Conservation Conversation on Climate Smart Agriculture and Water Quality
Farmers working with Fillmore County Soil and Water Conservation District
By Alison Leathers, September 30, 2025
Fillmore SWCD · ·
Conservation Conversation on Climate Smart Agriculture and Water Quality
Farmers working with Fillmore County Soil and Water Conservation District
By Alison Leathers, September 30, 2025
Fillmore SWCD · ·
Fillmore SWCD would like to recognize and congratulate
Carter and Abigail Lee and their family of Rushford, MN.
The Lee family has been utilizing Federal dollars through the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) and One Watershed One Plan (1W1P) funding to establish pasture management by converting cropland and permanent pasture to a rotational grazing system. They have also been improving their forestland and addressing and removing invasive species.
Their current cow/calf operation utilizing many sensitive features throughout the grazing system, which includes management of trout streams, highly erodible land and DNR grasslands. With their grazing system, this allows them to have green grass pastures for 8 months of the years and then they switch to their season long cover crop fields which helps give their pastures their needed resting period.
With all their dedicated time and their willingness to promote conservation, Fillmore SWCD is honored to have the Lee family as our Conservationists of the Year.
Fillmore SWCD · ·
The Root River Watershed Partnership is initiating a plan renewal amendment of the Root River Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan for the next 10-year planning cycle and invites all interested stakeholders to participate in this process.
About the Root River Watershed Planning Area
The Root River Watershed is located in southeastern Minnesota and spans portions of Dodge, Fillmore, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, and Winona Counties. The watershed encompasses a diverse landscape of agricultural lands, forests, karst features, cold water streams, and thriving communities. The planning area for the Root River Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan includes the Upper Iowa and Mississippi–Reno watersheds for a total drainage area of over 1.3 million acres (see map below).
Purpose of the Plan Renewal Amendment
The original Root River Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan was approved by the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) in December 2016, with an expiration date of December 2026. The time has come to review the plan to reflect, updated science and data, local needs, and evolving state and federal policies by clarifying priorities, goals, and actions. This process provides an opportunity to:
The amended plan will be submitted to the Board of Water and Soil Resources for approval
and will be valid for 10 years from the approval date.
Invitation for Public Input
As part of this plan renewal amendment process, all stakeholders—local government units, state agencies, landowners, nonprofit organizations, and members of the public—are invited to submit water management issues they feel the updated plan should address. We are especially interested in input related to:
Comments and input should be submitted within the 60-day public notice period ending August 3rd 2025.
How to Submit Comments
Please send your input in writing to:
Nikki Wheeler, C/O Fillmore SWCD
PO Box 45, Preston, MN 55965
nikki.wheeler@fillmoreswcd.org
Electronic submissions via email are encouraged. All feedback received will be considered in the plan update process and may help shape future water and land management priorities in the Root River Watershed.
We appreciate your engagement in ensuring that the next 10-year Root River Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan continues to support a resilient and sustainable watershed for all its communities and ecosystems.
Fillmore SWCD · ·
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is proposing to amend existing Minnesota Rules Chapter 7020 governing animal feedlots.
Plan to attend one of the upcoming meetings in our area for the feedlot rule changes that are going to happen.
Fillmore SWCD · ·
Fillmore SWCD Tree Pick up Dates
April 24th 10:00 am-7:00pm
April 25th 10:00am -4:00 pm
Location will be at Fillmore County Fairgrounds
“The Big Barn” signs will be posted.