**MISSION STATEMENT**

**OF**

**EAST OTTER TAIL**

**SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT**

*It shall be the mission of the Soil and Water Conservation District to*

*conserve and protect our soil and water resources that were placed into
our trust.*

*Our quality of life and our environment depends on the partnership
between*

*our Board of Supervisors, its employees, and a willingness of land
users to commit to good land use practices and management skills.*

*It is the District's responsibility to provide trained, competent
technicians and office staff to disseminate information and provide
technical assistance to all land users applying conservation practices
and measures to their land.*

*And it is the responsibility of the District employees to achieve the
mission of this District by dedicating their services, talents, and
skills in meeting the goals and objectives set forth in our "Long Range"
and "Annual Plan of Work" and to remain flexible to change.*

***The East Otter Tail Soil and Water Conservation District is***

***committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access***

***to its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to
race,***

***color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status,***

***public assistance status, veteran status or sexual orientation.***

**ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES OF THE**

**EAST OTTER TAIL SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT**

*The quality of life and environment in the*

*East Otter Tail Soil and Water Conservation District*

*depends upon a partnership among citizens,*

*elected officials, and employees.*

*Each one of us in the District*

*is striving for success.*

*We are what makes the difference between a good*

*organization and an excellent one.*

As such, we have agreed upon the following as our organizational values:

[We value open, accessible government.]{.underline} A government cannot
be dishonest if its

actions are taken openly, and honest government is our first
responsibility. Openness

encourages competence because it subjects our actions to public
scrutiny.

[We value fiscal responsibility.]{.underline} Careful management of our
financial resources

demonstrates our respect for the citizens whose taxes support our
organization. Fiscal

responsibility recognizes that most problems cannot be solved by money
alone, and therefore

demands fresh approach and creativity in addressing issues.

[We value a spirit of professionalism.]{.underline} We believe that
successful completion of the task

is more important that who gets the credit. A professional attitude
dictates a dispassionate

analysis of issues, free of personal biases, and with a commitment to
the organization and the

community.

[We value humane organization.]{.underline} We believe that our work
should be a source of

enjoyment and satisfaction. We place great emphasis upon the personal
qualities that

contribute to that environment, informality, humility, energy, and
independence or thought.

A ready sense of humor and caring attitude.

[We value organizational self sufficiency.]{.underline} To insure the
continuity of District services

and programs, and to foster innovation in the development of those
services and programs,

we encourage the use of local resources to meet local needs.

*We are Proud of the*

*East Otter Tail Soil and Water Conservation District,*

*It's Employees and the Citizens We Service*

> **The District will Implement Equal Employment Opportunity and Civil
> Rights Responsibilities Resulting in Strong Working Relationships with
> Agencies, Units of Government and Organizations.**
>
> **Objectives:**

-   Document corrections of disparities in the civil rights case file.

-   Review Memorandum of Understanding with the SWCD including CR, EEO
    and Drug Free Workplace provisions. Review will be documented.

-   Include nondiscrimination statements in all information released to
    the public.

-   Review policies and encourage equal representation of minorities,
    women, and handicapped on local program boards, councils, and
    committees.

-   Maintain the civil rights case file.

-   Review handicapped accessibility to office including parking space
    requirement. Discrepancies to be reported to the Area
    Conservationist and the SWCD Board.

***1. INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE***

The purpose of the "Annual Plan of Work" is to guide the actions of East
Otter Tail Soil

and Water Conservation District for the period of January 1, 2008
through December

31, 2008. Each concern can be measured by performance and action when
reviewed

> by the Board of Supervisors and staff on a quarterly basis. The
> District is to provide an organized approach to solving or reducing
> soil erosion, water resource protection, development of wildlife
> habitat, and the improvement of forest and pasture lands.

The District is governed by an elected Board of Supervisors which
consists of five

members from designated election areas located in East Otter Tail
County. The Board

of Supervisors meets on a regular basis, meeting on each third Wednesday
of the

month for decision making and the implementation of its programs. The
District Board

of Supervisors for the calendar year are:

Chairperson Lyle Dittmann New York Mills

Vice Chairperson Steve Inwards Parkers Prairie Secretary Marion Gill
Perham

Treasurer Gary Cruff Vergas

Public Relations Gary Zeise Deer Creek

> The District staff consists of one full time District Manager (Darren
> Newville), one full time Office Manager (Deb Werner), one full time
> Farm Bill/District Technician (Eric Peters), one full time Shoreland
> Specialist/District Technician (Steve Henry) and one part time
> Irrigation/District Technician (Arnonld Rethemeier). Up to four
> temporary part time District Aides have also traditionally been hired
> each spring to help in the District's tree planting program, tree
> fabric matting program, and to assist in the native grass programs.
> The District is also provided with a full time District
> Conservationist (Bruce Becker), a full time Soil Conservationist
> Trainee (Jim Pendroy) a full time Soil Conservation Technician (Troy
> Baumgart) and a part time Soil Conservation Technician Aide (Jean
> Eken).

