FY22 LSC Soil Health Grant

The Lower St. Croix Watershed (LSCW) consists of an abundance of natural resources making it conducive for both agricultural production and urban areas. The watershed also contains various geologic features rendering substantial areas of the watershed to have vulnerable groundwater including DWSMA vulnerability, pollution sensitivity to wells, pollution sensitivity to near surface materials, karst features, and well testing show ? 5 mg/L nitrate. Adequate supplies of high-quality groundwater are needed for the region's residents, as 100% of the drinking water in the watershed is derived from groundwater. As part of this project, LSCW partners will provide technical and financial assistance to agricultural landowners in these vulnerable groundwater areas to increase the long term implementation of soil health practices where there are direct benefits to public water supplies. Activities would include agricultural and nonstructural practices, such as conservation cover, conservation crop rotation, cover crop, forage and biomass planting, nutrient management, prescribed grazing, and residue management (no-till/strip till). LSCW partners will work toward implementing agricultural practices on 1,228 acres and nonstructural practices on 2,410 acres within the project area, and reach over 45,891 community members through education and engagement in soil health activities. Partners on this project include, but are not limited to, LSCW Partnership members (Anoka, Chisago, Isanti, Pine, and Washington Counties; Anoka, Chisago, Isanti, and Pine Soil & Water Conservation Districts, Washington Conservation District; Brown's Creek, Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix, Comfort Lake-Forest Lake, South Washington, and Valley Branch Watershed Districts), National Resources Conservation Service, University of Minnesota Extension, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Minnesota Department of Health, local cities/townships, and local landowners and farmers who own or rent land.