Save the date: Invasive Species Workshop July 22nd

MN SWCS members:

Please share the following with your colleagues.

The Minnesota Invasive Species Council (MISAC) and the MN Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) Chapter invite you to attend the MN Traveling Invasive Species Workshop meeting at Elm Creek Park Reserve Chalet on Wednesday, July 22nd.

The traveling workshop is a one-day, field based workshop taking place in the West Metro and Three Rivers Park District. This year’s topics include early detection and identification of newcomer invasive plants, zebra mussel control, battling wild parsnip, using goats and fire to manage buckthorn and much more!

This will be a full day event beginning at 8:00 a.m. and ending by 4:00 pm. Registration fees cover the cost of lunch, water/ice, and transport between field sites. Registration details will follow at a later date. We’re looking forward to seeing you there!

For more information (and a printable flyer), please visit the MN SWCS Chapter website at: http://minnesotaswcs.org/

Minnesota SWCS Award Recipients

The Minnesota Chapter SWCS is pleased to congratulate the following recipients of chapter awards presented at our annual meeting on March 2nd.

Education Award
Steve Simons accepted the award on behalf of Central Minnesota Water Education Alliance.
The Central MN Water Education Alliance (CMWEA) is a coalition of central MN cities, counties and other organizations that provide education outreach to promote water quality stewardship.  The mission of CMWEA is to develop and implement educational programs that encourage individuals in Central MN to protect water resources by increasing their knowledge and making simple behavior changes.  By working in concert, the members of CMWEA are able to provide a consistent water quality educational message.

MN SWCS Scholarship Award
Patrick Hagen – 2014 University of MN, Crookston graduate.
Patrick took a job with Capistran Farms and Seed Company in Crookston while attending school.   This allowed him the opportunity to learn about the views the local farmers held along with their farming practices.  He plans to use this information along the education he received to help merge conservation of our natural lands with sustainable farming and production.   In his future he hopes to blend the fields of agriculture and natural resources instead of viewing them as separate.

Commendation
Kelly Oliver – Served on the executive committee for the MN Chapter.
Kelly was very active in the organization of summer tours and annual meetings.
Russell Kleinschmidt – Served as Chapter President.
Did a Great job of running meetings and leading the MN Chapter during his term.

(Post from Julie Reberg.)

MN SWCS Annual Meeting is March 2nd in Crookston

The 2015 Annual Meeting and Conference of the Minnesota Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society is Monday March 2nd, 8:00 to 5:00, at the Bergland Laboratory and Ag Research Center, 2900 University Avenue, Crookston, MN.

The program features:

• Chris Philips "Pollinator habitat, bees, pesticides, and implications for land use."
• Matt Simmons "Patch-Burn Grazing on Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge"
• Leon Osborne "Dealing with Weird Weather and Climate Change"
• Panel Discussion on "Land and Water Connections in Northwestern Minnesota: The Cumulative Effects of Land Use on Water Quality and Quantity" with Tim Cowdery, Hydrogeologist – USGS; Les Lemm – BWSR; Henry Van Offelen – Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; Chuck Fritz – International Watershed Institute and past Red Lake Watershed District Manager; Livestock farmer - Tim Szymanski

The full agenda is available at http://lamprey.crk.umn.edu/calendar/index.php?eID=10148

National SWCS awards deadline extended

Note that the national SWCS office extended its deadline for awards nominations to March 16th. Take the opportunity to honor the hardworking conservationists in Minnesota.
Here is a link to the flyer describing the awards:
http://www.swcs.org/documents/filelibrary/pdfs/2014_Awards_Flyer3_B1AEED9DA1D3B.pdf