Contact: Josh Van Den Berg
651-215-9008
St. Paul, Minn.
Each year the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) gathers local, state and federal agency staff for a board tour highlighting successful conservation projects in a region of Minnesota. The tour provides staff and board members a valuable opportunity to experience Minnesota’s local conservation delivery system in action. The focus for the August 23, 2017 tour included projects in Kandiyohi County and Middle Fork Crow River Watershed District.
“The work of watershed districts and soil and water conservation districts is essential to local conservation,” BWSR Executive Director John Jaschke said. “The importance of the board tour is attendees get to view the projects they approve on paper up close. It’s a powerful opportunity because you can touch these projects, meet and learn from local conservation advocates, and witness how conservation practices and partnerships have a direct impact on Minnesota’s waterways.”
The Board toured a number of projects focused on clean water and wetland restoration. This included stops at Diamond Lake project sites by Middle Fork Crow River Watershed District, a stabilization project at Neer Park by Kandiyohi SWCD and the City of New London, and the Grass Lake Restoration project in Kandiyohi County. During the tour board members heard from local and state presenters about the positive impacts of these projects.
The 20-member BWSR Board includes representatives of state agencies, local governments and citizens. The projects featured during their annual tour illustrate how successful partnerships between federal, state and local governments and private landowners are making a difference for Minnesota’s soil and water.
For a quick video recap visit BWSR's Facebook page