Representative Paul Torkelson, Marilyn Bernhardson, Senator Dennis Frederickson & Ralph Heiling

NEWS RELEASE

 Date: February 27, 2009

 Ralph Heiling and Marilyn Bernhardson of Redwood SWCD MEET WITH LOCAL LEGISLATORS

 Ralph Heiling and Marilyn Bernhardson, from Redwood Soil and Water Conservation District, attended a legislative briefing and meetings at the State Capitol February 24 in St. Paul.

 “It is important for us to get the conservation message out to our elected officials in St. Paul,” said Bernhardson, of Redwood Falls.  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 fun 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, Ralph Heiling and Marilyn Bernhardson met with local legislators Senator Dennis Frederickson, Representative Paul Torkelson, and Representative Marty Seifert.

 SWCDs 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 Redwood Soil and Water Conservation District, please call (507) 637-2427 Ext. 3.

Waukon RIM donates to SWCD

By Tony Krause                         Printed November 23, 2009 - Agriculture Today

Editor

          In the mid 1990s a group developed a plan through which land in the region would be acquired for recreational purposes.

          The land in questions was property the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) could not acquire, but it was land deemed marginal – better for its hunting, trails and habitat opportunities than for farming.

          The goal was to create a program through which conservation easements would be put on the land as a way to create more recreational spots in the Minnesota River Valley and out of that goal Waukon RIM was formed.

          Through the efforts of Waukon RIM working in conjunction with other groups, including the Redwood Valley Saddle Club, Pheasants Forever, the Minnesota Valley Riders Snowmobile Club, the Redwood Falls Sportsmens Club and the Morgan Sportsmens Club, about 600 acres of property was acquired.

          Then things changed.

          “In the early 2000s land prices started going up,” said Loran Kaardal, one of the organizers of Waukon RIM.  “We discovered we could not raise enough money fast enough to make a dent in land acquisition.”

          So, Waukon RIM became a land management entity with the philosophy of working to create places for public to use for recreation.

          The group then experienced increases in taxes and saw its maintenance costs on the rise.

          It was in 2003 when the board decided it was time to make a change.

          New laws on the books allowed the DNR to own and manage land including that owned by Waukon RIM.

          “Those substantive changes in the rule allowed us to have a bargain sale,” Kaardal explained.

          A bargain sale, he said is the sale of land for a modest amount – enough to at least pay off any current loans and bills.

          In turn, management of the land would be handed over to the state entity.

          “We recently completed the transfer of two of the three pieces of property,” said Kaardal, adding the hope is within the next 90 days to have the third piece transferred as well.

          What the sale allowed Waukon RIM to do was fulfill a promise it had made more than six years ago.

          That commitment was to donate funding to the Redwood County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) for the building of a storage shed.

          A recent check in the amount of $35,000 from Waukon RIM to SWCD fulfilled that promise.

          “It took us a while to get there, but we did it,” said Kaardal, adding the shed is going to also be used by the DNR to meets its needs.

          Kaardal said some of the work on those trails is still being done, which is going to help create better access to recreational property for the public.  In the future, said Kaardal, the hope is to improve public access to Mann’s Lake which is located west of old North Redwood.

          “Basically Waukon RIM has gotten out of the land acquisition and management business,” said Kaardal.  “In many ways the vision continues and has matured and sprouted in the DNR and the Green Corridor Project.”

          Kaardal said there were many people who helped to develop and maintain the vision of Waukon RIM while it existed, especially he mentioned key board members Wally Bernhardson, Jim Larsen and Kevin Zaske.

          While Waukon RIM may have ended, its vision still exists, as more and more marginal land is taken out of production and used to better serve the public.

The ‘Extraordinary Contribution Award’ was presented to Marilyn Bernhardson, of Redwood Falls, by Minnesota Association of Conservation District Employees (MACDE) president Felicia Brockoff, on November 4^th, at the MACDE annual business meeting.  The following was presented at the meeting.  

Marilyn Bernhardson, Redwood Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) District Administrator, has been a leader in the conservation district movement.  Her dedication assists not only her own district, but districts at the area, state and national level.

Her work as a member and now Chair of Clean Water Council has been invaluable.  She has been able to share and communicate the important role of SWCDs and their work with private landowners, non point protection and restoration activities to various state partners and organizations.

As Chair of the MASWCD Legislative Committee she has been able to articulate the need for funding for SWCD programs.  Her role as chair assists the Association with prioritizing legislative initiative and helping to emphasize the need for her peers to work with legislators on SWCD policy issues.  She has been engaged with legislative policy issues at the local, state and federal level.

Marilyn demonstrates a strong passion for the SWCD mission.  She is a leader and a mentor to so many of her peers.  Marilyn’s work and dedication goes beyond her individual district and has been a champion for all SWCDs.

 SWCD funds available

Would you like to receive up to $7,444 per acre to place your land along rivers, streams, and drainage ditches into a filterstrip program?  Stop in or call the Redwood Soil and Water Conservation District at 507-637-2427 Ext. 3 to find out how you can sign up for the new program.   First come, first serve with only $3.25 million available in Minnesota.