This program aims to protect soil, water, and related resources on farm and ranch lands (including tribal lands). A producer must agree to implement practices through a 5 to 10 year agreement. Cost-sharing pays up to 75% of the costs for such conservation practices as: facility to compost agricultural waste, diversion dam, floodwater retarding dam, diversion tile for terrace system, fencing, perennial vegetation for field border, filter strip, forest harvest trails and landings, forest site preparation, grade stabilization structure, windbreak, herbaceous wind barrier, riparian forest buffer planted with trees, spring development, tree planting, and livestock tank. One-time incentive payments apply to such practices as establishing contour buffer strips, strip cropping, perennial vegetation for field border, filter strip, herbaceous wind barrier, riparian forest buffer, and use exclusion (no grazing, haying, or harvesting). Applications are rated on their potential to address water erosion control, wind erosion control, water resource protection, fish and wildlife habitat, forest resource management, grazing lands, and other factors. Priority is given to agreements in Conservation Priority Areas which are selected geographic regions of Minnesota. Cost-sharing and incentive payments may not exceed $50,000 over the contract's life.

This programs offers landowners 75% cost-sharing to restore degraded or destroyed wetlands and associated upland habitat. Restoration plans are prepared by the NRCS in cooperation with other agencies. The landowner must agree to maintain the practice for at least 10 years. The landowner may use the land for appropriate private recreational activities, retains control over access to the land, and may sell or lease the land. (Permanent and 30-year conservation easements are also available, contact NRCS for more information.)

This program offers annual rental payments for 10 to 15 years plus cost-sharing to establish vegetative cover (grass or trees) on cropland or pasture land. Cropland must have been planted to an agricultural commodity 2 of the 5 most recent crop years. Pasture land includes certain acreage enrolled in the Water Bank Program. In addition cropland must meet one of these criteria: highly erodible land, cropped wetland, subject to scour erosion, located in a national or state CRP conservation priority area (most counties in northwestern, western, and southern Minnesota), or cropland associated with noncropped wetlands. An applicant must have owned or operated the land for at least one year prior to close of the sign-up period, with some exceptions. Applicant bids must describe the type of conservation practice to be done and the land rental rate to be paid. Maximum acceptable rental rates are based on soil types in a county. Bids are ranked using an Environmental Benefits Index that includes wildlife habitat benefits; water quality benefits from reduced erosion; enduring benefits; air quality benefits from reduced wind erosion; benefits of enrollment in conservation priority areas where enrollment would contribute to improvement in water quality, wildlife habitat, or air quality; and cost. Typical conservation practices that may be accomplished include, but are not limited to: grass legume establishment, native grass establishment, tree planting, wetland restoration, and tallgrass prairie restoration. The cost-share rate is 50%. Technical assistance may be provided by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service or Minnesota Department of Natural Resources depending on the practices involved.

This program offers annual rental payments for 10 to 15 year plus cost-sharing to establish grass or trees on cropland or pasture land. Cropland must have been planted to an agricultural commodity 2 of the 5 most recent crop years. Pasture land must be suitable for use as a riparian buffer when planted to trees. Applicant bids must describe the type of conservation practice to be done and the land rental rate to be paid. Offers are automatically accepted, provided the proposed rental rate does not exceed the Commodity Credit Corporation's average dryland cash rent for the past three years for comparable soils in the applicant's county, and the applicant agrees to conduct one or more of these conservation practices on the enrolled land: field windbreaks, grass waterways, shallow water areas for wildlife, contour grass strips, shelterbelts, living snow fences, salt-tolerant vegetation, filter strips, riparian buffer, or cross wind trap strips. Land within an Environmental Protection Agency designated wellhead protection area is also eligible. The one-year ownership requirement applicable to CRP has been waived except for land within an approved wellhead protection area or land that will be devoted to salt-tolerant vegetation. The cost-share rate is 50%. Technical assistance may be provided by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service or Minnesota Department of Natural Resources depending on the practices involved.

The state cost-share programs was established in 1977 to share the cost of practices for erosion or sedimentation control or water quality improvement that are designed to protect and improve soil and water resources. Eligible practices include; critical area stabilization, diversions, field windbreaks, farmstead windbreaks, grass waterways, waste management, riparian buffer strips, sediment retention, erosion or water control structures, streambank shoreland or forest road stabilization, strip cropping, and terraces. For priority projects the maximum cost-share is 75% of total eligible costs. For secondary priority projects the maximum cost-share is 50% of the total eligible costs.

