Pine County Soil & Water Conservation District

260 Morris Avenue

Hinckley, MN 55037

Phone: (320) 384-7431

Fax: (320) 384-6763

2009 Pine County Tree Order Form

is now available!

Click here to access the order form.

Pick-up dates/times/locations have been determined.

Please click here to find out when and where to pick up your trees!

Self-Guided Rain Garden Tour

A booklet was put together showing several sites in a 5-county area where rain gardens were installed. For more information about the booklet or the tour, please click this link to the Chisago County SWCD website.

Study Outlines Plan for Renewable Energy Production from Minnesota Resources

The University of Minnesota has released a study commissioned by the Minnesota Legislature that documents biomass resources in an area of east central Minnesota and outlines a plan to convert those resources for renewable energy production. The study looks at the capacity to sustain and harvest grasslands, brushlands, agricultural residues and forests from land around Chisago, Isanti and Pine counties. It considers both economic and environmental impacts in plotting a course that will utilize renewable resources to produce biofuels.

"The ultimate target," says the report's principal investigator Ken Valentas, "is a renewable energy facility to convert the region's cellulosic biomass into environmentally-sustainable carbon-neutral liquid transportation fuels."

Cellulosic biomass is plant matter composed of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. It has great potential for conversion to biofuels because of the abundance and diversity of raw materials and because its use can help reduce dangerous greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. But significant processing is required to convert the cellulosic structures of prairie grasses, wood and agricultural plant wastes such as corn stover. The report notes that although current conversion processes are not yet commercially viable, they will become viable as they are improved through research.

Crop productivity data gathered for the report indicated that if all currently available cellulosic biomass was harvested sustainably and converted to biofuel, about 126 million gallons per year could be produced in the area of the study. But this is a best case scenario dependent on the price of biomass, because biomass type and supply changes with variations in market price. The economic viability of producing biofuels from cellulosic biomass will ultimately be determined by the cost of gasoline from fossil fuels and by the United State's commitment to reducing carbon dioxide emissions and its dependence on foreign oil.

Intermediate steps are necessary in planning for the eventual harvesting of biomass resources to produce renewable energy. The report recommends investment in plants to produce fuel pellets from currently available, sustainably harvested biomass resources like timber, prairie grass and agricultural waste. The report says this will create both immediate economic opportunity and the infrastructure necessary to eventually manufacture liquid biofuels.

For more information about the booklet or the tour, please click this link to the Chisago County SWCD website.

Supervisors Doug Odegard, Kelly Osterdyk and JJ Waldhalm meet with local legislators.

(shown in the picture to the right: JJ Waldhalm, Tom Demarais - Kanabec SWCD Supervisor, Senator Tony Lourey, Doug Odegard, & Kelly Osterdyk)

Doug Odegard, Kelly Osterdyk and JJ Waldhalm attended a legislative briefing and meetings at the State Capitol February 23-24 in St. Paul.

They joined a group of other officials from the state’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts who met in St. Paul to gather support for conservation districts’ programs and issues.

“It is important for us to get the conservation message out to our elected officials in St. Paul,” said Doug Odegard of Pine City. The 2009 Legislative Session will be a difficult one, as the state faces a large budget deficit, currently projected at $4.8 billion over the next two years and expected to grow. “This year is a general fund year, which means legislators will address issues like district program funding and new funding for the Lessard Outdoor Heritage Council. With budget concerns being what they are at the state level, we have to work hard to make sure recognition of SWCD technical abilities and their work with private landowners doesn’t fall by the way-side.”

During the visit to St. Paul, Odegard, Osterdyk and Waldhalm met with local legislators Senator Tony Lourey, Representatives Tim Faust, and Bill Hilty.

The event was sponsored by the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts. SWCD's fill the crucial niche of providing land and water conservation services to owners of private lands. Minnesota has 91 Soil and Water Conservation Districts. For more information on the Pine Soil and Water Conservation District, please call 320-384-7431.

