Integrated Watershed and Basin Management

Steve Woltjer, District Conservationist from the Worthington, MN Field office knows what it means to get landowners participating in watershed projects in southwestern Minnesota. 

The Kanaranzi-Little Rock Watershed is located in southwest Minnesota.  It covers an area of 198,400 acres.  About 90% of this watershed area contains cropland.  Corn and soybean acreage as well as large hog confinement operations are common in this area.

 In 1987 the Kanaranzi-Little Rock Pl-566 Watershed Project began.  Efforts were made to treat 50,600 acres of cropland from excessive erosion.  The project entailed a large scaled effort designed to both plan and apply conservation systems through longer term contracts with farmers in southwestern Minnesota.   The major practices included were:  terraces, grasses waterways, sediment basis, field borders, pasture and hayland plantings and erosion control structures.  Funding was made possible through the PL-566 Watershed program. 

 A Joint Powers Board was formed to review project applications.  This provided opportunity for local conservation officials from Nobles and Rock SWCD, KLR Watershed District and a Nobles County Commissioner to become involved.  This provided ways for local conservation leaders to oversee an excellent project and provide necessary changes.

 Promoting this watershed project was key.  This included but was not limited to:  public meetings, news articles, informational handouts and displays.  Though response was slow at first a door-to-door campaign helped yield the results the Watershed was needing.  A door-to-door campaign which was promoted in a high priority area of the watershed was key.  This enabled the technicians to meet the farmers that they would be working with.  As a result, the farmers became more comfortable in developing their conservation plans. 

 The USDA NRCS field office found that using the Earth Team Volunteer program was useful.  Farmers who had successful contracts were recruited as Earth Team Volunteers.  Landowners who wanted to talk to a farmer who was actively applying a contract could contact any volunteer.  The volunteer would then give a brief tour of their conservation project and would explain their views as to how the project was working. 

 The folks at NRCS remembered the importance of recognizing the clients for a job well done.  Awards were given to landowners who had done an excellent job in carrying out their contract.  Furthermore, articles were given to the local media to further exemplify the good the farmers had done in the Kanaranzi-Little Rock Watershed Project.  Additionally, signs were placed on the roads by their farms to show that these individuals were award winners for the outstanding job that they had done for conservation application.

 For more information on the Kanaranzi-Little Rock Watershed P.L. 566 Project please contact Steve Woltjer at steve.woltjer@mn.usda.gov

Steve Woltjer, District Conservationist USDA NRCS Worthington, MN, successfully established Nobles county waterway