Mower SWCD annual report 2023

2023 Annual Report

In 2023, Mower SWCD’s Board of Supervisors saw a change in the seat representing northeast Mower County.

Board member Micah Peterson, of rural Grand Meadow, resigned in August 2023 to start a part-time position on the Mower SWCD staff as a district technician, with the retirement of Larry Callahan.

In fall 2023, Jay Soltau, a farmer from Grand Meadow, then was appointed to serve out the remainder of Peterson’s term as a Mower SWCD supervisor.

Soltau’s area includes the townships of Pleasant Valley, Racine, Grand Meadow and Frankford.

SWCD gives cost-share to seal private wells Mower County residents continued in 2023 to properly seal unused or old wells in cooperation with Mower SWCD. During 2023, eight landowners worked with Mower SWCD to seal an old well on their property. This involved Mower SWCD contributing a 50 percent cost-share payment capped at $1,000 for each well sealing.

Groundwater is the source of drinking water for most people in Mower County.

Sealing old wells helps protect groundwater resources. Old wells should be sealed for physical safety; health and environment; and legal responsibilities.

Cover crops 2,095 acres

Mower SWCD will continue -share assistance for sealing to offer cost-share assistance for wells around the county. well sealings in 2024 but the Anyone in Mower County amount of funds dedicated to the interested in well sealing costpractice might decrease in future share should contact Mower years if the demand for wellSWCD’s Tim Ruzek, water sealing assistance diminishes. plan coordinator, to learn In 2022, Mower SWCD gave about the application process. cost-share for sealing 19 wells in An unused well can act like Mower County; Austin Utilities a drain that allows surface An old well before sealing sealed four wells. water runoff, contaminated Since 2019, Mower SWCD and Austin water or improperly disposed waste a direct Utilities – the city of Austin’s municipal water path into underground sources used for provider – have worked together to offer cost drinking water.

Grassed waterways 7 miles (39,975 ft.)

CRP enrollments 607 acres

Field structures 32 projects

Well sealings 8 wells

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Earth Angells Angells strong example of conservation farmers

The Angells use variable-rate fertilizer and split application for their nutrient program to minimize nutrient loss and increase productivity.

Ag Appreciation

Conservation projects increase across

of those including a grassed waterway. Most nearly 7 miles of grassed waterways (36,975 projects were in central and north-central feet). Grassed waterways are graded channels Mower County, which are upland areas of the built where a field is experiencing gully Cedar and Root rivers. erosion from stormwater runoff. They are About one-third of the 2023 projects were seeded to grass or other vegetation to slow In 2023, Mower SWCD had its busiest done in Sargeant Township in the headwaters runoff water, and they convey water to a construction year in a long time, completing of the Root River’s north branch. stable outlet at a non-erosive flow.

32 field projects throughout Mower County.

Construction started in late May 2023 and In 2023, Mower SWCD oversaw the All but one of those projects involved a finished in November 2023 after almost ideal construction of nearly a half-mile (2,450 feet) grassed waterway. Three projects constructed conditions due to the county’s drought. of water-and-sediment control basins that a water-and-sediment control basin, with one Overall, Mower SWCD led construction of treat runoff from 103 acres.

field should reach out to Hunter to discuss the resource concerns and options for addressing them.

Conventional

Searching for soil solutions

A crew works in September 2023 to restore wetlands for a MN CREP project by the Cedar River in Lansing Township.

Cover Crops

Partners with the Sustainable Answer Acre work on planting into cover crops in May 2022.

Upland storage gets boost in ’23 Snowmelt runoff is captured in late February 2023 in Dexter Township behind the largest upland-storage berm in Mower County.

Mower SWCD 2023 outreach

Canoemobile at Ramsey Mill Pond

Part of Mower high priority for pocket prairies

Mower Soil & Water Conservation District 1408 21st Ave. N.W. Austin, MN 55912 507-434-2603, ext. 5 www.mowerswcd.org