St. Paul, Minn.—The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) visited parts of six Minnesota counties (Big Stone, Stevens, Swift, Grant, Otter Tail, Douglas) that are part of the Pomme de Terre Watershed during its annual board tour August 28. The tour offers board members and staff a valuable opportunity to see firsthand how partnerships between local conservation staff and landowners are making a difference in communities across Minnesota. Board tour destinations rotate each year to highlight different regions of the state.
“Landowners and local government staff are the driving force behind conservation delivery in Minnesota because they understand the unique needs of the communities where they live and work,” BWSR Executive Director John Jaschke said. “The annual tour gives Board members a powerful opportunity to see firsthand how locally-led efforts are making a positive impact on Minnesota’s waterways.”
The Board visited sites identified as priority areas by the watershed’s One Watershed, One Plan planning partnership. One Watershed, One Plan offers an alternative to the traditional project–by–project approach by enabling a collaboration of local governments to pursue timely solutions based on a watershed’s highest priority needs. Tour stops included a stream barb project at Stone’s Mill dam in Stevens County, the Drywood Creek restoration in Swift County, conservation easements in multiple counties, soil health plots in Grant County and more.
The 20-member BWSR Board includes representatives from state agencies, local governments, and citizens. The projects featured during the annual tour illustrate how successful partnerships between federal, state, and local governments and private landowners safeguard and enhance Minnesota’s soil and water resources.
Photos from the Board Tour can be found on Facebook.