2014 ANNUAL REPORT
Carlton County Soil & Water
Conservation District
Assisting landowners in protecting and
enhancing the natural resources of Carlton County
Carlton County SWCD
Board of Supervisors
Office Personnel
District 1 Barb Dahl, Vice Chair
Brad Matlack, Manager
District 2 James Nynas, Chair
Kelly Smith, Conservation Technician
District 3 Merrill Loy, Treasurer
Neva Widner, Water Resources Technician
District 4 Kim Samuelson, P.R. Officer
Julie Radovich, Administrative Assistant
District 5 Mark Thell, Secretary
Intern: Ethan Evenson joined for the 2014 summer as the third
Conservation Corps Apprentice that the Carlton SWCD has
hosted. He graduated from Saint John’s University with a BA in
Environmental Studies. During his time with the SWCD, Ethan
helped collect water quality samples, dam assessments, and
culvert inventory data. He also assisted with forest stewardship
plan preparations, fact sheet developments and GIS mapping
projects for the Kettle River EBI project. He recently became
employed with Nelco Landscaping in the Twin Cities specializing
in stormwater Management and smaller landscape restoration
projects.
Partners: NRCS DC, Will Bomier started at the Duluth Field Office in
the spring of 2014. Will grew up in southern Minnesota where he
worked on a farm in Blue Earth County through High School and
College. After graduating from Minnesota State University, Mankato
he took a full-time position with USDA-NRCS in Michigan’s Upper
Peninsula; where the major land uses were grazing, hay production
and forestry. In 2009 he had an opportunity to come back to
Minnesota, where he worked in the Duluth regional office. This spring;
he became the District Conservationist at the Duluth Field Office.
Will has been holding office hours at the Carlton SWCD office each
Monday and is available for field/farm visits by appointment .
Private Landowner Impact
“I want to extend an official Thank you for all you did with our Annual Meeting and Spring Field Day.
The field trip and the work you have done were especially interesting.” - John R., MFA President
“Looking forward to implementing some of the goals identified in my woodland stewardship plan.
Kelly did a great job!” - John C.
Carlton County Major Watersheds
There are four major watersheds in the county; St. Louis River and Nemadji River watersheds are part of the Lake
Superior Basin, the Kettle River and Big Sandy Lake watersheds are part of the Mississippi Basin.
These four major watersheds are further divided into over 75 minor watersheds.
The Watershed Approach
Priority Concern #1 of the Carlton County Water Plan:
The passage of Minnesota’s Clean Water Legacy Act in 2006 “Water Quality in County Lakes, Rivers and Streams”
provided policy framework and money for state and local To work on this priority, Watershed-based goals of assessing
governments to accelerate efforts to monitor, assess, and water with insufficient water quality data, and improving
restore impaired waters, and to protect unimpaired waters. water quality in waters on the 303d Impaired Waters List
Following the passage of the Act, the MPCA began were set in the 2014 Water Plan update. The Carlton SWCD
implementing what it calls the Watershed Approach. There works closely with Carlton County staff on these goals.
are 81 major watersheds in Minnesota. Intensive water
quality monitoring and assessments will be conducted in each of these watersheds every 10 years. During the 10-year
cycle, the MPCA and its partner organizations work on each of the state's watersheds to evaluate water
conditions, establish priorities and goals for improvement, and take actions designed to restore or protect
water quality. When a watershed's 10-year cycle is completed, a new cycle begins.
Watersheds in the Cycle
Mississippi River– G. R. St. Louis River Kettle River Nemadji River
Intensive Monitoring Start Year 2015
2009
2015
2011
SWCD Conservation Practice Implementation
The Carlton SWCD provides technical and financial assistance to landowners for implementation of conservation
practices. The Carlton SWCD implemented over 50 projects with Carlton County landowners in 2014.
The map below indicates types of conservation practices and roughly where they were implemented in the county.
10 tons of soil loss per acre equals
the thickness of a dime. Most soils
begin to lose productivity when they
erode more than 4 tons of soil per
acre each year.
Soil Loss Facts
Did you Know?
2014 projects implemented through
the SWCD on 4 construction sites
addressed an estimated 2,544 tons
of soil loss.
A typical Carlton County snow plow dump
truck has a capacity of 10 cubic yards of soil.
One Cubic Yard of soil = 1.2 Tons
1 County dump truck = 12 tons of soil
That’s equal to 212 County
Dump Trucks Full!
USDA Partners in Conservation
Federal Conservation Programs in Carlton County
USDA Farm Bill Programs provide Carlton County residents with financial and project design resources to implement
conservation practices through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The SWCD also assists the NRCS
in advertising, designing, contracting, and implementation oversight of projects landowners undertake in the
following programs:
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) 20 Contracts - $37,143
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
14 Contracts - 19,160 Acres $106,782
Grant Work Wraps Up In 2014 On Conservation Initiatives
Focused Forest Stewardship Planning and Implementation in Carlton County
Forest Stewardship planning is the first step in helping landowners manage their forestland. The plan inventories the timber
resources, describes the forests potential, and identifies projects to meet that potential in the program. Over 1/3 of Carlton County
is privately managed forestland and considering that every acre in the county lies in an impaired watershed, (see map on pg.2)
some pollutant or sediment reduction will be required from forestland to meet the overall goals for reductions in each of these
watersheds. Although Forest Stewardship plans are a great first step, implementation of the projects in these plans is key to
realizing water quality improvements for cleaner waters. That was the focus of a
grant with the MN Forest Resources Council’s, Northeast Landscape Committee.
Project Outcomes
10 New Stewardship plans completed for 2,662 acres
Database of 313 landowners with plans created
Targeted Mailing to 111 landowners with Forest Stand Improvement
project to implement
19 landowners signup for technical and financial assistance
Private Forest Management - Forest Stewardship In Tullibee Lake Watershed
Tullibee, or Cisco as they are also known, can only survive in deep, cold water lakes. They are a major forage fish for Lake Trout,
Muskies, Northerns, and walleyes.
2014 saw the end of Phase I of a targeted forest stewardship planning and
project implementation project. The SWCD partnered with MN DNR to
complete forest stewardship plans for landowners in the Hanging Horn
Lake Watershed. Erosion control practices were also planned in this phase
and are scheduled for implementation this spring. Pictured at right is the
watershed of the Hanging Horn Lake chain that makes up this project area.
Project Outcomes
12 New stewardship plans completed for 1,114 acres
3 Mailings to 230 watershed residents for planning assistance
4 Project sites scheduled for spring 2015 implementation that will
use $8,400 in financial assistance.
2012 Flood Relief
The SWCD continued to provide technical planning and design assistance, along with financial assistance through a special cost
share fund established by the state and administered by the SWCD to mitigate 2012 flood damage to private property.
Flood Relief Work Completed In 2014