This cost-share program encourages installation of eco-system-based resource management systems that conserve water quality, soil, and other natural resources and enhance the timber, wildlife, recreational, aesthetic, and environmental benefits of private woodlands. SIP includes a wide range of practices under the categories of reforestation; forest improvement; windbreak design and hedgerow establishment, maintenance and renovation; soil and water protection and improvement; riparian and wetland protection and improvement fisheries habitat improvement; wildlife enhancement; and forest recreation enhancement. The cost-share rate is 50%, except for hardwood tree planting, which is 65%. The maximum cost-share payment is $10,000 per year. Landowners must own at least 20 acres of forest land (or have 20 acres on which they will plant and manage trees), but less than 1,000 acres of forest land (exemptions may be granted for ownerships up to 5,000 acres). Landowners must have a comprehensive Forest Stewardship Plan before other SIP practices can be approved. Such a plan can be obtained from the DNR or other technical personnel designated by a DNR forester. SIP applies to land that is privately owned by an individual, group, association, corporation, Indian tribe, or other legal private entity. (Funds were not appropriated for this program in 1999.)

This conservation easement program retires marginal, highly erodible agricultural land to protect soil and water quality and support fish and wildlife habitat. Qualifying land includes sensitive groundwater areas, riparian land, wetland restoration areas, marginal agricultural cropland areas, pastured hillsides, living snowfences, woodlots on agricultural land, abandoned building sites on agricultural land, and replacement wetlands. The land usually must be at least 5 acres or a whole field. Landowners may enter into perpetual or 20-year easements with the state for converting their land to natural vegetative cover including trees, shrubs, native grasses, or wetlands. Applications for perpetual easements are given priority. For land with a crop history (planted to agricultural crops in 2 of the past 5 years), the payment rate for a perpetual easement is 90% of the Assessor's Township Average Market Value (ATAMV); for a limited term easement, the rate is 75% of the ATAMV. For land without a crop history, the payment rate for a perpetual easement is 60% of the ATAMV; for a limited term easement, the rate is 45% of the ATAMV. Landowners retain control over public access to the property and are eligible for cost-sharing to cover site conversion costs.

This program loans money to farmers, agricultural supply businesses, and rural landowners for implementing practices that prevent or mitigate nonpoint source water pollution and are listed as priorities in locally developed water plans. Eligible activities include, animal waste control facility improvements (for less than 1,000 animal units) and individual sewage treatment system improvements. A county government or SWCD applies for loan funds from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. These local government units then approve agricultural borrowers and their BMPs for which funds will be used. Borrowers pay back the loan to the financial lender. Loans may not exceed $50,000 for any individual or project. Lenders may charge up to 3% interest plus a one-time 0.5% origination fee. Loan lengths range form 2 to 10 years depending on the practice.

WCA seeks to achieve no net loss in the quantity, quality, and biological diversity of Minnesota's existing wetlands. The Wetland Conservation Act does this by requiring proposals that may impact a wetland through draining or filling to first, attempt to avoid the impact; second, attempt to minimize the impact, and finally replace any impacted area with another wetland of equal function and value. However, certain activities are exempt from WCA. Due to the complexity of the Wetland Conservation Act and determination of what lands meet the wetland definition, the SWCD assists landowners with project applications and wetland determinations. We are also a member of the Technical Evaluation Panel that reviews all projects that may impact a wetland. The Wetland Conservation Act is administered by several local governmental units in Sherburne County. For more information contact the appropriate official for your location. (See contact above)

For more information regarding our tree program please visit our Tree Program Page.

For more information regarding our native plant program please visit our Native Plant Program Page.

The Pasture Management Improvement Program is available to all county residents who own or manage pastures. This program was developed to assist landowners in improving the quantity and quality of forage produced on their pastures. It includes soil testing of the pasture, interpretation of the University of Minnesota soil test results, pasture evaluation, and a pasture management plan. This program is at no cost to the landowner.

In order to improve wildlife habitat and restore native vegetation we have partnered with the Sherburne County Chapter of Pheasants Forever and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in developing a habitat restoration program. The program offers assistance to landowners in restoring native prairie by cost-sharing seed, planning, and planting assistance.

The Elk River Watershed Association is a Joint Powers Board of Sherburne and Benton Counties and Sherburne and Benton Soil & Water Conservation Districts. This board was formed in 1994 to initiate projects to improve and protect water resources within the Elk River Watershed. The Elk River watershed consists of 613 square miles which is drained by the Elk River, St. Francis River and smaller tributaries. The Board consists of one county commissioner, one SWCD supervisor and two members at large from each county. One staff member of each SWCD is an ex-officio advisor to the Board.

During the last several years, the Watershed Board has primarily focused on providing cost share to land owners for projects which improve or protect water quality. These have included low cost livestock management options such as fencing along streams, alternative water sources for livestock and water diversions. The board also funds wetland restoration and incentives for manure management plans, riparian buffers and crop filter strips.

The Association also works with owners of lakeshore and streambank land to install buffers of native vegetation and stormwater runoff practices such as rain gardens.

Funding for projects has been obtained through grants from the State of Minnesota and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Sportsman organizations and lake associations have also made cash contributions for watershed projects.

For more information regarding the Elk River Watershed programs please visit our Elk River Watershed Page.

For more information regarding the Shoreland Program please contact Sherburne Soil & Water Conservation District.

For more information regarding our tree program please visit our Rural Preserve Property Tax Program page.