balmm currents
Basin
NEXT BALMM
MEETING: Wednesday, April 21,
BALMM AGENDA: Launching CREP
Now that all sides have reached agreement on the details of the Minnesota Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), it’s time for local units of government to get ready for implementation. Signup time may be just a couple of months ahead, if all goes as scheduled.
The next BALMM meeting will be devoted to getting organized for action – identifying areas for focused implementation of CREP, supported by marketing activities designed to spur interest among landowners in these areas, and monitoring and tracking to ensure that environmental impacts can be assessed within these areas, and eventually across the basin.
CREP
Timeline:
CREP is available until the end of the farm program which is 2007.
Because of the incentives of the program timing is very important when
enrolling landowners. Therefore we have 3 years to get this out. In
some areas where mapping is limited, we need to put our thinking caps on how we
can best assist the locals.
Adjusted
Acreage,
o Highly Erodible Land: 18,058
o Contour Strips: 2,850
o Groundwater Protection: 6,179
o Riparian Buffers: 14,828
o Wetland Restoration: 6,960
o Flood-Damage Reduction: 2,125
o Total ACRES: 51,000
BALMM Agenda
Coord.
Importance of
Prioritizing Marketing Areas
Timeframes
CREP Agreement Protocol
Purpose of Discussion: What can BALMM do to assist locals, (SWCD,
Counties etc.) with prioritizing areas to market the CREP program in the
Local Question: What is our water of concern? Surface or Groundwater?
Surface
Waters -
Impaired
Waters Discussion – How
can MPCA assist locals with prioritizing impaired waters areas? Norman
Senjem, MPCA
HEL – What information is available and what needs to be
done to identify areas within the local priority area? Norman and NRCS
Buffering
Riparian Areas – What information is
available and what needs to be done to identify areas within the local priority
area?
Flood
Reduction and Wetland Restoration What information is available and what needs to be done to identify areas
within the local priority area? Norman Senjem, DNR & NRCS
10:15 – 10:30
BREAK
Bea Hoffmann,
Groundwater -
Decorah
Shale - What mapping is complete and what needs to be
done?
Terry
Lee, Olmsted Water Planner, Jeremy Maul, Fillmore SWCD & Jeff Green, DNR
Wellhead
Protection – What mapping is
complete and what needs to be done? Art Persons,
Department of Health
Sinkholes - What mapping is complete and what needs to be
done? Jeff Green, DNR
What kind of materials could be used basin wide?
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Grant - Selecting priority
aquatic,
riparian, and upland habitat improvements for both the
region
and local areas – Mike McGrath, MN Project
CREP APPLICATION REVISED:
“Reducing
runoff into our streams and rivers is an important step in preserving the
quality of
The
State’s revised plan includes the following:
An increase in the number of acres set aside
from 100,000 to 120,000;
“We
want to thank the Governor for working with all stakeholders to reach this
final agreement,” said Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation President Al Christopherson. “This CREP application will provide new and
beneficial opportunities for landowners to retire environmentally sensitive
land which will ultimately improve, enhance, and protect water quality
throughout
CREP
APPLICATION PROTOCOL:
The Farm Service Agency of USDA and Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources
have agreed on a list of issues to address in the final formal agreement that
will be signed by the Governor of Minnesota and Secretary of USDA. Here’s
a summary of some of them, as listed in the BWSR web site:
o A provision for modification or
revocation of easements.
o Size of parcel. To address concerns
that whole farms might be taken out of production, require SWCD/FSA review and
approval of contracts beyond an 80-acre size.
o Highly erodible
land. To ensure that only the most erodible land is
enrolled, use criteria such as an erodibility index
of 15 or greater, or an erosion rate that exceeds 4 times the tolerable soil
loss limit (T).
o Tax forfeiture. Highlight in the
CREP Agreement the intent to keep all lands on county tax roles.
o Landowner bill of rights. This will spell
out what property rights are maintained, and which are forfeited, through CREP
easements.
o Public and private drainage rights on
adjoining land should not be impacted by a CREP easement.
o Haying and Grazing. Find common-sense
solutions that would allow and create incentives for beneficial haying and
grazing on CREP lands.
o Wetland buffers. Wetland restorations
should comprise 2 acres of upland buffer for each acre of wetland restored.
o Contour strips. Allow
o Buffer Strips should be allowed to be
wider than under current CRP guidelines in floodplains.
o Turn rows. Allow farmers to turn around
farm implements on CREP land, consistent with maintaining vegetation to achieve
intended public values.
o Oversight and Collaboration. BWSR, FSA,
and local SWCDs, WD’s, and local FSA offices will
coordinate and partner in development and implementation of a marketing plan
for CREP.
BEARS REPEATING: "We shall never achieve harmony with land, any more than we shall achieve absolute justice or liberty for people. In these higher aspirations the important thing is not to achieve, but to strive." -Aldo Leopold
Send comments and items
for future editions to:
balmm currents editor: Norman Senjem, MPCA
Phone: 507/280-3592
Fax: 507/280-5513