Planning and design work with 6 landowners on erosion stabilization projects.

Installed 2 rock lined chutes to address 624 tons of erosion in Cloquet and Esko.

Completed repair of the emergency spillway on the Elim Dam addressing over 1620 tons of soil loss to date, and
preventing further erosion into Elim Creek, a designated trout stream.
After, preventing soil from eroding into Elim Creek.
Elim Dam emergency spillway before.
After shaping and rock placed. Erosion
control blanket was added later.
Eroding gully in Cloquet
endangering nearby
Total Of Two Available Grants
$205,543
Projects Completed To Date
13
$87,820
Current Projects Remaining
6
$70,389
Estimated Remaining Funds
$47,334
Red Clay Dam Phase I Completed
In the 1970’s 19 dams were installed throughout the Nemadji River Watershed to retain sediment
contributions to Lake Superior. These dams were part of a project titled “The Red Clay Project” that included
part of the Lake Superior basin in Wisconsin and Minnesota. The primary sponsors of the project were the
Soil Conservation Service (SCS) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The life expectancy of the structures,
constructed in the Deer Creek and Skunk Creek watersheds in Carlton County, was 10-25 years. That life expectancy
has now been exceeded in all the dams and recently some of these
structures have begun to fail and blow out resulting in tons of soil loss into
the river system that was to be protected in the initial project.
The SWCD secured a Clean Water Legacy Grant from the Board of Water
and Soil Resources (BWSR) in 2012 to address all of the 19 dams in Carlton
County. This was done through three activities:
1. Assess the status of all the red clay dams in the Skunk Creek
Subwatershed,
2. Survey and propose restoration options on the landowners for the
three red clay dams in the Deer Creek Subwatershed, and
Above: John Ourada and Don Benrud show a map
highlighting stream channel erosion and bank erosion.
3. Conduct a complete stream restoration and remove three red clay dams on a 1/3 mile stretch of Elim Creek.
Skunk Creek Subwatershed Red Clay Dam Assessment
The purpose of this assessment was to identify risk of dam failure for future
projects and funding opportunities, in addition to providing landowners
relevant information regarding the structures on their private property.
Findings:

