Latest news with #SWCD
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Stormwater infiltration basin project underway at Bemidji State
May 30—BEMIDJI — Anyone driving along Bemidji Avenue the past few days has been sure to notice the large-scale project underway near Bemidji State's John Glas Fieldhouse. In 2023, the Minnesota Board of Soil and Water Resources awarded the Beltrami County Soil and Water Conservation District a Clean Water Fund grant for $228,300 to support a stormwater project that would further protect Lake Bemidji. Now, the project is in the construction stage, and the field adjacent to the John Glas is the backdrop. The project is a joint effort between the city of Bemidji, BSU and Beltrami County's SWCD to improve the area's water basin. This improved water basin, situated under BSU's intramural ballfields along Bemidji Avenue, will filter and treat stormwater before it enters Lake Bemidji. It should also help alleviate flooding. "(The project will) keep an estimated 58 pounds of phosphorus and 22,841 pounds of total suspended solids out of the lake each year," according to the BSWR. "The planned subsurface stormwater treatment system will help the watershed partnership — comprised of Beltrami, Cass, Clearwater, Hubbard and Itasca Counties and SWCDs — accomplish 25% of its 224-pounds-a-year phosphorus reduction goal for Lake Bemidji." The SWCD also made $68,000 in Enbridge funds available to the BSU Sustainability Office for two related projects on campus — a stormwater retention basin on the site of a solar array, and a rain garden along Bemidji Avenue — which were both completed in 2024. The project utilizes space absorbed from the Oak Hall parking lot, from which 27 asphalt spaces were removed. The basin is designed to handle roughly 25% of the stormwater runoff from the lot. Even with the loss of spaces, Oak Hill remains the largest lot on campus, with 455 available parking spaces. According to the agreement approved by all sides, BSU will monitor and maintain the water basin and rain garden for 10 years.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Stormwater infiltration basin project underway at Bemidji State
May 30—BEMIDJI — Anyone driving along Bemidji Avenue the past few days has been sure to notice the large-scale project underway near Bemidji State's John Glas Fieldhouse. In 2023, the Minnesota Board of Soil and Water Resources awarded the Beltrami County Soil and Water Conservation District a Clean Water Fund grant for $228,300 to support a stormwater project that would further protect Lake Bemidji. Now, the project is in the construction stage, and the field adjacent to the John Glas is the backdrop. The project is a joint effort between the city of Bemidji, BSU and Beltrami County's SWCD to improve the area's water basin. This improved water basin, situated under BSU's intramural ballfields along Bemidji Avenue, will filter and treat stormwater before it enters Lake Bemidji. It should also help alleviate flooding. "(The project will) keep an estimated 58 pounds of phosphorus and 22,841 pounds of total suspended solids out of the lake each year," according to the BSWR. "The planned subsurface stormwater treatment system will help the watershed partnership — comprised of Beltrami, Cass, Clearwater, Hubbard and Itasca Counties and SWCDs — accomplish 25% of its 224-pounds-a-year phosphorus reduction goal for Lake Bemidji." The SWCD also made $68,000 in Enbridge funds available to the BSU Sustainability Office for two related projects on campus — a stormwater retention basin on the site of a solar array, and a rain garden along Bemidji Avenue — which were both completed in 2024. The project utilizes space absorbed from the Oak Hall parking lot, from which 27 asphalt spaces were removed. The basin is designed to handle roughly 25% of the stormwater runoff from the lot. Even with the loss of spaces, Oak Hill remains the largest lot on campus, with 455 available parking spaces. According to the agreement approved by all sides, BSU will monitor and maintain the water basin and rain garden for 10 years.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Celebrate Mother's Day with a wildflower walk at Hazel Willis Woods
Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is hosting a Wildflower Walk on Mother's Day, 2 p.m. Sunday, May 11, at Hazel Willis Woods. The event will be led by master naturalists Tim and Paula Lavey, who have identified over 50 wildflower species in the woods located near Mifflin, according to an announcement. The Laveys, named 2025 Ashland SWCD Volunteers of the Year, have been leading the walk for three years. More: Stark contrast in past and present at Hazel Willis Woods as upgrades, programming happen Hazel Willis Woods, a 40-acre outdoor educational laboratory located at 1155 Township Road 2156, Ashland, was donated to Ashland SWCD in 1980 by Walter Willis in memory of his wife, Hazel. The property features a loop road, trails, a spring development, wildlife viewing areas, a pavilion and primitive restrooms. The walk serves as an educational experience and a census of returning wildflowers, according to the announcement. It also will provide data on changes resulting from a selective harvest along the drive and loop roads last year. The harvest removed mature trees from the driveway, opening up the area to attract more wildlife and birds. It also reduced the frequency of trees falling across the driveway and allowed for additional parking and pull-off locations, improving access for visitors. The event requires pre-registration to ensure adequate parking. Free tickets are available at with an option to donate $5 toward the purchase of additional wildflowers for the property. For more information, contact the Ashland SWCD office at 110 Cottage St. or call 419-281-7645. This story was created by Jane Imbody, jimbody@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland SWCD hosting Wildflower Walk at Hazel Willis Woods
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Pay Dirt forum to focus on water quality
GOSHEN — This year's Elkhart County Pay Dirt forum features experts who are leading efforts to enhance water quality in the county and beyond. The two-day event organized by the Elkhart County Soil and Water Conservation District brings together professionals from diverse trades in the agricultural and stormwater industries. The forum is March 4 and 5 at the Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds, 17746 C.R. 34, Goshen, starting at 8 a.m. 'A couple things that make this a little bit different and special as far as both agricultural and contractor symposiums or workshops go. We're doing them together, number one. That's not super common,' said Todd Clark, a conservationist with the SWCD. 'This is more about water quality of life. All of the speakers that we have that are coming are going to be talking about – everything stems back to water quality.' A number of speakers from stormwater- and agriculture-related professions are lined up for each day. There will also be some Q&A sessions, Clark said. The featured speakers are Phillip Anderson, founder of ReThink!, Paul Labovitz, retired superintendent of Indiana Dunes National Park, and Ty Garmon, founder of Stormwater World Podcast. Other speakers on Tuesday include Joe Moore, founder of Erosion and Construction Solutions Inc., Chuck Brandel, vise president of ISG, and Fred Whitford, coordinator for Purdue Pesticide Programs of the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service. Speakers on Wednesday include Tom Mortensen, a landscape architect with R.A. Smith, Jim Schwartz director of research for Beck's Seeds, and Lohayne Schutzman, engineering manager at Parjana Engineering. Clark said attendees will be invited to think about their relationship with water. 'What's your relationship with water?' he said. 'I think everybody can kind of understand, whether it just be because you get up in the morning to take a shower. That shower goes away, it might be bothersome to you. Some people recreate in it, all that kind of thing. It's going to be some thought-provoking conversation. For more information or to register, visit
