil profile for crops to utilize. Like the removal of open inlets, this practice retains water in the soil profile for a longer period of time.

When is drainage water management a good fit for a new or an existing tile drainage system? Generally, drainage water management is unfeasible on land slopes greater than about one percent. It may be possible to retrofit existing tile installations with water level control structures depending on how the tile layout fits with the field topography. Tile systems utilizing drainage water management do not require closer tile spacing, but tile layout should be aligned with the field’s contours as much as possible in order to provide the most complete coverage and consistent water levels across the field.

State and Federal funds are available for assistance in planning and installing these types of systems. Retrofits can also be added in some situations to implement subsurface irrigation in feasible locations.

PHOTO: Credit: Ohio State University- A rock type alternative inlet under construction

SWCD Releases State of the Art Public Mapping Tool September 2022

After several years of partnership and consultation with Yellow Medicine County officials, the Yellow Medicine Soil and Water Conservation District is excited to publicly announce a virtual hub of maps and data with ties to the conservation of natural resources in our area. Simply visiting the map’s website will unlock a large amount and diverse array of GIS mapping at the click of a mouse. This page will show you maps of conservation easements, water resources, and so much more from your desktop or mobile device. The hope is that this gives you all information to better partner with our office or your customers. All of the information has some connection to the conservation of soil and water resources in Yellow Medicine County. To find this map, simply visit www.yellowmedicineswcd.org or find us on Facebook. Look for the link or buttons to GIS or Mapping. We have added several potential ways of getting to this useful information. If you have questions, technical issues, or suggestions for additional data to be added, please contact Tyler Knutson, at the SWCD office.

THE MN CREP (Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program) enrollment period is wrapping up after 5-years. The CREP program is intended to take marginal cropland and provide permanent protection for water through wetland restorations, filter strips and well head protection areas. This is a permanent easement where the landowner retains ownership of the land but can no longer farm or build on the land. CREP easement payments range from $4,400-8,200 an acre for cropland, they differ for each township and are based on the counties average cost for cropland. The land can be sold at any time after the easement is recorded. If you are selling or have bought RIM (Reinvest in Minnesota) or CREP land you should contact your local soil and water to make sure they change the name on the easement, so the new owners get all the future documents. The Board of Water and Soil Resource’s (BWSR) original goal was to restore up to 60,000 acres over 54 counties in southern Minnesota through CREP but will likely end around 40,000 due to funds running out. Over the last 5 years there have been 22 easements in Yellow Medicine County totaling almost 1100 acres.

After the recently added CREP easements there are now over 10,000 acres of CREP and RIM easements in Yellow Medicine County. Although CREP and RIM easements don’t require any maintenance after the CRP payments expire; if you want to continue having the easement look like a prairie it is recommended to do some maintenance. Vegetation needs disturbance to promote new growth, control tree seedlings, and ensure your easement doesn’t become a monoculture. Burning, haying or grazing are great options to do this. Depending on easement size, typical haying and grazing contracts allow you to hay 1/3 of the acres every year for 3 years. Haying happens after the nesting season and is allowed with approval between August 1st and September 1st.

The funds and enrollment period are coming to an end for new CREP easements, but there still may be time to get into this program or potentially a new one. If you have any questions on haying an easement or any other questions involving CREP or RIM stop in and visit Brayden in our office or call 320-669-4442x3.

A REVIEW OF LAST YEAR’S WEATHER July 2022

The weather. It always seems to give us something to talk about.

Dedicated volunteer observers state-wide not only talk about the weather. They monitor rainfall and weather observations and provide monthly summaries of their findings to the SWCDs, who in turn send them in to the State Climatology Office for recording and further study and comparisons. These observers use uniform, scientific equipment and methods to ensure accuracy in data collection.

Yellow Medicine County has a great group of volunteers monitoring and recording rainfalls for our area. They include: Wanda Luepke, Echo; Menno Fokken, Canby; Kevin Doom, Canby; Kris Brusven, Cottonwood; Dean Pearson, Canby; Jeff Remiger, Hanley Falls; Rodney Gaffney, Minneota; Ed Krosch, Wood Lake.

2021 Annual Reports of Monthly Precipitation Totals, Yellow Medicine County:

The data presented are monthly totals in Yellow Medicine County. Observer locations are described using township, range, and section numbers.

All values are in inches.
'cc ttt rr ss' is county-township-range-section number, 'oooooooo' is community name (where applicable), 'nnnn' is network type.
'AGR', 'HYD', and 'ANN' are 12 month precipitation totals starting in Sep 2018, Oct 2018, and Jan 2019, respectively. 'GRO' is growing season (May 2019 thru Sep 2019) precipitation total.
'*' denotes a partial monthly record, 'e' denotes that value is wholly or partially estimated.
Prepared by: State Climatology Office - DNR Waters, phone: 651-296-4214, web: http://climate.umn.edu

2021 Weather Summary:

Thanks to Pete Boulay from the State Climatology office for providing the following summary of the previous year’s weather:

2021 was dry with a statewide average of 23.76 inches or 4.81 inches less than the 1991-2020 normal. It was drier than 2020 and the driest year since 2006.

A major drought overtook Minnesota during 2021, as persistent moisture deficits combined with above-normal temperatures across the state. In some parts of the state, the drought was as serious as anything experienced in over 40 years, though for most of the state it was the worst drought in 10-30 years. Although the period of greatest intensification and expansion began during the summer of 2021, dry conditions had been building in many areas since early and mid-2020.

A heat wave from June 3rd to the 11th really kicked the drought into high gear. The highest temperatures recorded during the heat wave, mostly observed June 4th and 5th, included 104 F at Warren and Granite Falls; 103 F at Milan, Benson, and Browns Valley; and 102 F at Redwood Falls, Crookston, and Lamberton (among several other stations). Benson recorded four high temperatures of at least 100 F during the heat wave; Granite Falls, Marshall, and Milan each recorded three.

