Redwood SWCD Attends Legislative Day at the State Capitol
Rick Maurer, Redwood SWCD Supervisor, Senator Gary Dahms, and Tyler Knutson, Yellow Medicine SWCD Director
On March 13, 2024 the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (MASWCD) held its legislative day at the Capitol. This allowed time for local board supervisors and directors to meet with legislators to express their concerns about policies and funding for upcoming years. Rick Maurer, Redwood SWCD Supervisor, attended legislative days as an advocate to our state lawmakers explaining the impact soil and water districts (SWCDs) have on Minnesota’s natural resources and expressed their concerns about certain policies and funding for upcoming years.
SWCDs are funded primarily through the state legislative through the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR), but the funding source lacks the predictability we need to continually make progress. Some of the things discussed with Senator Gary Dahms, Representative Chris Swedzinski, and Representative Paul Torkelson were:
Working to maintain our current funding of $15 million per year and avoid a decrease to $12 million per year for aids payable in 2025 and beyond.
Seek bonding funding to enhance and preserve the structural assets of our RIM Reserve wetland restoration easements and general one-time funds for a more comprehensive assessment of these structures.
Support housekeeping updates to SWCD Law-Minnesota Statutes 103C-and language specifying SWCDs have the authority to take out loans.
State funding received by the Redwood Soil and Water Conservation District allows us to complete many projects, including:
Cover crops
Sealing abandoned wells
Targeted engineered structural practices
In addition, state funding also allows us to complete research projects aimed at providing local data to aid in the decision-making needs of our landowners. These projects will not only provide immediate benefits to water quality, but they will also conserve our topsoil for highly productive farming in the future.
Tyler Knutson, Director Yellow Medicine SWCD, Representative Chris Swedzinski, and Rick Maurer, Supervisor, Redwood SWCD.
These initiatives do not happen on their own and require a highly competent and dedicated staff. The Redwood SWCD is here to provide producers with technical or financial assistance on a wide range of practices, from looking to improve your grassland habitat to experimenting with a range of soil health practices on the farm.