The District administers several state grants and programs, these
include but are not limited to the State Cost Share Program, General
Services, Farm Bill Assistance Grant, Observation Well Monitoring,
Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM), Permanent Wetland Preserve Program (PWP),
the Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act (WCA), the Feedlot Water Quality
Management program and the Agricultural Best Management Practices Loan
Program.

> The District also assists the Natural Resouce Conservation Service
> (NRCS) and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) in promoting and implementing
> USDA's conservation provisions of the farm bill including but not
> limited to, the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), the Continuous
> Conservation Reserve Program (CCRP), Environmental Quality Incentive
> Program (EQIP), the Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program (WHIP), the
> Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) and the Conservation Security Program
> (CSP).

II. ***OBJECTIVES AND ACTION ITEMS***

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I.  **SURFACE WATER QUALITY**

*To improve the water quality of surface waters in East Otter Tail
County by reducing or minmizing the amount and extent of contaminants
entering surface waters.*

A.  Promote the use of riparian buffers and filter strips

B.  Provide technical assistance to shoreland owners on water quality
    projects

C.  Promote the use of ag BMP's such as conservation tillage, nutrient
    management, and manure management

D.  Promote the use of urban BMP's such a lakescaping, rain garden's and
    proper lawn fertilizer rates and provide technical assistance to
    interested landowners

E.  Cooperate with Otter Tail County COLA and Lake Associations with
    educational efforts and projects that improve water quality

F.  Promote livestock exclusion from sensitive surface water areas and
    provide technical assistance to interested producers along with
    financial assistance when available to projects that meets
    eligibility criteria

G.  Assist with feedlot runoff projects and provide technical assistance
    to interested producers along with financial assistance when
    available to projects that meets eligibility criteria

H.  Investigate opportinities for monitoring various water bodies

I.  Promote Citizen Lake and Stream monitoring programs

J.  Promote erosion control practices, and storm water management plans
    on construction sites through the National Pollution Discharge
    Elimination System (NPDES) permit process

K.  Continue to provide financial assitance for ISTS through the Ag BMP
    loan program

L.  Provide Technical Assistance with the Wetland Conservation Act

M.  Adminster and Implement the County Comprehensive Water Plan

N.  Promote District programs and services

O.  Educate the public about surface water quality issues and efforts to
    protect it

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II. **GROUND WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY**

> *To improve and protect the quality and quantity of groundwater
> resources in East Otter Tail County by minimizing or reducing the
> amount and extent of contaminants entering the groundwater resources,
> and ensuring that there will be a stable and adequate source of
> useable water for municipal, industrical and agricutlural purposes.*

A.  Promote the use of the District's Irrigation Scheduler program

B.  Continue to sponsor Nitrate testing clinics

C.  Continue to assist MDA with the Sand Plain Monitoring plan and
    disseminate information collected from the study

D.  Provide cost-share for priority wells sealing projects

E.  Continue to cooperate with the DNR ObWell Program

F.  Promote the use of nutrient management plans and provide technical
    assistance to producers to develop nutrient management plans.

G.  Promote BMP's for pesticide use

H.  Work with Municipalities on Wellhead Protection Plans as requested

I.  Adminster and Implement the County Comprehensive Water Plan

J.  Stay abreast of any propoals that could potentially adversely affect
    the quantity of the groundwater available.

K.  Promote District programs and services

L.  Educate the public about groundwater quality and quantity issues and
    efforts to protect it

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III. **DEVELOPMENT PRESSURE**

> *To protect the natural resource of Otter Tail County by reducing or
> minimizing the impacts of ongoing and future development within the
> county.*

A.  Work with the Otter Tail County Commissioners and staff members on
    any proposal for county wide land use planning

B.  Continue to provide assistance to lakeshore property owners on
    erosion issues and promote the use of lakescaping, and storm water
    runnoff control