The peak of the drought was in the first half of August. By August 10th, a swath of northwestern through north-central Minnesota was designated in Exceptional Drought (D4), marking the first time any part of the state had made it to that level of drought during the 21-year history of the US Drought Monitor. By mid-August, 8% of the state was designated in Exceptional Drought, and an additional 42% of the state was in Extreme Drought, and this condition continued into the final week of August.

The late summer, autumn, and early winter precipitation helped chip away at the drought, with the state becoming free from the Exceptional category during September, and with most of the state seeing steady improvements and reductions in areal coverage of drought categories. By mid-December 2021, slightly less than one-half of the state remained in official drought designation.

This map depicts the precipitation ranking for April 1-August 24, 2021 compared to the period of record. Historical ranking maps depict annual precipitation totals as they rank when compared to annual totals over the modern record. The values presented are percentiles. A ranking near zero indicates the year was drier than any found during the period of record. A ranking near 100 designates that the year was wetter than any found on record. A ranking of 50 is equivalent to the "median", a measure of central tendency.

Go to climate.umn.edu to find climate related information and links. Measurable precipitation is an important piece of information when analyzing our weather and climate.

Del Clark Lake & Stonehill Regional Park

PROTECTING DEL CLARK LAKE’S WATER QUALITY (MN Board of Soil and Water Resources) June 2022

CANBY – A partnership of local governments is working to protect Del Clark Lake in Yellow Medicine County with support from a $300,000 Clean Water Fund grant from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR).

Del Clark Lake is not yet impaired and is assessed by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency as fully supporting aquatic recreation. The lake and the surrounding Stonehill Regional Park offer a handicap accessible dock and fishing pier, plus opportunities for swimming, boating and camping. About 9,000 people visit the park each year.

The effort involves three completed projects at Del Clark Lake — two grade stabilization structures and a roadside retention embankment — and a pending dam restoration upstream along Canby Creek. The Madison-based Lac qui Parle Yellow Bank Watershed District (LQPYBWD), which received the grant from BWSR in 2019, took the lead on project implementation with support from Area II Minnesota River Basin Projects (Area II) and the Yellow Medicine Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD). Mitch Enderson, coordinator for the LQPYBWD, said the intent is to maintain the lake’s health and water quality.

“Most of the time, we’re looking at restoration, not protection – but Del Clark is an outlier,” Enderson said. “When you think about how heavily recreated it is, it becomes more critical to maintain that water quality.”

Del Clark Lake is one of three reservoirs built in 1985 to help alleviate frequent flooding in the city of Canby that damaged roads and private property. Tapping local, state and federal funds, contractors built a 55-foot-high dam with a 155-acre permanent pool with a maximum depth of 30 feet. The LQPYBWD owns the lake and Stonehill Regional Park.

Construction of the three Del Clark Lake water quality protection projects began last June and wrapped up by the end of July. The two grade stabilization structures share a single berm on the northwest portion of the lake. A roadside retention embankment near the south part of the lake was also built to help meter out water after heavy rains. Area II — a nine-county joint powers board based in Marshall — provided engineering design and technical assistance.

According to Area II Executive Director Kerry Netzke, the three projects combined will capture an estimated 667 tons of sediment a year. For 100- year storm events (where 6.5 inches of rain falls over the watershed in a 24-hour period), the three projects offer a combined 42.1 acre-feet of water storage. For more frequent 10-year storm events (where 3.99 inches of rain falls over the watershed in a 24- hour period), the projects are designed to provide a combined 19.1 acre-feet of water storage.

“We targeted these projects so Del Clark is going to see the benefit,” Netzke said. “The primary goal was to keep sediment out (of the lake).”

Initially, project partners considered using the remaining grant funds upstream to implement several best management practices such as cover crops and grassed waterways. Yellow Medicine SWCD contacted landowners and generated a list of shovelready projects.

“We want to make sure that while we’re working on the lake, we’re having a positive impact upstream,” said Tyler Knutson, Yellow Medicine SWCD director.

Ultimately, the partners decided to use remaining funds on a single dam restoration along Canby Creek a few miles southwest of Del Clark Lake in Fortier Township. Construction is planned for this summer.

“It’s a better investment for the public dollar,” Netzke said.

A 2019 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) dam safety inspection revealed that a corrugated metal pipe within the 28-foot-high dam was deteriorating. Area II, the LQPYBWD and the Yellow Medicine SWCD are working with the landowner to replace it with a concrete pipe, which is anticipated to last 100 years.

The project, estimated to cost $50,000, will leverage the remaining Clean Water Fund grant dollars with matching funds from the landowner and the LQPYBWD. Area II is applying for permits and expects to solicit bids for the project in partnership with LQPYBWD this month after the DNR dam safety permit amendment is received. Construction is planned for this summer; work on this project must be completed by Aug. 31. All grant-related work must be completed by Dec. 31.

Although partners decided to pursue the dam restoration, Knutson said the list of shovel-ready projects could be funded later through BWSR’s One Watershed, One Plan program. The Lac qui Parle – Yellow Bank Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan will be considered for approval in 2023.

“We’ll have a backlog of projects to work on once we receive that implementation funding, so it will put us in a good spot,” Knutson said.

Knutson attributes the success of the Del Clark Lake projects to strong partnerships and collaboration.

“There’s a lot of trust between our agencies,” Knutson said. “We each have different strengths and different relationships we can bring together.”

AIS photos courtesy of MN DNR

Zebra Mussels

Spiny Waterflea

Aquatic Invasive Species remain a threat to area waters: Don’t bring them home with you April 2022

As you are preparing yourselves to head out to your favorite fishing spot, remember to take precautions to keep our waters free of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS). Lakes in Yellow Medicine County, and the rest of non-lakes country, are fortunate to have relatively low levels of traffic year round. Recently, the Yellow Medicine Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) found that the main boat ramps at Wood Lake near Timm County Park and at Del Clark Lake closest to the entrance averaged about 10 watercraft trailers entering and leaving the water daily. On holiday weekends, such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day, that number rockets to over one hundred per day for those two access points. All other public accesses in the county see about one trailer entering and leaving the water on any given day through the season. The SWCD’s central concern in our area is folks moving species from a lake in another county or state, and bringing them to local waters.

