Regular Meeting

December 13, 2011

ATTENDANCE

Lauren Michelsen - Heron Lake Watershed District

Margaret Peeters - Heron Lake Watershed District

Jan Voit - Heron Lake Watershed District

Ross Behrends - Heron Lake Watershed District

Marv Zylstra - Nobles County

Rick Nelson - Nobles SWCD

Gary Ewert - Heron Lake Watershed District

Jim Buschena - Heron Lake Watershed District

Dale Bartosh - Heron Lake Watershed District

Wayne Smith - Nobles County

Dave Henkels - Jackson County

Jack Beardsley - Heron Lake Watershed District

Mike McCarvel - Heron Lake Watershed District

Mark Bartosh

Roger Hartman

Sandy Hartman

1. Call to Order

Jack Beardsley called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

2. Agenda

Jim Buschena made a motion to approve the agenda. Gary Ewert seconded this. Motion carried unanimously.

3. Quarterly Meeting with Commissioners

Marv Zylstra asked about the status of the Watershed Management Plan (WMP) following the hearing and the open house. No changes have been made to the WMP. It will go before the BWSR board for approval.

Dave Henkels asked if there had been any changes to the WMP since the draft plan was issued. The comments that were made by agency staff were incorporated into the draft plan that was presented at the hearing. Since the hearing, BWSR staff noted that the $24.00 per parcel maximum language was not listed. That change was made. Information relating to the open house including the advertisement, flyer, PowerPoint presentation, handout, and meeting summary will be added to the WMP and it will be sent to BWSR for action. Discussion was held regarding the maximum per parcel charge of $24.00 and the fees that could be collected. Preliminary calculations indicate that the $24.00 maximum limits the WMD funds to approximately $90,000.00 on an annual basis.

4. Minutes

Mike McCarvel made a motion to approve the minutes of the November 15 regular meeting.

Gary Ewert seconded this. Motion carried unanimously.

5. Treasurer’s Report

Jan Voit presented the treasurer’s report and bills payable. Discussion was held regarding the Lime Creek project. Jim Buschena made a motion to approve the treasurer’s report. Mike McCarvel seconded this. Motion carried unanimously.

6. Reports

District Administrator

Jan Voit reported on the Freshman Honors Presentation, NCR-SARE grant application, West Fork Des Moines River (WFMDR) Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) project development meeting, Watershed Management Plan (WMP) open house, Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts (MAWD) Annual Meeting, Julie Buntjer’s articles in the Daily Globe, Clean Water Legacy (CWL) grant application, Conservation Tillage (CT) Demonstration Plot committee  meeting, state dam update, TMDL Implementation Grant Kickoff meeting, Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) Research Grant application, Cover Crop Demonstration Plot final report, Water Quality Management Planning Grant final report, and the Clean Water Partnership grant application.

Watershed Technician

Ross Behrends provided information on the Kunerth terrace project that was proposed in the CWL grant application. Discussion was held. No action was taken. Managers requested additional information for the January meeting. He gave an update on CRP, RIM WRP, Schulz wildlife pond, rock inlets, Corn CAP Research Grant, STORET, CWL grant, and the Fulda Lakes’ presentation at MAWD Annual Meeting.

Resource Technician

Margaret Peeters informed the board about the NCR-SARE and MDA Research grant applications, Conservation Tillage Demonstration Plot committee meeting and final workshop, rain garden education project in the City of Fulda, and possible grant applications for January.

Watershed Coordinator

Lauren Michelsen provided information about water samples at a site along Jack Creek, seed harvest at the wetland bank site, feedlot grant project development meeting, WMP open house, seed harvest in Martin County, sign installation with the Department of Natural Resources, community outreach for rain garden grant, meeting with Kelli Nerem, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and Jan Voit regarding the format for the feedlot grant kickoff meeting, feedlot grant kickoff meeting, and site inspections with the Jackson County Feedlot Officer (CFO).

Discussion was held regarding the water samples taken from Jack Creek. Discussion was also held regarding the Level III feedlot inventory that will be conducted in the WFDMR portions of Nobles, Jackson, Murray, and Cottonwood Counties.

7. Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 7:37 p.m.

Michael McCarvel

Secretary