STATE OF MINNESOTA

COUNTY OF LAKE

SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

ANNUAL PLAN OF WORK

2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Purpose of Plan 2

2. Agency Partnerships 2

3. General Fixed Assets 3

4. Action Plans for Specific Program Areas

a. Education and Information 4 b. Agriculture 5 c. Forestry 6 d. Natural Resources Planning 7 e. Water Quality 8 f. District Operations 9 g. NRCS Civil Rights and Equal Employment Opportunity 10

5. High Priority Erosion and Sedimentation 11

a. Definitions b. Types c. Specific Areas d. Methods e. Cost

6. Projected Budget Information 14

1 PURPOSE OF PLAN

The primary purpose of this plan is to develop a plan of action to help land occupiers and units of government implement sound land management planning to protect the natural resources of Lake County. To accomplish this goal, two objectives will need to be met:

1. EDUCATION AND INFORMATION

An organized and constructive education and information program is planned by the District to inform the public of the existence, purpose and organization of the District; programs and assistance provided by the District; problems and needs related to soil, water and related resources; and the public's opportunities, responsibilities, and obligations as stewards of these natural resources.

2. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Provide help to land occupiers with existing problems through the State Cost-Share program and other technical services.

AGENCY PARTNERSHIPS:

A. Natural Resources Conservation Service 1. District Conservationist

B. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources 1. Division of Forestry - Forester 2. Division of Waters – Hydrologist 3. Coastal Program - Coordinator

C. Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources 1. Board Conservationist 2. Wetland Specialist

D. Area III SWCD Technical Service Area 1. Engineer 2. Forester/Technician

E. Farm Services Agency

2 LAKE COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

ANNUAL PLAN OF WORK, FISCAL YEAR JANUARY 2012 to DECEMBER 2012

I. Resources available for accomplishing the necessary conservation measures within the District.

A. District Resources

1. Personnel (available on a part-time basis)

a. District Clerk - (0.6 – 0.8 FTE) b. Conservation Specialist - Wayne Seidel (0.2 FTE) c. District Manager – ( 0.7 FTE )

2. Equipment owned by the District

a. 1 Fender Microphone aa. HP 4700n Color Printer b. 1 Sharp Calculator bb. 1 Easel c. 1 Personal Computer cc. Kodak projector d. 2 Office Desks and 2 Chairs dd. 1 Office fan e. HP Fax Machine ee. 6 Folding chairs f. 2 SWCD Highway Signs ff. Garmin GPS Map 76s g. 1 Range Compass gg. Miscellaneous office supplies h. 2 Machetes hh. 4 Briefcases i. 1 Shovel ii. 1 HB Coffee Maker j. 1 Display Panel jj. 1 Haider Refrigerator k. 1 Mastertype Typewriter kk. 6 Chairs l. 1 locking file cabinet ll. 1 Soil Auger m. 1 Dumpy Level w/Rod mm. 1 Panasonic cassette recorder n. 1 T square nn. 1 Answering Machine o. 2 Triangles (8" and 10") oo. 1 Small 2-Drawer Cabinet p. 1 Protractor pp. 1 Card table q. 1 Pocket Stereoscope qq. 1 map cabinet r. 7 Project Photo Collages rr. Hewlett Packard 4150 iPAQ s. 1 Abney Level ss. t. 1 Set Lake County USGS Maps tt. u. 3 Bookshelves uu. v. 1 Storage Cabinet w. 6 File Cabinets x. 1 Office Sign w/Nameplates y. 1 Set Snowshoes w/Bindings 3 PROGRAM AREA: EDUCATION AND INFORMATION

OBJECTIVE: To educate and inform County Residents ______Staff Completed Time Goals and Actions Responsible By (days) ______

Education Programs a. Lake County Fair Clerk/DM August 2/2 b. Natural Resources Field Days District Manager May 2*

Classroom Presentations a. Forestry: Making Paper (6th) District Manager March 2*

Regional Events a. 2012 Area III ENVIROTHON District Manager May 4* b. 2012 State ENVIROTHON Seidel May 1*

Feature Articles and News Releases a. Cost-Share Projects District Manager Jan/Dec 1 b. Federal Cost-Share Programs NRCS Sept. 2

Miscellaneous Programs a. Snow Rules Program Clerk Jan/Dec 1 b. Rain Gauge Program Clerk Jan/Dec 3

* Included in Water Plan Schedule of Activities 4 PROGRAM AREA: AGRICULTURE

OBJECTIVE: To assist livestock producers in maximizing pasture and forage production (quality and quantity) while preventing resource degradation. ______Staff Completed Time Goals and Actions Responsible By (days) ______

