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Erosion
Control is a primary objective of the Scott SWCD. Erosion damages
property through soil loss at the site and sediment damages to off site
property.
The need to repair dramatic gully needs little
explanation. However, hillside or "sheet" erosion produces
even greater extensive volumes of sediment. This sediment, when washed
off site, clogs streams, ditches, waterways and carries with it
chemicals damaging to water quality.
Recent studies support common sense observations that
erosion and sediment control is the single most effective way to improve
local water quality. Studies of the Minnesota River have shown
reductions in sediment delivery would significantly improve the water
quality of this river.
Erosion Control
Practices
The Scott SWCD provides a variety of ways to solve
erosion control problems. The Scott SWCD staff designs these solutions.
Cost-sharing funds and/or low interest loans are available to assist in
construction costs.
Erosion control measures are grouped by the nature of
the problem they are intended to solve. "Sheet" erosion and
gully erosion are the two most basic categories of erosion.
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Typical solutions for sheet erosion include:
conservation tillage, contour strips, terraces, filter strips and
buffer strips.
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Typical solutions for gully erosion include:
grassed waterways, water and sediment control basins and grade
stabilization structures to stop gully's at the head of ravines or
as side inlets to streams and ditches.
Cost Share Programs
These practices, and others as needed by individual
site requirements, may be installed with cost share money from a variety
of sources. The Scott SWCD is constantly seeking additional cost share
funds to meet the demand for erosion control practices in the county.
Sources now available include:
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State Cost Share funds:
These are State of Minnesota funds granted annually to the SWCD by
the BWSR. Payment is made on the basis of practices being
completed according to plans and specifications and paid receipts
from the contractor. The maximum cost share rate is 75%. |
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Twin City Water Quality Funds:
The Metropolitan Council grants funds to the SWCD for erosion
control. These funds must be requested on a regular basis and may
not always be available for erosion practices. When available they
are paid to landowners in the same way as the State Cost Share
funds. The maximum cost share rate is 75%. |
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EQIP - Environmental Quality Incentive Program:
These are Federal Funds available on an application basis.
Applications receive an environmental score with better scoring
applications funded first until the annual allocation is gone.
Each application, if approved becomes a 5-year contract, which
requires control of all erosion problems on the tract of land
covered by the application. The time from application to approval
can be as long as 1 year. The maximum cost share rate is 75%.
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SRF, State Revolving Fund: This
program makes loans available at an interest rate as low as 3.5% for
conservation related expenditures such as no till planters, ag. waste
control structures, terraces etc.. Loan applications are made to the
Scott SWCD for certification that the proposed loan will meet legitimate
conservation goals and to FmHA for financial approval of the loan.
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