Two prominent species, Zebra Mussels and Spiny Waterflea can negatively affect walleye populations due to devastating impacts on the food chain. These species consume small aquatic plants that walleye fry feed on. This starves Minnesota’s favorite sport fish. Spiny Waterflea have also been found balled up in the stomachs of young perch. The young fish consume them and then are unable to digest the spiny barb. Multiple barbs in a fish stomach ball up and make little punctures in the stomach walls. Starry Stonewort, Eurasian Milfoil, and Curly Leaf Pondweed are other dangerous invaders.

For the best results to prevent an infestation, remove all aquatic plants from your boat and trailer, drain ALL of the water from your craft, allow a five-day dry time between lake visits, and avoid transporting lake water in your bait buckets. Just these few short minutes can make a huge difference in preventing the spread of the invaders. As an alternative to a five-day dry out, wash your watercraft with hot water, and dry by hand completely. Docks, lifts, and watercraft that stay in water all season long should sit outside through the winter months to ensure species are eradicated.

By each of us doing our part we can drastically reduce the chance that our lakes will become infested! You can make a difference!

Starry Stonewort

Eurasian Millfoil

Enjoy the Fishing Opener, but be aware! May 2022

As you enjoy the fishing opener, be aware of what Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) may also call the lake home. Please don’t let Starry Stonewort, Eurasian Water Milfoil, Zebra Mussels or any AIS hitch a ride with you.

A single fragment of Starry Stonewort or Eurasian Water Milfoil can catch a ride on your boat if you do not take the time to: 1. Pull your plug; 2. Drain your live well; and 3. Drain your motor. This will also prevent tiny Zebra Mussels from catching a ride.

Starry Stonewort and Eurasian Water Milfoil can create thick vegetation at or near the water’s surface. This thick vegetation mass gets tangled in boat propellers and keeps swimmers from enjoying the lake.

Native vegetation and fish spawning areas can also be negatively affected.

Zebra Mussels can multiply at an incredible rate. A single female can produce 100,000 – 500,000 eggs a year. Adult Zebra Mussels have sharp edges that can collect on rocks and ladders and cut swimmers feet. Studies are ongoing as to the possible impacts that various AIS can have on fish populations.

Please take a few minutes to be aware of what AIS are known to be in a lake before you enter. Before you leave a lake please check your boat for aquatic invaders.

We can continue to protect our lakes and rivers by doing these 3 simple steps:

Remove any visible vegetation from your boat and trailer
Pull the plug, drain your boat motor, and drain your live well
If your bait has encountered lake/river water either throw it away or replace the water with tap or bottled water.

Everyone should take a part in maintaining our lakes and rivers for future generations to enjoy.

2022 Walk In Access Signup Announced! March 2022
The Minnesota Walk-In Access (WIA) program continues to offer opportunities for hunters to have access to excellent habitat for outdoor recreation.
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) programs protect Minnesota’s endangered prairie habitats to ensure, rare and unique native species of plants and animals have the necessary habitats to be successful and thrive in the landscape. These lands are privately owned. Hunters who purchase a $3 WIA validation along with their hunting license are allowed access to these CRP and RIM lands to hunt game species. Open season on WIA posted lands runs from September 1 to May 31 of the following year. Access is permitted by hunters from a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset during active hunting seasons. While a landowner retains rights to allow or prohibit motorized vehicle access, trapping, fires, camping, and other recreational activities, they are not permitted by the WIA validation by itself.
The WIA program compensates landowners for allowing access of validated individuals onto their private lands for a one to three-year long agreement. Landowners are protected under Minnesota Law for public hunting liability. No WIA boundary may be closer than 500 feet from a building or livestock. Grazing is acceptable in the off season.
Several successful WIA signups and plentiful hunting seasons the past few years have led to hundreds of Yellow Medicine County acres being available for use by the public. February 15 through April 14, 2022, interested landowners can re-enroll and sign up new acres into the program. The WIA field boundaries are determined by the landowner and need to be a minimum of 40 acres OR it must be contiguous with another WIA parcel that is 40 acres or more in size. Rates have been simplified (no special rates for special conditions) and increased to a flat rate of $18 per acre.

Contact Kurt Johnson at the Yellow Medicine SWCD to get signed up in the 2022 window.

PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO HELP OUR COUNTY’S RESIDENTS IMPROVE WATER QUALITY February 2022

The MN AG WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION PROGRAM and AGBMP LOAN PROGRAM are just a few examples of water quality improvement opportunities available to local residents.

THE MINNESOTA AGRICULTURAL WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION PROGRAM (MAWQCP) is a voluntary program opportunity recognizing farmers for managing their land in a way that protects water quality and mitigates risk.

Yellow Medicine County producer, Joel Timm, farms in the Wood Lake area. He became an Ag Water Quality Certified farmer in 2018 and has this to say about the program: “I became water quality certified because I was already practicing most of the requirements on my farm and I only had to modify a few items to become a water quality certified farm. Because my farm is certified I realize that I will notice things that happen on farmland that could compromise our water quality in our waterways, lakes and ground water. One example I notice more readily are wind and water erosion that move topsoil from our farmland. When I see this happening I also put more thought into what I could do differently in my farming operation to help prevent this. Maybe the program name should be changed to water quality awareness!”

Certification in the MAWQCP program provides:

Regulatory certainty: 10 years of compliance with new water quality laws and regulations
Stewardship recognition
Access to financial and technical assistance.