SWCD Helps County with Beaver Problems

In 2006, Pine SWCD applied for and received a grant in the amount of $11,000 for Beaver Damage Control. The grant was run through the county, meaning all work done on any beaver dams would be done (or approved) by the county. The grant was set up on a 50% cost-share basis.

Work was done in many different townships in the county; such as Hinckley, Dell Grove, Pokegama, Ogema, Arna, New Dosey, Windemere, Sturgeon Lake, Wilma, Birch Creek and Park.

Quite a bit of work was done - from trapping to culvert replacement. We know many more problem areas still exist.. The district will continue to look for any other grants of this type for future beaver damage control.

Stepan's honored as Pine County's Outstanding Conservationist in 2008!

Terry and Chris Stepan, of Willow River, were chosen to be Pine County's Outstanding Conservationists for 2008. The Stepan's have implemented many different conservation practices, such as select cuttings to help improve grazing, rotational grazing, soil testing, filter strips, wetland restoration and several wildlife management practices. Stepan's also are involved with 4-H judging, hosting the Cattlemen's tour, as well as being on the township board. Stepans are 3rd generation farmers on their 360 acre farm which looks like something you would see in a magazine. Terry and Chris have 40-45 black registered Angus.

Stepan's were honored at the MASWCD (Minnesota Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts) State Convention which was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in St. Paul, MN on December 7, 8 & 9th.

Congratulations to Terry and Chris on receiving this award, and representing Pine County so positively!

Jim Lauer honored as Minnesota's Community Conservationist for 2008!

Minnesota Waters, the statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering citizens to protect and improve the lakes and rivers of Minnesota, announces its 2008 award winners selected from nominations around the state. Lone Lake Property Owners Association (LLPOA), of Aitkin County is the Lake Association of the Year, sponsored by RMB Environmental Labs. The Flute Reed River Partnership, of Cook County, is named Water Quality Monitoring Program of the Year, sponsored by HDR Engineering. The City of Dawson, in Lac Qui Parle county, is named the River Friendly Community of the Year, sponsored by Wenck. James Lauer, of Aitkin County, is the Volunteer of the Year, sponsored by Barr Engineering. Minnesota Waters presents these awards each year to honor citizens who have made an outstanding volunteer commitment to protecting their local lake or river.

Each group or individual will receive an honorary plaque and $1,000 to continue their good work. While the nominations described countless achievements made by citizen volunteers across the state, "These four showed sustained devotion to improving water quality," said Marian Bender, Executive Director of Minnesota Waters. "They all used strategic planning, gathered appropriate data, worked collaboratively with local agencies, and involved other volunteers in their work. Those things are key to citizen achievement."

The awards were presented on August 13, 2008, at River Night 2008, Minnesota Waters’ annual awards ceremony and riverboat cruise at Harriet Island in St. Paul. James Lauer, of Finlayson, is the Volunteer of the Year, sponsored by Barr Engineering. The Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes an individual volunteer that has demonstrated talent, time and commitment to fulfill the mission of Minnesota Waters in their local community or statewide. James Lauer, of the Big Pine Lakes Association (BPLA) leads the organization’s Water Quality and Fish Habitat Enhancement Committee.

James is an avid outdoorsman who volunteers to lead the association’s efforts to enhance the water quality of the area lakes through the following activities: working with Pine and Aitkin County Soil and Water Conservation Districts to improve stream water quality; became certified to conduct stream and lake water quality monitoring, and co-leads the monitoring effort; helped negotiate a gift from Aitkin Soil and Water followed by a purchase of 1500 bare root trees and shrubs; and leading the association’s efforts to enhance the fish habitat by working with the DNR Area Fisheries Supervisor. James volunteered to monitor walleyes entering the north end of the lakes from the Pine River as well as at the spawning creek locations.

James also spent much of March 2008 updating the draft Lake Management Plan for Pine and Big Pine Lakes.

James was also names as the Minnesota Community Conservationist of the year by the MASWCD (Minnesota Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts). James was honored at the MASWCD State Convention which was held December 7, 8 & 9th at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in St. Paul.

Congratulations to James on these 2 well-deserved awards!

This site was last updated: April 20, 2009