balmm currents
Basin
August 5, 2004
NEXT BALMM MEETING: Wednesday,
August 18, 9-12 am at the
BALMM AGENDA FOCUSES
ON PERENNIALS: The number one BALMM Strategy, as outlined in the 2001
Scoping Document, is to increase – or, at a minimum, maintain – acreage of land
in hay and pasture, woods and meadow, in southeast
To help us explore the possibility of non-traditional
perennial crops we have lined up several speakers for the August 18 BALMM
meeting.
Steve Morse, former senator
from southeast Minnesota, now a senior fellow at the University of Minnesota,
will inform us about an initiative for the Upper Mississippi River Basin called
“Green Lands, Blue Waters: A Vision and
Roadmap for the Next Generation of Agricultural Systems.” This initiative
explicitly addresses the problem that increased row-cropping and less perennial
ground cover poses to water quality and wildlife habitat.
Don Wyse, professor of
Agronomy and Plant Genetics,
Gordon Cumming, executive
director of the Cannon River Watershed Partnership, will describe his organization’s
participation in a LCMR project advancing “third crop”
opportunities in southern
Mike McGrath, The Minnesota
Project, will provide an update on a marketing package being developed to
assist local units of government in targeting and promoting Continuous CRP and
(if funded) CREP. The project is nearing completion, with detailed GIS maps
showing priority areas county by county a centerpiece, and lots of extras to
help get practices on the ground.
The primary objective is to develop and promote profitable
enterprises based on the products of perennial agricultural systems. To achieve
this objective, Green Lands, Blue Waters will build the capacity of
stakeholders, expand the knowledge base regarding perennial agricultural
systems; coordinate and build on new and existing research, education and
implementation activities, identify and promote policy changes needed to
support adoption of perennial agricultural systems.
Activities will include enterprise research; market
development; development of “learning groups” in key watersheds in
participating
The project is being organized as a multi-state consortium
of land-grant institutions, agricultural and nonprofit organizations, and
government agencies. Each participating state will have a state coordinating
committee. Funding for the project will be secured from a variety of public and
private sources, with a significant portion of total dollars coming from
private foundations.
SMALL FARMS, BIG
DREAMS: It’s not exactly a new development, but one gets the feeling it’s
becoming “significant.” That is, residents of farmsteads with a small acreage
attached who are accumulating used farm equipment of 60s and 70s vintage – from
tractors, mowers and balers to corn planters and combines. The equipment lineups seem to mirror typical
setups of the past, enough to farm a quarter section,
maybe a half. Thing is, they’re only sitting on 10 or 20 acres. What gives?
Anybody else notice this? Small farms with big dreams – dreams of some degree of
independence, living on the land under the open sky. Something for
‘beamers, government staff and clinic employees to dream about – a niche
market, growing something special, being your own boss, free at last -- while
the computer monitor hums on……
MOWER COUNTY PASSES
NEW ISTS ORDINANCE: A new Mower county Individual Sewage Treatment System
(ISTS) Ordinance took effect August 1, 2004. Along with measures designed to
meet state requirements are changes which will help to ensure longer system
life and eliminate failing (noncompliant) systems.
In order to correct failing systems that are contributing to
ground or surface water contamination or creating an imminent public health
threat, the following have been added to the ordinance:
To prevent nuisance conditions and water contamination from
land spreading of septage, a new ordinance for septage treatment and disposal developed by the MPCA has
been included, replacing the original septage
ordinance.
To assist in
enforcement, a provision was included requiring that in the event of a
failing system and upon receiving notice of violation or a notice of
non-compliance from the county, a property owner shall submit a replacement
plan within 30 days or be in violation of the ordinance.
For more information, contact Bill Buckley at 507-437-9564.
MARKETING
THE CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM: Mike McGrath of the Minnesota Project
will provide an update on a marketing campaign to support signup for the
federal Conservation Reserve Program.
Progress is moving forward in creating a marketing package that can be
used by SWCDs to market either Continuous CRP or
CREP. The Minnesota Project has
contracted with the Fillmore SWCD to complete an electronic data set for each
county that identifies the targeted areas for CCRP and CREP. The CD that each county receives will contain
maps for each tract in the county with the targeted areas highlighted. These maps can be sent to the landowners so
they know exactly which areas appear to be eligible. The marketing package will also include a
brochure and fact sheet about the programs as well as sample letters to
landowners, sample resolutions for county board support, and an outline
marketing plan that each SWCD can follow.
These materials will be reviewed by representatives from FSA, NRCS, and
BWSR on August 12th. A
meeting is planned in September for SWCD staff to discuss ways to individualize
their marketing plans to help them target the programs in their own
counties. For more information, contact
Mike McGrath at 507-467-3576.
