Page 1 of 3

KOOCHICHING SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

COURTHOUSE COUNTY BOARD ROOM

715 4TH

STREET * INTERNATIONAL FALLS * MN * 56649

MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020

Members Present: Ralph Lewis District I

Eldon Voigt District III

Richard Dreher District IV

Al Linder District V

Members Absent: George Aitchison District II

Others Present: Pam Tomevi District Administrator

Eric Olson Resource Conservationist

Sam Soderman Water Resource Specialist

James Aasen Forest Resource Specialist

Kevin Adee Koochiching County Commissioner

Jody Peek NRCS District Conservationist

Vice-Chair Voigt called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.

2020/3-1 Motion by Lewis, seconded by Linder to approve the agenda as corrected.

Voting yes: Lewis, Voigt, Dreher, Linder. Motion carried.

2020/3-2 Motion by Lewis, seconded by Linder to approve the minutes dated February 3, 2020

as corrected.

Voting yes: Lewis, Voigt, Dreher, Linder. Motion carried.

2020/3-3 Motion by Lewis, seconded by Linder to allow payment of ordinary and necessary

bills between March 4, 2020 and April 6, 2020, not to exceed budget.

Voting yes: Lewis, Voigt, Dreher, Linder. Motion carried.

Supervisor Reports

Dreher reported on his attendance at the Bartlett Lake Management meeting in Northome. Discussion

included potential options for water quality improvement projects. Dreher reported on his attendance at

the Wood Ash meeting in International Falls. Discussion included hauling schedule. The Resource

Conservationist informed the Board that outreach efforts are scheduled to include a partner booth at the

Roseau County Fair later this year.

Voigt reported that, as discussed at the last board meeting, he was able to secure a DNR speaker on

Chronic Wasting Disease, free of charge, so the request for District sponsorship to help cover speaker cost

is no longer necessary. Voigt reported on his attendance at the Earth Day event planning meetings over

the past few weeks and requested Board authorization to receive per diems for event activities.

Page 2 of 3

2020/3-4 Motion by Voigt, seconded by Lewis to approve Voigt’s attendance at up to two Earth

Day planning meetings per month until April 16, 2020, assistance on a forestry

newspaper article, and participation at the SWCD booth presentation on April 22,

2020 Voting yes: Lewis, Voigt, Dreher, Linder. Motion carried.

Voigt also discussed his meetings in St. Paul with Gary Michaels and John Carlson regarding the

District’s partnership with the DNR and a potential online mapping program for assisting with small tract

logging; with MASWCD Director LeAnn Buck regarding the District’s work and ongoing efforts to

secure stable funding for SWCDs; with Sen. Tom Bakk regarding the District’s work; with Rep. Rob

Ecklund regarding widespread erosion concerns along Shorewood Drive, requests from the Rainy Lake

Sportfishing Club related to walleye stocking in the Rat Root River, outcome of a proposed easement on a

nearby trout stream, deer management area assessments, and Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).

NRCS District Conservationist Report

District Conservationist Jody Peek provided an oral report and discussed Conservation Reserve Program

(CRP) sign-ups; new program for Soil Heath CRP, Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) payments

status, CSP mailings regarding contract renewals and extensions, new staffing in Bemidji and Baudette,

outreach activities including a MN Beef and Livestock Expo and nutrient management training, and a

reminder for SWCDs to hold Local Working Group (LWG) meetings prior to July 31, 2020.

District Administrator Report

See attached.

Resource Conservationist Report

See attached.

Water Resources Specialist Report

See attached.

Forest Resource Specialist Report

See attached.

Program Coordinator

See attached.

NEW BUSINESS

2020/3-5 Motion by Lewis, seconded by Linder to support the Big Fork River Board’s water

monitoring program and authorizing a payment of $250 from FY19 NRBG Local

Water Management to support supplies

Voting yes: Lewis, Voigt, Dreher, Linder. Motion carried.

2020/3-6 Motion by Linder, seconded by Lewis to schedule the Local Working Group Meeting

for Monday, April 20, 2020 at 7:00 pm in the Koochiching County courthouse board

meeting room in International Falls.

