The Comprehensive Local Water Plan for Hubbard County was updated in 2007. Click on this link to view the plan: HubbardCountyLWP.pdf
An updated list of the task force members may be accessed by clicking here: Updated LWP ADVISORY COMMITTEE.pdf
Local water plan projects:
Evapotranspiration (ET) Hotline
The ET Hotline will begin near the end of May for the 2010 growing season. Irrigators and other water users may call 218-732-1963 to get daily statistics for corn, beans and turf. By calling the ET hotline at least once every three days, soil water balances can be monitored. Several weather statistics for the day will be given when calling including potential ET, maximum and minimum air temperatures, precipitation and growing degree days.
The ET irrigation scheduling program is a best management practice that will add another tool for scheduling irrigation. When used in conjunction with field verification, irrigation scheduling can reduce nitrogen leaching and increase effectiveness of irrigation.
Nitrate Testing Clinic
Landowners have a chance to bring in a water sample for nitrate testing every year at a nitrate testing clinic held in June or July. In cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, water samples are tested and the results given on-site. If the test shows a reading of over 10 ppm, landowners are encouraged to get their water tested by a certified lab. This clinic is held at the Environmental Education Building at the fair grounds in Park Rapids from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The date this year will be July 23, 2010.
Lake Water Quality Monitoring
Every three years the district selects 4-5 lakes for monitoring monthly May-September. In 2008 five new lakes were selected; they will be monitored for three years with monthly data sent to MPCA. The Local Water Plan also supports COLA in their monthly lake monitoring.
Shoreland Brochures
In 2007, an updated "Shoreland Owner's Guide" was developed with current information of important contacts for shoreland owners in Hubbard County. The brochure also gives information on a natural shoreline, lakeshore erosion causes and cures, and permits. Brochures are available at the SWCD office, Environmental Services office, realty companies, and the Chamber of Commerce.
Abandoned Well Sealing
The Local Water Plan has funds set aside for sealing abandoned or unused wells in the county with 50% of the well sealing cost provided. Please call the SWCD office for more information.
Freshwater Festival
The Freshwater Festival is an annual event for sixth graders in Hubbard County. It is sponsored by funds from the Hubbard County Local Water Plan and local donations with administrative support from the Hubbard County Soil and Water Conservation District. It follows basically the same format each year.
At this event, each class rotates through five stations where individual presenters share their expertise. Presenters are volunteers from organizations such as Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Department of Natural Resources,
Minnesota
Department of Health, Natural Resources
Conservation Service, and others. In addition, paid professional
educators include the Minnesota Science Museum and Tom Gibson,
environmental educator. Their programs are 45 minutes in length
while the others are 20 minutes.Each class stays together throughout the day. Break times are scheduled for snacks and lunch. Presenters and volunteers are provided with a meal prepared by the Mantrap Valley Conservation Club Auxiliary, and students and teaches bring sack lunches. Volunteers from the Coalition of Lake Associations assist with various aspects of the festival from chaperoning classes to handing out snacks. Usually there are around 45 volunteers.
The Freshwater Festival was held on May 6, 2009 at Camp Wilderness Boy Scout Camp near Emmaville, MN. It began at 9:20 a.m. and ended around 1:45 p.m. Students received a conservation comic book, pencil, tree seedling and ruler. They were shown how to plant their seedling by a DNR forester.
Teachers, volunteers and presenters receive schedules and information prior to the festival. They may visit the camp prior to the festival day to familiarize themselves with the various stations they will be attending. Volunteers also help wrap trees and bag materials.
The goal of the Freshwater Festival is to educate sixth grade students about protection, preservation, and conservation of water resources in an atmosphere of fun and learning. Hubbard County has substantial ground and surface water resources. We want to educate children about different aspects of these waters and their relationship to other resources: wetlands, forestry and wildlife. We also want to instill an environmental awareness and a stewardship ethic in students and adults.
Wetland Conservation Act
In November, 2006 the Hubbard County Soil and Water Conservation District took over administration of Minnesota's Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) from the county. The main purpose of WCA is to achieve no net loss of wetlands by protecting them from negative impacts including filling, draining, and in some cases, excavation.
Wetlands have long been regarded as "undesirable" and through the years have been drained and filled to make way for houses, roads, farmland and other development. In fact, Minnesota has lost 42% of its original wetlands in the last 200 years, according to a 1990 report by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Fortunately, federal and state programs, such as WCA, have been put in place to protect the wetlands that remain and to educate the public on the numerous benefits wetlands provide. Benefits include groundwater recharge and discharge, flood control, nutrient and pollutant filtering, erosion control, wildlife habitat, and a lot more!
If you are planning any sort of project that impacts a wetland or would
like more information on the importance of wetland ecosystems, please
contact the Hubbard County SWCD at 218-732-0121. We would be happy
to work with you and answer any questions that you may have.
Wetland Conservation Act Fee Schedule,
Effective May, 2008
Submit an Application ............................................................No
Charge
Application Approval for Replacement Plan ...............................$ 100
After-the-Fact Replacement Application Approval ..................$ 100
Wetland Banking Application ........................................................$
100
WCA Technical Advice (No charge for 1 site visit, then $50/hr)
State Cost-Share Program
The State Cost-Share Program was created in 1977 to provide funds to SWCDs for the implementation of conservation practices that protect and improve water quality by controlling soil erosion and reducing sedimentation.
Through this program, landowners can request financial and technical assistance from the SWCD for implementing approved conservation practices. This program provides up to 75% of the total eligible costs of a practice.
Approved conservation practices include:
Critical Area Planting--establishing permanent vegetation on sites with high erosion or sites that prevent establishing vegetation with normal planting procedures.
Field Windbreaks--Single or multiple rows of trees and shrubs planted to protect an area from prevailing winds.
Shelterbelt--Planting single or multiple rows of trees and/or shrubs around buildings for protection from wind and snow.
Grass Waterway--a channel with permanent vegetation serving to transport runoff from fields and other areas with little erosion and soil loss.
Filter Strips--areas of permanent vegetation established between cropland, grazing land or other disturbed areas and sensitive areas such as lakes, streams or wetlands to reduce runoff and prevent contaminants from entering sensitive areas.
Sediment Basins--a basin, pond or structure
designed and constructed to collect and hold sediment or debris.
Streambank and Shoreland Protection
Unused Well Sealing, Diversions, Terraces, Stripcropping, Wastewater and
Feedlot Runoff Control
For information on any of these practices, please call
the office.