The Waseca Soil and Water Conservation District is a local unit of government that manages and directs natural resource management programs at a local level. The District works in both urban and rural settings, with landowners and with other units of government, to carry out a program for the conservation, use, and development of soil and water related resources.
One critical niche the District fills is that of providing soil and water conservation services to private landowners. Managing these private lands, whether agriculture or urban, is a key to the quality of life in Waseca County.
The District is instrumental in facilitating the leveraging of funds from State and Federal agencies for projects and programs. One example of this is payments made to landowners who participate in the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), and the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP).
Waseca County landowners participating in these programs received payments in 2013 and 2014 in excess of $500,000. This amount does not include payments made to producers by the Farm Service Agency for the Conservation Reserve Program. Without a local a SWCD presence, delivery of these programs to Waseca County producers and clients would be questionable.The Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) is another popular program with Waseca County landowners. Through the RIM program, the State of Minnesota pays landowners to enroll there marginal cropland in permanent conservation easements. To date, Waseca County has 110 RIM easements scattered throughout the County. These easements not only benefit the landowner, they also benefit the community by improving water quality, and providing much needed wildlife habitat.
Recently the Waseca SWCD signed an agreement for managerial and technical services with the Steele County SWCD. At this time the agreement is temporary but the two Boards will meet in December to discuss the possibility of continuing the arrangement.
For assistance with your soil and water resource problems contact the Waseca SWCD at 105 22nd Avenue N.E. Waseca or call 507-835-4800.