Promote Knowledge and Use of Grazing Technology

a. Work with landowners that Request technical assistance With grazing / forage Production. NRCS September 3 5 PROGRAM AREA: FORESTRY

OBJECTIVE: To increase the amount of forestry practices and application of Best Management Practices (tree planting, timber stand improvement and windbreaks). ______Staff Completed Time Goals and Actions Responsible By (days) ______

Forest Management a. Cooperate with South St. Louis SWCD on tree sales 1. News articles 2. Tree pick-up and distribution Clerk May 4 b. Knife River Watershed Stewardship Committee District Manager 3 c. Provide landowner contacts for TSA Forester District Manager/NRCS Jan/June 1 6 PROGRAM AREA: NATURAL RESOURCES PLANNING

OBJECTIVE: To assist in the development and implementation of Natural Resources Management Plans ______Staff Completed Time Goals and Actions Responsible By (days) ______

Lake County Planning Commission/Local Units of Government a. Site Reviews & Field Reports / NRCS Jan/Dec 2 Planning Commission Meetings District Manager 6

Wetland Conservation Act a. Hydrology Committee b. Clearinghouse for Information c. Prepare Restoration / Replacement Plans on Enforcement Activities d. Field Inspections District Manager Jan/Dec 18

Area III Technical Service Area Board / Staff Assistance Falk Jan/Dec 3 District Manager Jan/Dec 6

MN SWCD Forestry Association Falk Jan/Dec 3

Resource Conservation & Development Council (RC&D) Goutermont Jan/Dec

7 PROGRAM AREA: WATER QUALITY

OBJECTIVE: To improve and maintain the water quality of surface and groundwater. ______Staff Completed Time Goals and Actions Responsible By (days ______

Comprehensive Water Management Plan a. Water Plan Administrator/ Conservation Specialist District Manager Jan/Dec 43

1. Develop and Staff County Fair Booth Display 2. Assist with Implementation of the Two Harbors Storm Water Management Plan and Two Harbors Urban Forest Management Plan 3. Work with Cities, Townships, and County on Erosion & Sediment Control Measures 4. Field Inspect Construction Sites for Erosion & Sediment Control Measures 5. Conduct School Programs (Natural Resource Field Days, Paper-Making) 6. Assist in Conducting the 2011 Area III ENVIROTHON / State ENVIROTHON 7. Promote the Knife River Watershed Stewardship Project 8. Assist Planning & Zoning Department and Planning Commission on Land Use Issues 9. Promote the Recycling and Household Hazardous Waste Programs 10. Distribute “Lake County Property Owner’s Resource Guide” 11. Provide Leadership to the Lake County Demonstration Forest Project Committee 12. Provide Septic System Maintenance Guides to Lake County Planning & Zoning 13. Meet with Townships to Review Water Quality Issues & Promote Funding Projects 14. Promote and Conduct Water Quality Monitoring Projects (Hare Lake, WICOLA) 15. Administer and assist WICOLA with the Kawishiwi Watershed Protection Project. 16. Administer the Lake County Water Plan (Natural Resources Block Grant Application, Update County Board/SWCD Board, Annual Work Plan, E-Link Reporting, Financial) b. SWCD Board Warner/Gelineau 2 c. Administrative Assistance Clerk Jan/Dec 8

Federal Cost Share Requests NRCS 5

DNR Water Permit Program District Manager Jan/Dec 1

EQIP and WHIP Programs NRCS 25/4

8 DISTRICT OPERATIONS

Administration of Programs / Reports a. Gain Gauge / Snow Rules / Cost-Share Program / Annual Report / Annual Plan of Work / Comprehensive Plan District Manager Jan/Dec 2 Clerk Jan/Dec 8 b. Clerical Clerk Jan/Dec 149

Staff Training/Workshops District Manager Jan/Dec 2 Clerk Jan/Dec 2

Area III Meetings/State Convention District Manager Jan/Dec 2 Clerk Jan/Dec 3

Budget Preparation Board August District Manager August 1 Clerk August 2 9 PROGRAM AREA: CIVIL RIGHTS AND EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY OBJECTIVE: Ensure that all State, Federal, and Local Programs and Employment are offered on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, or disability.

GOALS AND ACTIONS STAFF COMPLETED TIME RESPONSIBLE BY DAYS

Address Civil Rights

a. Monitor progress quarterly NRCS 09/30 0.25 using PRS to ensure that 12/31 0.25 female and minority land- 03/31 0.25 owners are assisted at a 06/31 0.25 rate equal to or greater than non-minority land users.

b. Disseminate Conservation NRCS 9/30 1 Program Information to potential beneficiaries; particularly to minorities and women, i.e. newsletters and articles.

c. Maintain Civil Rights File NRCS 9/30 1 with all pertinent information.

d. Review Civil Rights policies NRCS 9/30 1 and responsibilities annually with SWCD Board and Staff.