The program also offers endorsements producers can add to their certification to highlight their conservation efforts above and beyond risk mitigation in certain areas. These areas are: Wildlife, Soil Health, Integrated Pest Management, and Climate Smart.

A typical certification can take a few months up to a year to complete, depending on the eligibility initially determined by the whole farm assessment. An Area Certification Specialist will work with you throughout the process. Steps of becoming a water quality certified farm include:

Step 1. Apply: Fill out an application which includes self-verification of existing state laws and regulations regarding water quality, such as shore land setbacks, feedlot permits, disposal of waste pesticides, etc.

Step 2. Assessment: A field-by-field risk assessment that evaluates nutrient, tillage, and pest management, irrigation and tile drainage as well as conservation practices and compares them to the base physical field characteristics.

Step 3. Field Verification: Ensures any erosion concerns have been identified and addressed. This is done with a licensed certifier on the farm.

The program offers a $100 incentive if you sign up and go through the assessment process. To learn more about becoming an Ag Water Quality Certified farmer, or begin the certification process, contact the Yellow Medicine Soil and Water Office at 320-669-4442x3 or the Area MAWQCP Certification Specialist, Danielle Evers at 507-825-1199.

AgBMP (Agricultural Best Management Practices) LOAN PROGRAM is a water quality program that provides low interest loans to Minnesota farmers, rural landowners and agriculture supply businesses.

The AgBMP loan program funds activities or practices that help to improve water quality. If a project or purchase manages or reduces the inflow of agricultural waste into surface and groundwater systems or helps reduce soil erosion (which adversely effects water quality) it could qualify for the AgBMP Loan Program. AND, if you need to install or upgrade a septic system or replace a well, it probably qualifies for the AgBMP Program.

County residents also have the option of choosing Yellow Medicine County as their local lender when borrowing AgBMP funds for septic projects or qualifying well projects. In this case, the payments can be assessed to the resident’s tax statement.

Residents can reach out the Yellow Medicine Soil and Water Conservation District for more info on either of these programs.

AG WETLAND BANK BUILDS ON SUCCESS January 2022

MN BOARD OF WATER AND SOIL RESOURCES, DECEMBER 2021: A successful partnership between the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) and the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) led to a second round of federal grant funding for wetland mitigation on agricultural land, which is expected to satisfy demand for years to come.

Work on the first grant is wrapping up. BWSR is receiving applications from landowners for the second federal grant it received.

The Agricultural Wetland Bank (Ag Bank) was established in 2012 through a BWSR-NRCS partnership. It’s a subset of the Wetland Bank, which provides a market-based alternative for landowners to legally replace unavoidable wetland impacts by purchasing wetland credits previously established by other landowners. The Ag Bank was created specifically to replace wetlands drained or filled for agricultural purposes. It provides coordinated, consistent wetland mitigation under the Federal Farm Bill and the Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act (WCA).

BWSR and NRCS aim to proactively identify and pursue high-quality wetland mitigation opportunities for the Ag Bank, which is good for both agriculture and natural resources. For ag producers who might not have the time or interest to establish their own replacement wetland, Ag Bank credits provide an efficient mitigation option. Natural resources benefit when higher-quality, more sustainable wetlands replace degraded farmed wetlands.

The Ag Bank has seen strong demand since its inception. More than 800 Ag Bank credits have been sold in Minnesota to date.

How many credits a restoration generates is based upon its size and scope. Projects that restore more wetland functions earn more credits. For example, restoring a drained wetland that’s farmed every year would generate more credits than a partially drained site that’s occasionally too wet to farm.

In late 2021, BWSR staff was working to complete the last couple of projects tied to the first grant. BWSR staff conducts site assessments, provides technical assistance to landowners, and develops engineering designs and mitigation plans for restoration projects.

Ten new Ag Bank projects were established with about $500,000 from the first grant NRCS awarded to BWSR in 2016. Those projects are expected to produce 242 credits (the number is finalized after projects are fully restored), giving ag producers mitigation opportunities for several years to come.

Ortonville area farmer Paul Strong is working with BWSR to develop two of the 10 Ag Bank projects. “I had purchased wetland credits in the past and I was considering buying some more when the idea came to me that it might be better to do my own wetland restoration project to generate credits,” Strong said. “I contacted BWSR to learn more about the process, and it sounded like a good program for me. The assistance that BWSR staff has provided me through the grant has been very helpful, and I look forward to soon being able sell credits to other farmers and to using some these credits for my own projects," he said. Strong will use a few of the 28 credits expected from a Lac Qui Parle County project to offset his ag drainage projects; the rest will be available for sale, likely by this winter. The second restoration project, in the planning stages as of November, lies in Big Stone County. It’s expected to generate nearly 50 credits, available in fall 2022.

A second, $400,000, three-year grant NRCS awarded to BWSR in 2020 builds upon that earlier work. It will help meet the strong demand by establishing additional wetland banks in select areas of the state (see map). The match from BWSR and landowners brings the total project funding to $500,000.

BWSR is currently seeking landowners interested in restoring wetlands. The 2020 grant aims to establish at least six new Ag Bank projects resulting in more than 100 wetland credits available to agricultural producers.

Through a competitive evaluation process, BWSR will identify projects that will receive technical and administrative support — including engineering design, plan development, agency coordination, and post-construction technical and administrative support. Landowners will be responsible for construction (either hiring a contractor or completing the work themselves), monitoring, and post-construction site management. Landowners are required to make the credits available to USDA program participants in need of wetland mitigation credits for compliance purposes. Landowners establish the price of their credits, and receive all proceeds from the sale of those credits.

Find details and sign-up information on BWSR’s Agricultural Wetland Bank web page: https://bwsr.state.mn.us/agricultural-wetland-bank .

Applications will be accepted until funds

are exhausted or until six projects are

established.

Work was underway in November at the Lac Qui Parle County site where Paul Strong was developing an Agricultural Wetland Bank. Contributed photo.

