Steele County Soil and Water Conservation District
Phone (507) 451-6730 Ext.3
Fax (507) 444-2421

Steele SWCD 235 Cedardale Dr. Owatonna, MN 55060

Education

RIM 25TH ANNIVERSARY


St. Paul, MN,
September 21, 2011The Board of Soil and Water Resources (BWSR) and the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (MASWCD), in cooperation with numerous other conservation organizations and agencies, are holding a Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) Reserve 25th Anniversary event at the Straight River Marsh-East Wetland Restoration Project.
  

This year marks the 25th Anniversary of RIM Reserve. This event will provide an opportunity for BWSR, MASWCD, and partner organizations to celebrate the accomplishments of the RIM Reserve program and to announce future goals. RIM has been a critical component of the state’s effort to protect and restore wildlife habitat on private lands and protect and improve our state’s water quality. Since 1996, the state of Minnesota has appropriated nearly $170 million for conservation easements and BWSR, along with local Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs), has acquired over 6,400 easements totaling more than 230,000 acres of wetlands and grasslands. These acres provide multiple benefits for water quality, wildlife habitat, and flood damage reduction. Since 1998, RIM Reserve has leveraged an additional $260 million from the USDA through the Natural Resources Conservation Service Wetlands Reserve Program and the Farm Service Agency Conservation Reserve Program.

 

  

 

Please note, if you have further questions about this event, contact LeAnn Buck, MASWCD Executive Director, (651) 690-9028.

 

*Report Card - Coming on the Health of Lakes and Streams in Cannon River Watershed.

 

STEELE COUNTY LAND-USE MODEL



Above: The Steele County Land Use Model


Steele County Land Use Model
The Steele County Land Use Model shows a wide variety of conservation practices that take place here in Steele County. The model is based on Steele County townships and the terrain in the area. The model is available for educational purposes to any group wishing to use it. To request the model please contact the SWCD office at 1-507-451-6730 Ext. 3.


Planting Trees at Lincoln School in Owatonna



Left:
Dan Arndt, District Manager, shows how to properly plant trees with the 5th grade students at Lincoln Elementary in Owatonna MN.
Right: Eric Gulbransen, District Resource Conservationist, showing the method of planting trees with plastic tubes to help protect new seedlings.

Envirothon
An Envirothon is an outdoor, Hands-on Learning Experience for high school students. It centers around five different learning stations (soils, wildlife, water resources, forestry and current environmental issues) each of which are staffed by professionals on that subject. The students also have to make a ten minute oral presentation.

The Area 7 Envirothon is sponsored by the 11 county SE Minnesota Soil and Water Conservation Districts (Freeborn, Mower, Fillmore, Houston, Winona, Olmsted, Dodge, Rice, Wabasha, Goodhue and Steele). The top three teams go on to compete at the state level and then the top team at the state will compete at the national level.  Click here for a copy of the 2011 SE MN Brochure

Contact your local SWCD for more information on joining us for the 2011 Area Envirothon.  For Steele County, contact Sue at 507-451-6730 Ext. 3.

For more information on the Envirothon go to the Minnesota Board of Soil and Water Resources website.

2011 STEELE COUNTY SWCD TREE WINNERS
FOR 2012 SPRING PICK-UP

CONGRATULATIONS WINNERS

Jane

Haffa
Larry D. Kuchenbecker
Matt Kath
Rose Ann Kubicek
Lee Loverink
Kelly Newbauer
Maureen Gleanson
Nyla Rysavy
Sara McDermott
Gary Wobschall
Warren Suchanek
Adam Miller