Voting yes: Lewis, Voigt, Dreher, Linder. Motion carried.

Staff reported that several landowners along Shorewood Drive have contacted the District

regarding slumping and erosion concerns. A meeting between the landowners and multiple agency

Page 3 of 3

staff has been scheduled for Wednesday, March 11th

during the water quality forum at Rainy River

Community College (RRCC) to review concerns and discuss options.

Upcoming Meetings:

2020/3-7 Motion by Voigt, seconded by Linder authorizing the Resource Conservationist to

attend Basic Hydrology Training in Waite Park on March 25th

.

Voting yes: Lewis, Voigt, Dreher, Linder. Motion carried.

General Business:

Discussion included the resolution process and timeframe for 2020, invitation for local tree growers to

establish tree nurseries, and the Forest Resource Specialist’s request to attend annual meetings of the

Vermilion Community College advisory board.

2020/3-8 Motion by Voigt, seconded by Linder authorizing the Forest Resource Specialist to

attend annual meetings of the Vermilion Community College advisory board.

Voting yes: Lewis, Voigt, Dreher, Linder. Motion carried.

Confirm Next Meeting Date:

The next regular board meeting of the Koochiching SWCD will be held on Monday, April 6, 2020 at 6:00

p.m. in the courthouse board meeting room.

Adjourn Meeting:

2020/3-9 Motion by Lewis, seconded by Linder to adjourn the meeting at 7:40 p.m.

Voting yes: Lewis, Voigt, Dreher, Linder. Motion carried.

Submitted by: ________________________________ _____________________

Board Secretary, Richard Dreher Date

Approved: ________________________________ _____________________

Chair, George Aitchison Date

Natural Resources Conservation Service 3217 Bemidji Ave N #3

Phone: 218-751-1942 ext 3 Fax: 855-543-4409

An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

March 2020 NRCS Report 3/03/2020

By: Jody Peek

CSP

o Renewal application deadline is March 20th

April 24th

ranking deadline

May 9th

obligation deadline

o General signup application deadline is May 29th

EQIP/RCPP

o Application deadline of March 13th

.

o Ranking deadline May 22nd

.

o Approval deadline June 26th

.

o Obligation Deadline Aug 14th

.

New CRP Soil Health and Income Protection Pilot

o Sign up starts March 30th

through August 21st

Bemidji CST Staffing Update:

o Two vacancies both have final offer dates.

RC starts in Baudette on March 30th

SC starts in Bemidji on April 26th

.

Other Items

o Nutrient Management Training on 2/13

o All employee meeting held at Cragun’s Resort February 24th

-26th

o National deadline for making CSP payments was March 6th

o Toolkit is being disabled on Thursday, March 12th

o Assisting Bemidji and Baudette offices with CSP mods/payments, EQIP planning, and

numerous other tasks

o Local Work Group meetings due August 7th

Koochiching SWCD District Administrator Report February 2020

AIS o

BWSR Conservation Delivery o Planning for Earth Day event ay RRCC; Area 8 meeting registration/host

schedule/Agenda/March meeting prep; summary report/discussions re: erosion concerns along Shorewood Drive; information review on crude oil spill near Fort Frances

BWSR Local Capacity o International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board webex and conference calls; water

level reports; Pre-Spring Engagement Committee discussion related to High Flood Risk Rule Curve decision; Landscape Forestry Planning discussions, NIPF final project report/final financial report; Forestry program summary report

o

County/District o Excel coding for financial reports/time tracking forms; county service agreement drafts; year-

end financial report prep; Staff project updates

MPCA Contracts o

Natural Resource Block Grant o eLink reporting,

Wood Ash o

General Administration

Board meeting prep/follow-up items; Board minutes/agenda; staff meetings/training; calendar update/time tracking; Payroll; PERA; FWT/SWT; bank statement reconciliation; QB transactions/updates; Treasurer Report; Accounts Receivable; Accounts Payable, budget updates; bank deposits/online banking; staff meetings; file/record maintenance; general phone/mail/email

Submitted by: Pam Tomevi, District Administrator

Resource Conservationist Report

February 2020

WCA Talking to ESD on notices for upcoming projects and decisions with other agencies. Assisting landowners with permit process and identifying areas of wetlands on possible

wetland properties in the area. Working with DNR, BWSR, and ACOE on getting information for permits and actual

project implementation. Continued work on WCA tasks and updating Koochiching ESD on in-progress projects. Work with various landowners and conservation officers on violations, potential

violations, restoration orders, and regulations.