C.  Remain up to date on knowledge of Otter Tail County's shoreland
    management ordinace to direct landowners to the Land and Resource
    Management Office when permits are needed for projects they are
    interested in completing

D.  Provide technical assistance to the County for the review of plat
    applications

E.  Promote the use of stormwater BMP's including rain gardens,
    stormwater retention ponds and other acceptable practices

F.  Provide technical assistance to the County and individual landowners
    with the Wetland Conservation Act

G.  Promote erosion control practices, and storm water management plans
    on construction sites through the National Pollution Discharge
    Elimination System (NPDES) permit process

H.  Educate the public about develpment pressure issues

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IV. **SOIL EROSION**

> *Promote best management practices that reduce soil losses through
> wind and water erosion to below 2T.*

A.  Provide technical assistance to landowners on the design, layout and
    installation of wind erosion conservation practices such as
    windbreaks, shelterbelts, living snowfences, and provide financial
    assistance when available to projects that meet eligibility critera

B.  Promote the use of and provide technical assistance on conservation
    tillage practices, and provide financial assistance when available
    to projects that meet eligibility critera

C.  Promote the use of cover crops and provide technical assistance

D.  Promote the use of crop rotations that prevent or reduce soil loss

E.  Provide technical assistance for the native grass plantings

F.  Promote the use of Shoreland BMP's in shoreland areas sensitive to
    erosion

G.  Promote erosion control practices, and storm water management plans
    on construction sites through the National Pollution Discharge
    Elimination System (NPDES) permit process

H.  Educate the public about soil erosion and effort to control it

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V.  **WILDLIFE HABITAT**

*To protect and preserve wildlife habitat and wetlands from conversion
to cropland and urban development, and promote the re-establishment of
wildlife habitat.*

A.  Provide technical assistance to landowners interested in wildife
    habitat tree and shrub plantings or forestry practices, along with
    financial assistance if available to projects that meet eligibility
    criteia

B.  Promote the Districts's conservation tree program and services

C.  Provide technical assistance to landowners interested in wildife
    habitat grass and forb plantings, along with financial assistance if
    available and project and landowner meet eligibility criteia

D.  Promote the District's seeding program and services

E.  Promote conservation programs such as RIM, CRP, CCRP, WRP, WHIP and
    EQIP that assist with wildlife habitat preservation, renovation and
    development.

F.  Provide technical assistance with the Wetland Conservation Act

G.  Provide techinacal assistance with wetland restoration projects to
    interested landowners, along with financial assistance if available
    to projects that meet eligibility criteia

H.  Continue to work with other resource agencies to partner and
    collaborate on wildlife habitat projects

I.  Educate the public on wildlife habitat issues and protection and
    enhancement efforts

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VI. **SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE**

> *To assist agricultural producers in mainitaining productivity through
> the use of conservation practices that protect and preserve our
> natural resouces, and maintain a sustainable agricultural base in the
> county.*

A.  Promote conservation practices that sustain soil produtivity

B.  Promote alternative crops as technology develops and new markets
    emerge

C.  Maintain knowledge of new legislation or programs that benefit local
    producers and dessiminate information to local producers.

D.  Promote rotational grazing practices and provide technical
    assistance; and financial assistance when available to projects that
    meet eligibility critera

E.  Assist with feedlot runoff projects and provide technical assistance
    to interested producers and financial assistance if available to
    projects and producers that meet eligiblity criteria.

F.  Educate the public about agricultural issues

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VII. **EDUCATION/PROMOTION**

*Promote soil and water conservation through an effective information
and education program to the residents, seasonal property owners,
schools, and elected officials in Otter Tail County*

A.  Support local ag in the classroom programs

B.  Support Conservation Days

C.  Support the Nitrate testing clinics and programs is local schools

D.  Support the regional Envirothon

E.  Provide presentations to area groups as requested

F.  Educate the public on the District's programs and services

G.  Educate the public on other state and federal programs that may
    provide technical and financial assistance

H.  Develop and hold a tour of conservation practices completed within
    the District in conjunction with our 50^th^ Anniversay Celebration

I.  Maintain District web page and keep it up to date

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VIII. **FUNDING/PARTNERING/ADMINISTRATION**

*Provide assistance to the public through the most efficent use of
public funds and administration of programs, and maintain and develop a
strong working relationship with other resource agencies.*