CANNON RIVER FESTIVAL August 7:
Cannon River Festival 2004
Celebrate our valuable natural resources at
the Cannon River Festival! Free on August 7 from 9:30 am -2 pm at
ON STAGE:
9:30-10:30
Candidates Forum: Ray Cox and David Bly, candidates
for District 25B MN House of Representatives, will discuss their views on
natural resources, water quality, agriculture and urban development. Moderated by the
10:30-11:00 State of the Watershed Address: CRWP's executive director Gordon Cumming will give an
introduction to current watershed issues and CRWP.
11:00- 11:30 Writing
Contest Winners: Hear the winners of the Cannon River Writing Contest read
their work.
11:30-12:30 Musical Guest Charlie Parr: Parr
plays original and traditional folk and Piedmont-style blues, accompanying
himself on National resonator guitars, 12-string guitar and banjo.
12:30-2:00 Ozark & Asher: This
FREE WORKSHOPS:
10:30
Native Plantings (held in the Northfield Historical Society): Low areas in your
lawn, a weedy streambank, or an eroding lakeshore can
be transformed using an attractive array of native grasses and flowers. Find
out how to get going and what to expect at this workshop led by the DNR's
12:30 Renewable Energy (held in the
Northfield Historical Society): Want to learn more about this hot topic? Join RENew
7:00 pm SPECIAL
PRESENTATION (held in the Northfield Historical Society): "It's Time to
Face the Cannon - Environmental Concern on the
PLUS:
GUIDE TO USING
NATURAL RESOURCE INFORMATION IN LOCAL DECISION MAKING: Environmental Education Capacity Building Workshop
Wednesday, August 25 from 9:30 a.m - 12:00 p.m. in
Workshop Presenters: Julie Westerlund and Michele
Hanson, Community Assistance Coordinators for the MnDNR
Here’s your chance to get your minds and fingers around a different way of
land-use planning. Whether you’re the one educating others to understand the
planning process, or the one doing the planning, this workshop is for you. Take
a look at local decision-making from the natural resource perspective first, by
using the Natural Resource-based Planning Process.
The Guide illustrates how using natural resource information at the beginning
of the local land use planning process can ensure that environmentally
sensitive and fiscally responsible land use decisions are made. It outlines a
step–by-step Natural Resource-based Planning Process designed to provide
planning guidance for people with a wide range of backgrounds and interests,
including: local officials, local staff, concerned citizens, developers and
other land use professionals.
The Guide presents a different approach to land use planning. Traditional, *development-oriented planning* starts with areas
'suitable for development' based on logistics like proximity to roads,
utilities, and other infrastructure. *Natural Resource-based
planning* starts with a natural resources inventory, which identifies what the
natural resources are within the community and then works 'backward' to finally
determine where development is suitable. The inventory is used to clarify
the values and goals the community has for protecting their natural resources.
Communities are able to avoid the unintended consequences of the typical
planning process, where open space becomes the 'leftover' pieces, water resources
become degraded, and community character is often lost. Take some time to
educate yourself on this tool in land-use planning.
There is no cost for this workshop but RSVP is required. There are limited
spaces available. To register, please send an e-mail to ee-events@moea.state.mn.us
(preferred) or call 651-215-0266 and specify the workshop you would like to
attend. (If you do not receive a confirmation notice, please notify us.) The
workshop location is at the MN Pollution Control Agency 18 Wood Lake Dr. S.E.
Rochester MN. This workshop is open to all working in the environmental and/or
education field.
This workshop is one of the Environmental Education (EE) Capacity Building
Workshops sponsored by the Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance (OEA).
UNIVERSITY POSITION OPENING:
Water Resources Position Announcement
The
The position will require a
completed Masters Degree at the time of appointment or a Bachelors Degree with
a minimum of three years professional post-degree experience. At least one
degree must be in limnology, river ecology, aquatic chemistry, watershed
management, or a closely related field. We’re looking for someone with
experience in water resource management, land use planning, community
development, or adult education, as well as experience in applied research and
working with local units of government, non-governmental organizations, and
citizen groups. Familiarity with
Primary responsibilities will
include designing, implementing, and evaluating research-based educational
programs for communities and shoreland owners. The
position will also involve developing and maintaining collaborations with
agencies, local partners, and organizations; integrating applied research and
educational outreach programs; and managing resources such as grants or fees
that support educational programs.
Applications will be accepted
until the position is filled;
initial review of applications will begin August 30, 2004. Two day interviews will be held between September 28-October 1, 2004
BEARS
REPEATING:
"Relegating conservation to government is like relegating virtue to the
Sabbath. Turns over to professionals what should be daily work of
amateurs." -- Aldo Leopold
Send comments and
items for future editions to:
balmm
currents editor:
Phone: 507/280-3592
Fax: 507/280-5513