2021

ECONOMICS OF SOIL HEALTH ON 100 FARMS December 2021

Morrisville, North Carolina — The Soil Health Institute (SHI), the non-profit charged with safeguarding and enhancing the vitality and productivity of soils, released its comprehensive report on the Economics of Soil Health on 100 Farms in September. Using data collected and analyzed across 100 farms in nine states, Dr. Wayne Honeycutt, SHI’s President & CEO, shared key findings that can only be gleaned at such a scale.

KEY FINDINGS:

A total of 100 farmers were interviewed representing 194,003 acres of cropland across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Tennessee.
These farmers were using no-till on 85% of their cropland and cover crops on 53% of their cropland, well above the national average of 37% for no-till and 5% for cover crops. Those farmers using no-till had been doing so for an average of 19 years, and those who grew cover crops had been doing so for an average of nine years.
Sixty-seven percent of the farmers interviewed reported increased yield from using a soil health management system. Two percent reported decreased corn yield.
It cost an average of $24.00/acre less to grow corn and $16.57/acre less to grow soybean using a soil health management system.
Soil health management systems increased net income for 85% of farmers growing corn and 88% growing soybean.
Based on standardized prices, the soil health management system increased net income for these 100 farmers by an average of $51.60/acre for corn and $44.89/acre for soybean.
Farmers also reported additional benefits of their soil health management system, such as increased resilience to extreme weather and increased access to their fields.

The most desirable and robust information on how soil health affects profitability comes from real-world, on-farm data. This study involved interviewing farmers who have successfully implemented a soil health management system to obtain information on their management practices, yield, and other production experiences. To evaluate their economics, SHI’s Agricultural Economist used partial budget analysis to compare expenses and returns in a soil health management system compared to a conventional management system.

“Several management practices that improve soil health also increase carbon storage in soils, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce nutrient runoff and leaching,” explained Dr. Honeycutt. “However, investing in new management practices is also a business decision for farmers. Until now, there hasn’t been such a comprehensive study that provides the economic information farmers need when deciding whether to adopt soil health practices. By closing this knowledge gap in the nine states where 71% of the corn and 67% of the soybean are grown in the U.S., we can scale up these benefits for farmers and the environment.”

Given the current adoption rates of no-till (37%) and cover crops (5%) in the U.S., the study indicates that many other farmers may improve their profitability by adopting soil health management systems.

Go to https://soilhealthinstitute.org/economics/ to find a link to September’s webinar, related fact sheet and other soil health information.

NOW TAKING ORDERS FOR THE 2022 TREE SEASON November 2021

Since 1961, the SWCD has planned, planted, sold and established trees for windbreak rows in fields to mitigate soil erosion from wind. Today, the SWCD still sells, plans, advises, and provides for the sale and installation of products to ensure a successful planting. Much like shingles on your roof or siding on your house, a farmstead shelter belt or grove is necessary to keep energy costs low and control snow in your yard when you live in a rural setting. While field windbreaks still have their place in high erosion settings, groves and the renovation of them are the bread and butter of our Tree Program. Now adays anyone can order trees from us whether you live in town, outside our county or you want to plant them yourself we would still love to work with you.

The Yellow Medicine Soil and Water Conservation District is currently taking orders for 2022 tree season. This is the perfect time to take a walk through your grove to see if there are any rows that need to be replaced, maybe preparation for replacing rows in the future or if you just want to add a new row of trees to have some new fall color. Call to talk with Brayden who can meet with you in the office or on the site to discuss your needs. Some species are already in a very limited quantity; by ordering early in the season you have more options available for your planting and allows ample time to complete a design for your project. We offer various bare root trees and shrubs, as well as potted evergreen trees. Along with supplying the trees, we offer installation services of planting, matting, and installing tree tubes.

Tree planting is done with a tree planter that is pulled behind a tractor (supplied by the landowner). The planter can plant bare root trees and shrubs. For all larger bareroot trees and potted evergreen trees we require the landowner get a post hole digger and auger the holes out before the planting can happen. Plastic mulch comes in both continuous fabric and individual fabric squares. Continuous 6-foot fabric is installed with a fabric machine that attaches to a Category 2 tractor three-point hitch, while 4-foot fabric can be installed behind our ATV. Plastic mulch around trees and shrubs can increase soil moisture near the roots and reduce competition of grasses and weeds. Tree tubes installed in conjunction with matting will give newly planted trees the best chance at getting rooted in the initial planting year and surviving through the winter. Tree tubes act like a greenhouse around each tree allowing the tree to gain additional height the first and second growing season. Tubes also protect the trees from depredation by deer and rabbits, reducing losses.

To find our updated tree order form follow our Facebook page or visit our website at www.yellowmedicineswcd.org. You’ll find tree information under the Programs and Services tab. All customers will be mailed out a copy of an invoice and a request for 25% down payment in January. Please reach out to us if you do not receive an invoice in the mail in January and think you should have a tree order in. With any other tree questions, contact Brayden Anderson at the Yellow Medicine SWCD today!

Remove Open Inlets and Install Structures Save Water for the “Not So Rainy” Days. October 2021

Tile drainage is nearly a universally applicable investment made into cropland in our area. While the benefits of tile drainage are improved traffic-ability and increased crop yields from the removal of excess water, open inlets or intakes can convey not only corn stalks, rodents and other obstructions into your drainage system, but also can deliver sediment and phosphorus to stream systems which have a detrimental impact on water quality. Some intakes are needed to act as somewhat of a relief valve for tile flow or to act as an outlet for a conservation practice. Intakes that are necessary for operation should be utilizing a “riser” type inlet to meter water flow and prevent debris from entering the system. While many landowners and producers have seen the benefit of removing the open inlets that are malfunctioning, accidentally buried or not needed, many folks who may be even have thought about it have not. The SWCD has funding available to you that can be made available within a month of a request to assist in the cost of removing these intakes. Many type of intakes exist; some utilize rock, geotextile, pipe or just perforated plastic tile. Not only does it block the path of sediment, debris and potential lost nutrients, but it slows the velocity of water making its way to ditches and streams which aids in the reduction of streambank erosion, a known source of sediment in the Minnesota River.