Address Equal Employment Opportunity

a. Actively recruit members of NRCS 9/30 1 under- represented groups for careers in conservation with State, Federal, or Local agencies by contacting individuals at K-12, Technical or College level institutions. 10 HIGH PRIORITY EROSION

High Priority erosion problems have been defined as:

"Erosion from wind and/or water occurring on class I-IV soils in excess of 2T tons per acre per year or any soil within 300 feet of a stream or l000 feet of water basin designated as a pro- tected water or wetland by the DNR eroding in excess of T tons per acre per year."

A descriptive map prepared by the Land Management Informative Center (LMIC) is included which references High Priority Erosion areas. These maps, prepared on 40 acre cells, geographically describe the location and extent of high priority erosion problems in the district. The maps were prepared by applying the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) and Wind Erosion Equation (WEE) to data in the LMIC computers.

HIGH PRIORITY SEDIMENTATION

High Priority sedimentation problems have been defined as:

"All areas within 300 feet of a stream or l000 feet of a lake where the erosion rate exceeds 3 tons per acre per year and areas where the SWCD can show that sediment delivery for a watershed outletting to these waters exceeds 2 tons per acre per year. The lake or stream must be classified by the DNR as a protected water."

A descriptive map prepared by LMIC is included which references High Priority sedimentation problems. These maps indicate shore land areas where erosion rates exceed three tons per acre per year.

HIGH PRIORITY AREAS (Erosion and Sedimentation)

Lakeshore Erosion

A. Castle Danger - 3000 feet B. Larsmont - 1500 feet C. Burlington Bay - 1400 feet D. Split Rock River Estuary - 1500 feet E. Encampment Forest Area - 4500 feet F. Additional Erosion Hazard Areas 11 Methods: 1. Rock Rip-Rap 2. Gabion Baskets 3. Internal Drains 4. Reshape Slopes 5. Revegetation / Bioengineering 6. Retaining Walls

Cost: $ 100 - 400 per lineal foot depending on site conditions and rock availability

Streambank Erosion

A. Knife River Watershed - 10,000 feet B. Stewart River Watershed C. East Branch of Beaver River - 300 feet D. Skunk Creek – 4,500 feet E. Crow Creek – 500 feet

Methods: 1. Rock Rip-Rap 2. Gabion Baskets 3. Reshape Slopes 4. Flow Diverters 5. Treated timber stairways, gravel (trails) 6. Bio-engineering 7. Watershed Management Practices

Cost: $ 100 - 300 per lineal foot depending on site conditions and rock availability

Roadside Erosion

A. T 56 N, R 11 W B. T 57 N, R 5 W (Manitou) C. T 56 N, R 10 W

Methods: 1. Revegetation 2. Reshape slopes 3. Tile Drainage 4. Diversions

Cost: $300 - 500 per acre depending on site conditions 12 Construction Areas

A. Gravel Pits - 140 acres B. Highway 61 Road Improvement Projects - 4 miles

Methods: 1. Revegetation 2. Reshape slopes 3. Potential use of wood chips and ash/sludge as a mulch and soil amendment

Cost: $ 500 - 2000 per acre depending on site conditions

USE OF FUNDS

Funds received will be used to control the above high priority problems and/or additional high priority problems that arise in Fiscal Year 2012. The District Board will prioritize the projects and allocate funds as necessary.

13 2012 PROJECTED BUDGET INFORMATION

REVENUES

Intergovernmental Revenue: Local 0 County $ 40,031.00 State - General Services $ 15,242.00 Cost Share $ 10,547.20 T/A – Cost Share $ 2,636.80 Wetland Conservation Act $ 5,000.00 Federal 0

Total Intergovernmental $ 73,457.00

Miscellaneous Revenue: Interest $ 100.00 Other/Water Plan $ 16,000.00 Tree Program $ 500.00 PERA $ 196.00 Other ( CWL/Admin) $ 10,000.00

Total Revenues $100,253.00

EXPENDITURES

District Operations: Personal Services $ 82,700.00 Other Services and Charges $ 1,000.00 Postage $ 500.00 Supplies $ 1,000.00 Capital Outlay $ 500.00 Dues $ 2,215.00

Total District Operations $ 88,915.00

Project Expenditures: District 0 State $ 10,547.20

Total Project Expenditures $ 10,547.20

Total Expenditures $ 99,462.20

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