Redwood SWCD Board Chair Attends “Legislative Days”
Left to right: Yellow Medicine SWCD Director Tyler Knutson; Lac qui Parle SWCD District Manager Rhyan Schicker; Senator Gary Dahms; Redwood SWCD Board Chair Jeff Potter; Yellow Medicine SWCD Supervisor Jerry Nelson.
Earlier this month, Jeff Potter, Redwood SWCD Board Chair, attended “Legislative Days” at the Minnesota State Capital in St. Paul. As part of this initiative, Potter advocated to our state lawmakers and explained the impact soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs) have on Minnesota’s natural resources. In further telling our story to the legislators he met with, Potter detailed how SWCDs are not only essential but also effective partners in delivering locally-led conservation practices on private lands to improve our shared natural resources.
“We are the technical experts and ‘boots on the ground’ who understand our community’s needs and help landowners navigate conservation programs from start to finish,” Potter commented.
Potter Meets with Lawmakers
Redwood SWCD Board Chair Jeff Potter with Minnesota House of Representative Paul Torkleson at the State Capitol in St. Paul.
Potter further shared with Senator Gary Dahms, Representative Paul Torkelson and Representative Chris Swedenski that Soil and Water Conservation Districts:
provide value to our state’s conservation through technical assistance, funding, and educational services for private landowners. They represent a statewide network of locally based professional conservationists and offer science-based solutions that benefit both the landowner and the environment.
are a primary source of conservation information, support and program management for landowners and other local units of government.
SWCDs join Minnesota landowners in taking great pride in the state’s natural resources and place a high value on conserving and protecting them for future generations to enjoy. This shared commitment is essential to our history of successful public-private partnerships statewide.
Current State Funding
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.
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.
Left to right: Redwood SWCD Supervisor Chair Jeff Potter; Yellow Medicine SWCD Supervisor; Jerry Nelson; Yellow Medicine SWCD Director Tyler Knutson; Lac qui Parle SWCD District Manager Rhyan Schicker; Minnesota House of Representative Chris Swedzinski.
Ongoing Funding Needs
SWCDs are funded primarily through the state legislature through the Board of Water and Soil Resources, but this funding source lacks the predictability we need to continually make progress. The $22 million per year we are seeking would get SWCDs statewide closer to fulfilling the critical conservation needs in our community. Without adequate funding, millions of available federal and private dollars cannot be committed to important projects due to cost-share requirements. It will allow SWCDs to better plan for the future, better hire and retain qualified and credentialed staff, and increase our pace of progress in working toward our clean water and healthy soil goals .