A.  Continue to work to gain better sources of stable funding

B.  Research possible grant oportinities to assist with funding projects
    and specialized staff positions

C.  Maintain and improve working relationships with NRCS and FSA

D.  Maintain and improve working relationships with County Commisioner
    and County Departments

E.  Maintain and improve working relationships with other state and
    federal resource agencies.

F.  Administer programs in a manner that efficently uses the Districts
    resources

***IX. STATE COST SHARE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS***

The Erosion, Sediment Control, and Water Quality Cost-Share Program (C-S
Program) provides funds to Soil and Water Conservation Districts through
the Board of Soil and Water Resources (BWSR) to cost-share on priority
projects. The SWCD Board of Supervisors are given the authority to
decide which resource problems within their jurisdiction are most
deserving of financial assistance, as well as the amount of assistance.
Guidelines set by BWSR state that SWCD's may cost share with land
occupiers at the maximum rate of 75 percent of the eligible cost of a
project. In 2008 the East Otter Tail SWCD was awarded \$28,809 to be
used through this program, of that 20% (\$5,761.80) may be used to cover
for technical and administrative assistance provided by the District.
The following shows the estimated need for these dollars.

1.  **HIGH PRIORITY EROSION**

On areas where erosion from wind or water is occurring on Class I-IV
soils

equal to or in excess of 2 x T tons per acre per year or is occurring on
any area that exhibits active gully erosion.

1\) Funds needed:

a)  Critical Area Stabilization: 3 acres @ \$550/acre = \$1,650 total;
    75% of \$1,650 = \$1,237.50 total cost share

b\) Field Windbreaks: 20 acres x \$550 per acre = \$11,000 total; 75%

of \$11,000 = \$8,250 total cost share

**2) HIGH PRIORITY SEDIMENTATION**

Areas within 300 feet of a water course or 1,000 feet of a water basin
or wetland

where the water erosion rate exceeds three tons per acre per year, or
areas

where the District can show that sediment delivery occurs from a
watershed or

direct conveyance structure such as a storm sewer or paved outlet
channel

discharging to these waters.

1\) Funds needed:

a\) Stream bank, Lake shore, and Roadside Stabilization: 3 landowners @

\$65 per foot x 450 ft = \$29,250 total; 75% of \$29,250 = \$21,937.5

b)  Riparian Buffer Strips: 4 landowners @ \$550 acre x 8 acres= \$4,400
    total; 75% of \$4,400 = \$3,300

c)  Sediment Retention, Erosion or Water Control Structures: 2
    landowners @ \$3,000/project = \$6,000 total; 75% of \$6,000 =
    \$4,500

d)  Critical Area Stabilization: 2 acres @ \$550 acre = \$1,100 total;
    75% of \$1,100 =\$825

**3) HIGH PRIORITY FEEDLOTS**

Feedlots where the pollution potential rating from the feedlot is
greater than or

equal to one.

1\) Funds needed:

a\) Waste Storage Ponds and Structures: 2 Systems @ \$60,000 =

\$120,000 total; 75% cost-share is = \$90,000 = \$45,000 per system

> b\) Diversions: 1 landowner @ \$6/ft x 300 ft. = \$1,800 total; 75%
> cost share is = \$1,350

**4) SPECIAL PROJECTS/GRANTS**

**[General Service Grants:]{.underline}**

This grant is used for technical/administrative services incurred by the
District to carry out their conservation programs. It is also used for
the educational and promotional programs of the District. For fiscal
year 2008 the amount granted to the District was \$23,198.00. An
additional 20% of cost-share funds (\$5,761.80) can also be used for
technical and administrative services for the amount spent on completed
projects. The total amount of technical/administrative services funding
for fiscal year 2008 is \$28,959.80.

**[ReInvest in Minnesota (RIM) Reserve Service Grant]{.underline}**

This grant is given to the District for the implementation and
application of the RIM Reserve Program. For fiscal year 2008 the
District received \$784.00.

**[Farm Bill Assistance Grant:]{.underline}**

This grant is given to the District to provide for staff to promote the
conservation provisions of the Farm Bill. The purpose of position would
be to promote the conservation programs of the Farm Bill -- CRP, CCRP,
WHIP, WRP, CREP, etc. Promotion will be done through direct contact
(mailings, phone calls, group presentations, etc), with follow up to
determine eligibility, contract processing, conservation planning and
monthly reporting. For fiscal year 2008 the District recieved
\$14,000.00.