Tile systems are also known to deliver Nitrates into surface waters. One strategy that can be used to reduce nitrates in tile drainage water is drainage water management. With drainage water management, water level control structures are included as a part of the tile drainage system. These structures are used to manipulate water levels at different times during the year. The greatest nitrate removal benefits occur when water levels are maintained in the biologically active zone during the growing season where nitrates can be converted to nitrogen gas by denitrifying bacteria or taken up by a crop when most readily available. A properly managed system can also increase crop yields by conserving water in the soil profile for crops to utilize. Like the removal of open inlets, this practice retains water in the soil profile for a longer period of time.

When is drainage water management a good fit for a new or an existing tile drainage system? Generally, drainage water management is unfeasible on land slopes greater than about one percent. It may be possible to retrofit existing tile installations with water level control structures depending on how the tile layout fits with the field topography. Tile systems utilizing drainage water management do not require closer tile spacing, but tile layout should be aligned with the field’s contours as much as possible in order to provide the most complete coverage and consistent water levels across the field. State and Federal funds are available for assistance in planning and installing these type of systems. Retrofits can also be added in some situations to implement subsurface irrigation in feasible locations.

Partners Facilitate a Forum for Resource Minded Agriculture September 2021

“You gotta try some stuff!”, Yellow Medicine Soil and Water Conservation District Board Supervisor Delon Clarksean told a crowd of about forty farmers, landowners, as well as local, state, and federal conservation agencies in the Porter Community Hall on August 18. He was quoting the world record holder for highest per acre yield of Soybeans, Kip Cullers. Clarksean recalled Cullers visiting Canby, Minnesota once and sharing that advice with area farmers discussing how they manage their businesses. A five-member panel echoed the need for sustainability and adaptability, provided that we find a shared definition of both of those terms in our region. Kelly Heather, who leads a three county team for the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), prompted some questions. The majority of thoughts came from experts like Elsie Risacher, a St. Leo farmer whose family has dabbled in cover crops and reduced tillage for decades, Ben Dwire, an Arco family farmer who is a 100% user of no till, Kurt Dagel, an agronomy point person for Olsen Custom Farms of Hendricks leading the new addition of compost on a farm that still uses full tillage, and Chris Reagan, a beginning Canby farmer who works alongside his in-laws and envisions a future of less tillage being more beneficial. While the lunch-time panel wrapped up the day, attendees from as far away as Windom and St. Paul heard from agency staff about program opportunities, and took in a hands on experience in the field.

“You’ve got equipment out here, that gets peoples’ attention”, Dan Dybsetter a member of the family operation Dybsetter Farms of Porter, told SWCD staff standing on harvested wheat ground in Wergeland Township. Farmers and agency staff looked on as industry representatives explained how a Water and Sediment Control Basin is installed, and the benefits of challenges and doing no tillage, strip tillage, and an emerging practice of less invasive vertical tillage using heavy, high-speed equipment. Craig Kestleoot, owner of Sterling Equipment and Repair in Cottonwood, showed guests to the Dybsetter Farm how a little disturbance goes along way by only tilling up a few inches of the row where a crop will grow. Both Sterling Equipment and Schrunk Implement of Canby displayed the latest in tillage options.

Attendees also heard from Danielle Evers, a specialist out of Pipestone who covers the

southwest part of Minnesota by assisting folks water quality certifiying their farms

through the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program. This certification

and the process to attaining it can unlock guarantees of compliance with new regulations

that may come down the road, and even opens the door to funding for conservation

applications on the farm. Andy Mackrill, from Ecosystem Services Exchange, shared

the opportunity to receive high-speed funding of drainage water management plans

and assistance with installing structures that hold water in the field when it is desired

and let it drain when field conditions need to be ripe for work.

Partners of the agencies involved have one guiding principle in holding these events.

That focus is to provide a forum for those who actually implement these conservation

works to share their successes and challenges with those that have yet to give them

a shot. Staff bring together experienced and innovative farmers, curious landowners,

industry leaders, and themselves to let a free flow of ideas and concerns take off.

Keep an eye out for more conservation field days, crop walks, and opportunities

to share and gain perspective from experts in conservation all around Yellow Medicine County.

iCraig Kestleoot of Sterling Equipment & Repair explains the benefits and considerations of strip tillage.

A REVIEW OF LAST YEAR’S WEATHER August 2021

The weather. It always seems to give us something to talk about.

Dedicated volunteer observers state-wide not only talk about the weather. They monitor rainfall and weather observations and provide monthly summaries of their findings to the SWCDs, who in turn send them in to the State Climatology Office for recording and further study and comparisons. These observers use uniform, scientific equipment and methods to ensure accuracy in data collection.

Yellow Medicine County has a great group of volunteers monitoring and recording rainfalls for our area. They include: Wanda Luepke, Echo; Menno Fokken, Canby; Kevin Doom, Canby; Kris Brusven, Cottonwood; Dean Pearson, Canby; Jeff Remiger, Hanley Falls; Rodney Gaffney, Minneota; Ed Krosch, Wood Lake. And special thanks to Richard Rogers, Porter, who dedicated nearly 30 years of providing rainfall information. We are so grateful to these volunteers for contributing their time and effort to monitoring our climate.

2020 Annual Reports of Monthly Precipitation Totals, Yellow Medicine County:

The data presented are monthly totals in Yellow Medicine County. Observer locations are described using township, range, and section numbers.