Wood Ash

Assisting landowners with process/working with DH contracting.

Ash production is remaining stable (~3 loads/day)

Working with DH contracting on permits and areas to dump/spread with current

conditions.

Attended quarterly meeting for program, no major changes in operation.

Type 4 operator registration and details on certification requirements.

Cost Share

Working with TSA 8 project facilitator for new process on requesting assistance and

visiting sites for potential/ongoing projects.

Giddings probe contacts for area projects/timelines for funding and feasibility.

Water Quality

Checking river conditions daily and communicating with DNR and other areas districts.

Calls to project manager and other agencies to check status on other river conditions and

entering data.

Equipment purchase/finalize change order.

Miscellaneous Attended Bartlett Lake meeting in Northome.

Submitted by: Eric Olson

Water Resource Specialist Report

February 2020

AIS Budget review

Invoicing

Agreement for Kab and Ash Inspectors

2020 Inspection program planning

Calls/emails w/ Always There Staffing

SWAG Final Reporting

Lab data errors/issues

Big Fork SWAG budget review, workplan finalize

RBW Geomorph work w/ DNR MPCA

Sediment fingerprinting work

EQUIS Data entry, photolog, field notes

Rat Root Call w/ MPCA

BF watershed work planning, emails with MPCA staff

BF Meeting w/ MPCA staff in house

Valley flow sampling w/ MPCA staff

Local Capacity Landowner questions/walk-in County Mapping GIS Meeting/imagery Spring fishing meeting

WPLMN Sampling

Miscellaneous Emails Vacation

Submitted by: Sam Soderman

Koochiching SWCD Forest Resource Specialist’s Report

February 2020

Local Capacity-Forestry

Researched general forestry and forest health topics.

Completed a CAP plan and began an FSP.

Worked on developing NRCS EQUIP Practice Plans.

Attended a 1 Watershed 1 Plan/Landscape Stewardship Plan Organizational Meeting in Pine River.

Worked with staff to plan an Earth Day Event.

Began presentation for WRAPS/Forest Stewardship Workshops for Kooch and LOW.

Discussion and planning with BWSR stewardship coordinator for landscape stewardship grant in big fork and little

fork watersheds.

Wrote an article for the 2020 newsletter.

Began organizing Northern Landscape Committee Meeting and secure presentations.

Many landowner discussions involving Lawns to Legumes program, FSP’s, SFIA, tree planting, hemp production

etc…

Kooch CWMA

Awarded BWSR CWMA grant, reviewed workplan and began coordinating with CWMA partners.

Began planning spring partner meeting, coordination emails, and sent poll for scheduling.

Discussed coordinating weed control on private lands with County Lands and Forests.

2020 Tree Sale/Native Plant Sale

Discussed sales with many interested landowners.

Finalize 2020 order forms and distribute via mail and email.

Processed orders and update inventory.

Submitted by: James Aasen

Forest Resource Specialist

Koochiching SWCD Program Coordinator Report February 2020

Local Capacity:

Earth Day discussions and planning Website updates eLINK updates Newsletter writing/editing

MPCA Rainy Basin Watershed Grant

Conducted 1 interview Event planning for Lower Rainy and Rapid River Watersheds Planning for Forestry event - March

Planning for Big Fork Public meeting Planning of Road Salt Maintenance Training

PCA Wood Ash

End User Forms sent, and up to date Updated permits, and spreading Updated summary, hauling reports and spreading reports, permit coversheets Partner meeting on Feb. 26th at 10:00 a.m. (PCA Office)

NRBG Grants

eLINK

climatology data entry

Envirothon planning General Administration Customer walk-in general assistance; board meeting prep; minutes; minutes book updating; reporting; website maintenance; credit card tracking; tree program promotion; bank deposits; holiday Submitted by: Jolén Simon Program Coordinator