Soil & Water Conservation District details grants, sediment reductions and public‑waters inventory concerns

Tony Nelson and SWCD colleagues gave the board a detailed annual report on conservation programs, funding and watershed projects.

Nelson said the office hired Dylan Jarrell in March to manage the county feedlot officer duties, tree program and the no‑till drill rental program. "Last year, we planted over 1,782 acres," he said, describing a popular drill rental program that served 32 individuals and long‑running Ag BMP low‑interest loan work that has made more than $2.25 million available to local landowners for equipment and conservation projects.

He highlighted water‑quality projects and leveraged funding: the SWCD spent about $834,000 on water projects last year and reported leveraging roughly $300,000 in federal dollars to reach high levels of cost‑share (up to 90%) for landowner projects. Nelson described a $400,000 Clean Water Fund grant to repair 2,600 feet of Sneaky Creek (County Ditch 41 outlet), estimating annual reductions of 1,404 tons of sediment and 1,615 pounds of phosphorus.

SWCD staff also outlined urban conservation work, education and outreach (rain barrel and pollinator workshops; Waterfest education for approximately 1,700 fourth graders) and invasive‑species and noxious weed efforts (16 plants listed in the county noxious weed category for 2025). They said the public waters inventory preliminary review would add nine new water resource areas to Clay County’s list, prompting landowner concern over buffer requirements and the DNR comment process.

Board members urged the SWCD to continue engaging landowners and confirmed the county’s role in monitoring and assisting affected owners if buffer rules change. The SWCD said it will help landowners navigate changes and that they are monitoring rule‑making and will provide feedback to DNR and legislators.