All values are in inches.
'cc ttt rr ss' is county-township-range-section number, 'oooooooo' is community name (where applicable), 'nnnn' is network type.
'AGR', 'HYD', and 'ANN' are 12 month precipitation totals starting in Sep 2018, Oct 2018, and Jan 2019, respectively. 'GRO' is growing season (May 2019 thru Sep 2019) precipitation total.
'*' denotes a partial monthly record, 'e' denotes that value is wholly or partially estimated.
Prepared by: State Climatology Office - DNR Waters, phone: 651-296-4214, web: http://climate.umn.edu

2020 Weather Summary for State of Minnesota:

2020 was the 19th driest on record and the driest year since 2006 with a statewide average of 24.32 inches of precipitation. This was about eleven inches less than the record setting year of 2019. A few areas did have well-above precipitation totals for 2020, particularly in Sibley and Nicollet counties, where some locations finished nine inches above normal for the year.

Drought slowly crept into the state throughout the year and would have been much worse had it not been for the ample soil moisture “stored in the bank” from 2019. The US Drought Monitor

was free of any drought indicators though April 14. By early July, one quarter of the state was under moderate drought and by the end of the year moderate drought persisted, especially over the west and north.

Spring came early with mild temperatures and an early lake ice out. Statewide April and May precipitation fell short of normal by an inch for each month, June precipitation was near normal with July and August slightly above normal. Meteorological summer from June-August was quite warm overall. The warmest day of the summer came early with many readings in the mid to upper 90s in early June. Morris and Milan both hit 100 degrees.

As summer faded into autumn, hazy skies from western wildfires spread across the state. Harvest progressed at a much faster pace compared to 2019. September was the driest month of the year compared to the 1981-2010 normal. The statewide average September precipitation was only 1.45 inches or 1.73 inches short of normal.

October had surprises in the form of some early winter snows and cold temperatures. Early November was as warm as October was cold and there were even high temperatures in the upper 70s, shattering records across the state. The winter began balmy with statewide November and December combined average temperatures finishing 11th warmest on record.

These maps depict the precipitation and the departure from normal for 2020.

2020 was the driest year since 2006.

“Turn-Key” Assistance for Conservation Drainage Practices Offered for Eligible Farmers

in Select Minnesota Counties July 2021

Farmers in 41 southern Minnesota counties, who have well-functioning tile drainage systems on cropland, may be eligible for timely, “turn-key” assistance with the planning, design, and installation of conservation drainage practices. Conservation drainage practices include drainage water management, denitrifying bioreactors, and saturated buffers to manage tile water for increased crop yields, efficient use of nutrients, and improved water quality. The 41 select southern Minnesota counties are those south of the Mississippi River, west of the eastern Stearns County line to the South Dakota state line, but excluding the karst topography counties in southeastern Minnesota,

Under “Managed Tile Drainage Systems”, a cooperative project with funding and technical oversight from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ecosystem Services Exchange (ESE) is providing this “turn-key” assistance to eligible farmers during 2021 and 2022. To be eligible for consideration, a farmer must have tile-drained cropland that has suitable slope and soil characteristics, and be in compliance with USDA’s Highly Erodible Lands and Wetlands Conservation Compliance Provisions, plus other applicable environmental laws and regulations. Available project funding is sufficient to conduct 68 site assessments and feasibility studies on farms for these conservation practices, leading to plans, designs, and implementation for a significant number of feasible sites with full support from ESE and at minimal cost to farmers. Certain priority watersheds in Yellow Medicine County also provide up to 90% cost share for these and other projects.

A farmer who participates in this project will work directly with ESE’s conservation planners to arrange for a site assessment of field(s) for technical feasibility determinations and a full discussion of the options for participation (plan, design, and/or installation). Based on the farmer’s decisions, ESE will prepare a conservation plan and design to guide installation of selected eligible conservation practices. If practices are also chosen for implementation, the farmer will enter into an agreement with ESE for the selected installation work, including the timing of the installation consistent with the needs of the farmers and constraints of the project.

Interested farmers should contact Tyler Knutson at the Yellow Medicine SWCD office or one of the 41 designated Minnesota counties or Ecosystem Services Exchange (ESE) at (641)740-0890 or info@ecoexch.com. ESE is a certified technical service provider in operation since 2010 that works closely with farmers to help them plan, design, implement, and manage conservation drainage practices. ESE has a long collaborative history with USDA and many other public and private sector entities and has worked extensively with farmers on conservation drainage throughout the Midwest and Great Lakes states, including Minnesota.

Making Progress in the Yellow Medicine Watershed:

Progress shown, improvements expected for the Yellow Medicine River and tributaries

Tyler Knutson, Yellow Medicine SWCD June 2021

A permanent wetland restoration easement (bottom of photo) near Wood Lake, MN(top) purchased because of outreach efforts in

the Judicial Ditch 10 or Wood Lake Creek priority area.

For nearly a half-decade, a partnership of local government units and dozens of residents of the Yellow Medicine River Watershed has worked diligently to foster minimized flooding, decrease erosion and nutrient losses, and protect drinking water. The six hundred thousand-acre drainage area of the Yellow Medicine begins near Ivanhoe, MN at Lake Shaokatan and drops over one thousand feet vertically to an outlet adjacent to Upper Sioux Agency State Park, southeast of Granite Falls. Flooding across the watershed and various water quality impairments found in stretches of the river and streams nearby were identified as problems to be solved in a plan influenced by citizens with local and state government sign off.

Since late December 2016, the Yellow Medicine Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) has been charged with tasks in the implementation of action items across the watershed. As time has changed the makeup of staff and priorities in the office, the SWCD has taken a reinvigorated approach to achieving science based, locally led goals. Climate change, agricultural economics, and innovation steer conservation work and could cause a need to amend plan goals in the next couple of years.

While things are always changing, the SWCD has leveraged over two million dollars in Clean Water Funds and targeted federal funding with millions more in other program funding and efforts and the dedicated conservation work of individual residents, landowners, and farmers.

