Isanti Soil and Water Conservation District Strategic Framing

Transcription

1 Isanti Soil and Water Conservation District Strategic Framing Completed August 18, 2015 Adopted by the Isanti SWCD Board September 15, 2015 Assisted by Jason Weinerman MN Board of Water and Soil Resources 1601 Minnesota Drive Brainerd, MN

2 Background The Isanti Soil and Water Conservation District is a special purpose district of government, which operates under the authorities found within Minnesota Statute 103C: Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Found within MS 103C is the State s Soil and Water Conservation Policy (MS 103C.005), which states: 103C.005 SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION POLICY. Maintaining and enhancing the quality of soil and water for the environmental and economic benefits they produce, preventing degradation, and restoring degraded soil and water resources of this state contribute greatly to the health, safety, economic well-being, and general welfare of this state and its citizens. Land occupiers have the responsibility to implement practices that conserve the soil and water resources of the state. Soil and water conservation measures implemented on private lands in this state provide benefits to the general public by reducing erosion, sedimentation, siltation, water pollution, and damages caused by floods. The soil and water conservation policy of the state is to encourage land occupiers to conserve soil, water, and the natural resources they support through the implementation of practices that: (1) control or prevent erosion, sedimentation, siltation, and related pollution in order to preserve natural resources; (2) ensure continued soil productivity; (3) protect water quality; (4) prevent impairment of dams and reservoirs; (5) reduce damages caused by floods; (6) preserve wildlife; (7) protect the tax base; and (8) protect public lands and waters. The Isanti Soil and Water Conservation District used this policy to identify the land practices that were most appropriate to the effective management of Isanti County s soil and water resources. This Strategic Framing document is designed to provide the Isanti SWCD Board and staff with the information to assist in the district s strategic decision making. The priorities contained 2

3 within this document can help with long-term programmatic development and staffing considerations. The partners section provides a listing of those who should be considered in the district s decision making and can be used to solicit support in fulfilling the District s mission statement. 3

4 ISANTI SWCD MISSION The Mission of the Isanti Soil and Water Conservation District is to provide technical, financial, and educational resources in order to implement practices and projects that preserve, protect, and enhance water quality, soil, and other natural resources. 4

5 Primary Priorities Isanti SWCD State Conservation Practice Priorities Protect water quality o Protect public waters Control or prevent erosion, sedimentation, siltation, and related pollution in order to preserve natural resources o Ensure continued soil productivity Secondary Priorities Preserve wildlife Secondary benefits from addressing district priorities Prevent impairment of dams and reservoirs Protect the tax base Practices in which the Isanti SWCD will take a partner role but will leave the lead to other agencies Protect public lands Practices that will be managed on a response basis Reduce damages caused by floods 5

6 Isanti SWCD Desired Future Conditions Priority: Protect Water Quality and Protect Public Waters Desired Future Condition: Groundwater Protection Keep the groundwater healthy to protect public health Ensure that groundwater quality can meet the appropriate uses for a variety of groundwater users Protect linkages between surface water and groundwater to eliminate contamination of ground water resources Desired Future Condition: Surface Water Protection Keep pollutants out of the county s surface waters Maintain surface water quality at or better than regionally appropriate standards Ensure that surface water quality is appropriate for locally desired uses including recreation Desired Future Condition: Minimize or Eliminate Water Contamination (both groundwater and surface water) Keep agricultural chemicals and fertilizers on the land and reduce runoff See that feedlots are properly managed to avoid runoff into the county s waters See that urban, suburban, and other areas with stormwater runoff are properly managed to reduce or eliminate contamination from these sources 6

7 Priority: Control or Prevent Erosion, Sedimentation, Siltation, and Related Pollution in Order to Preserve Natural Resources While Ensuring Continued Soil Productivity Desired Future Condition: Reduce or Control Soil Loss Through Wind Erosion Reduce or minimize the amount of dust blowing in the county Slow or reverse the removal of windbreaks in the county Desired Future Condition: Reduce or Control Soil Loss Through Water Erosion Reduce or eliminate soil loss from developed lands Ensure continued soil productivity through the protection of soil from water erosion Desired Future Condition: Ensure the County s Soil Resources and Land Uses are Productive for the Long Term Keep healthy soil in place to ensure local productivity Manage the county s soil resources to ensure working lands for working people Keep a long-term focus when working with landowners to ensure soil productivity for future generations See the county s public and private forests are managed for the long-term productivity of the resource and the protection of the land resource See that county land use decisions do not result in improper land management decisions o Work to see that property tax structure promotes proper management and discourages improper management o Recognize that many people in the county generate their livelihood from the land 7

8 Secondary Priority: Preserve Wildlife Desired Future Condition: Maintain Habitat Diversity Ensure there are multiple habitat types across the county both for habitat and wildlife species diversity Maintain a broad focus to ensure all locally appropriate species are valued Retain a generalized focus across wildlife species 8

9 Isanti SWCD Strategic Planning Stakeholders: Clients, Partners, and Competitors Clients: Who are those for whom the district exists? What kinds of goods or services do these people expect of you? What are their interests? Landowners Farmers Lake owners Regulated landowners Those interested in conservation projects Conservation tree planters Civic Organizations Hunting groups Lake Associations Local Governments Cities County County Parks Townships Schools State Government DNR MPCA BWSR State Highway General Citizenry While not everyone in the county is a direct client of the Isanti SWCD, the SWCD Board recognizes that district operations may affect everyone in the county. Therefore, the county citizens are an indirect client as they are likely to receive secondary benefits for the work performed by the district. 9

10 Partners: Who does the district work with on a regular basis? What are the frequently used partnerships? What are the less frequently used partnerships? What are the goals and motivations of these partners? County Planning and Zoning Parks County Board Cities State BWSR MPCA DNR Federal NRCS Other Counties Surrounding counties and further partnering in watershed and regional conservation projects State of Minnesota Other SWCDs Surrounding Counties Statewide Conservation Network (MASWCD) Other Organizations Private businesses (Prairie Restorations) Wildlife Groups Church, social, local civic organizations Commodity/Producer Groups Environmental Non-profits Higher Authority 10

11 Competitors: Who does the same kind of work the district does? What service does the district do that the competitor cannot do? County Planning and Zoning-Local water planning. A cooperative relationship exists and needs to be fostered. Private Interests Prairie Restorations Environmental Non-Profits o Great River Greening o The Nature Conservancy Landscapers, Developers These entities provide full service. The SWCD rents equipment, and provides technical and financial assistance. Larger Social Influences for Landowners Property taxes Social norms Social factors do not always favor conservation. 11

12 Funders: Who provides the districts funds? Why do these agencies/individuals fund the district? How stable and secure is this funding? Do you have the right kind of relationship with this organization? Why do these funders provide you with the funding? Where do they get their funding from? County Responsive to citizens Community Service Providing a service the county does not provide Provide a service with the county Providing professional and technical resources for the protection and restoration to county s waters Protection of county quality of community Sustainable landscape BWSR Cost share: for conservation Local delivery Support for local technical assistance Clean Water Funds: long-term resource protection, protect what we have DNR Legacy grants Private Pheasants Forever: Habitat, prairie grass plantings Sportsmen s groups: Projects 12

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