The plan and its coordination has allowed the partnership to achieve metrics at or above 100% of goals for public drainage projects, non-required buffers (209%), cropland to grassland conversion (245%), Best Management Practice loans funded, and Ag Water Quality Certification Applications. Affected owners of Minnesota’s Buffer Law have achieved 99.79% compliance across Yellow Medicine County. Only five outstanding non-compliant parcels remain toward the plan’s 100% compliance goal.

Partners have also met more regular planned achievements. These include all inspections completed annually, each county has begun the process to develop an atlas of groundwater resources based on well drilling records, and more than two thousand elementary students attend an environmental fair hosted in southwest Minnesota every fall. In one priority area known as Judicial Ditch 21 or Stony Run Creek, over 100% of the annual goal for cover crop usage and the practice of reduced tillage are achieved both through conservation programs and voluntary adoption by farmers. This area, already considered to have good water quality, is a priority for protection of this status and proves that minimal action can leverage strong results. New water quality data to show the impact in this area will be available in 2022.

Two of the most impactful metrics across all of the priority areas, generally evenly dispersed across the watershed, are that of wetland restoration and grassland restoration levels. Across these targeted-for-impact locations, four years of focus has brought the landscape to a 49% threshold of wetland restoration goals by acres and 55% of grassland goals. It is important to note that nearly all of the goals in the plan rely on voluntary adoption with occasional financial incentive, and that only activity through conservation programs is tracked well. Individuals are encouraged to report conservation innovation they do independently.

The most intense work in the watershed is done by partners in the form of Clean Water Funds and specialized federal conservation programs. More than three dozen erosion control practices have been completed or funded since 2018. Many more are in the engineering process or waiting for other unrelated actions. A contract was secured with a family farm operation near Cottonwood Lake to plant a cover crop on over seven hundred acres for three years. Open tile intake removal, drainage water management, nutrient management, and adding water storage in the most upstream parts of the watersheds are also priorities that will become major focuses in the coming years.

This work is all to the credit of voluntary adoption by people who see value in our resources. There is a large amount of work that happens outside of priority areas. Including the Lac qui Parle River Watershed which makes up the western third of Yellow Medicine County. Early work is being done for a similar plan to be implemented in this area starting in early 2023. Residents with interest in conservation projects or having a say in the planning process should reach out to the SWCD. The public’s voice and participation are the most critical components of a success like this.

SAVE THE DATE!

June 24, 2021: Locally Led Conservation Workgroup. Join us at the office in Clarkfield, MN for a meeting to set priorities for future years of federal conservation funding in Yellow Medicine County. Contact the office to complete a survey and get details on coming to the meeting.

August 2021: Join us for an outdoor conservation field day! Location, date, time to be decided. Keep an eye out for information on our first in a while event to learn from farmers and landowners doing conservation work on the land!

wetland restoration easement JUNE 21 new

Aquatic Invasive Species remain a threat to area waters: Don’t bring them home with you. May 2021

As you are preparing yourselves to head out to your favorite fishing spot, remember to take precautions to keep our waters free of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS). Lakes in Yellow Medicine County, and the rest of non-lakes country, are fortunate to have relatively low levels of traffic year round. Recently, the Yellow Medicine Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) found that the main boat ramps at Wood Lake near Timm County Park and at Del Clark Lake closest to the entrance averaged about 10 watercraft trailers entering and leaving the water daily. On holiday weekends, such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day, that number rockets to over one hundred per day for those two access points. All other public accesses in the county see about one trailer entering and leaving the water on any given day through the season. The SWCD’s central concern in our area is folks moving species from a lake in another county or state, and bringing them to local waters.

Two prominent species, Zebra Mussels and Spiny Waterflea can negatively affect walleye populations due to devastating impacts on the food chain. These species consume small aquatic plants that walleye fry feed on. This starves Minnesota’s favorite sport fish. Spiny Waterflea have also been found balled up in the stomachs of young perch. The young fish consume them and then are unable to digest the spiny barb. Multiple barbs in a fish stomach ball up and make little punctures in the stomach walls. Starry Stonewort, Eurasian Milfoil, and Curly Leaf Pondweed are other dangerous invaders.

For the best results to prevent an infestation, remove all aquatic plants from your boat and trailer, drain ALL of the water from your craft, allow a five-day dry time between lake visits, and avoid transporting lake water in your bait buckets. Just these few short minutes can make a huge difference in the preventing the spread of the invaders. As an alternative to a five-day dry out, wash your watercraft with hot water, and dry by hand completely. Docks, lifts, and watercraft that stay in water all season long should sit outside through the winter months to ensure species are eradicated.

By each of us doing our part, we can drastically reduce the chance that our lakes will become infested. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO HELP OUR COUNTY’S RESIDENTS IMPROVE WATER QUALITY

April 2021

The MN AG WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION PROGRAM and AGBMP LOAN PROGRAM are just a few examples of water quality improvement opportunities available to local residents.

THE MINNESOTA AGRICULTURAL WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION PROGRAM (MAWQCP) is a voluntary program opportunity recognizing farmers for managing their land in a way that protects water quality and mitigates risk.

Yellow Medicine County producer, Joel Timm, farms in the Wood Lake area. He became an Ag Water Quality Certified farmer in 2018 and has this to say about the program: “I became water quality certified because I was already practicing most of the requirements on my farm and I only had to modify a few items to become a water quality certified farm. Because my farm is certified I realize that I will notice things that happen on farmland that could compromise our water quality in our waterways, lakes and ground water. One example I notice more readily are wind and water erosion that move topsoil from our farmland. When I see this happening I also put more thought

into what I could do differently in my farming operation to help prevent this.

Maybe the program name should be changed to water quality awareness!”

Certification in the MAWQCP program provides:

Regulatory certainty: 10 years of compliance with new water quality laws and regulations
Stewardship recognition
Access to financial and technical assistance.