3 of the 13 structures assessed have failed, breached and contributed
significant sediment loads into the Skunk Creek system.

4 sites are high priority, 4 sites are medium priority and 5 sites are low
priority. Although these structures were given a status of priority level
for dam removal and stream restoration, it should be acknowledged that
all of these structures have exceeded their life expectancy. Very few, if
any, of these structures have been maintained over time making future
Example of high priority site that breached
failure very likely for most of the structures.
spring 2014.

All of the structures that were constructed with metal pipes are now
suffering from severe corrosion. It is expected that this corrosion will only continue until the dam fails.

Long-term conservation infrastructure places significant financial burden on future agencies as they age.

The turnover of landowners that naturally happens over decades, often will lead to lapses in maintenance.
Our understanding of watersheds has changed significantly over the last 30-40 years. Today these dams would be
nearly impossible to construct due to their negative impact on trout habitat, watershed connectivity, liability due to
failure, and long term maintenance. While many of these dams were impressive feats of bioengineering, they
overlooked the cumulative long term impacts of their presence in the watershed. Today it is acknowledged that there
are five components to watershed health: Biology, Connectivity, Geomorphology, Hydrology, and Water Quality. When
considering future actions of these dams, the various components of a healthy watershed should be considered.
Deer Creek Site Designs
The three red clay dams in Deer Creek were surveyed by Technical Service Area (TSA) III engineers with assistance from
Carlton County SWCD employees in 2011 and 2012. The TSA engineers then developed draft plans for selected best
management practices. In this assessment we investigated three dams on individual’s properties and assessed the
environmental and engineering related consequences to restoring or removing the dams.
The assessment of these dams is being made regarding the watershed concept of providing good water quality, fish
passage (stream connectivity), biological integrity of the streams, and the stream geomorphology (stream shape).
These metrics utilized by the MN DNR Stream Habitat Program take into account the various facets of stream
ecosystems and how they relate to each other. In addition to the environmental parameters, the economics of various
alternatives are presented below. This, along with landowner considerations and wants, will determine the ultimate
alternative that is implemented pending funding.
Comparison of Watershed Components
Alternative
Hydrology
Connectivity
Biology
Water Quality
Geomorphology
Remove Dam
Possible Decrease
Improve
Improve
Possible Improvement
(Temperature)
Improve
Replace Spillway
Possible Improvement
Decrease
Decrease
Possible Improvement
Decrease
The table is a good comparison from a stream watershed perspective regarding how each alternative can affect the
stream system. There are two alternatives for the aging red clay dams: 1. Remove the dam and restore the stream to
a natural channel or, 2. Replace the corroding spillway pipe and whatever other maintenance issues exist for the dam
to remain in place. Each of these options have their own impacts on the stream and greater watershed.
In general, from a watershed perspective, dams located on streams are no longer encouraged due to the above related
concerns. In addition, any dam restoration options should consider the future costs of maintenance and liability to the
landowner, and to rules and regulations on public waters and trout streams. After this assessment and meeting with
the landowner, the SWCD secured a Clean Water Fund Grant in 2014 for stabilizing the erosion and reconnecting the
stream.
Construction will be in summer 2015.
Corroded spillway pipe warning of aging
infrastructure at the Lundquist dam.
The breached Michaelson Dam.
3. Hammitt Dams Removal/Elim Creek Restoration
Purpose: This project removed three existing 30 year old sediment control
structures (earthen dams) and restored 1/3 mile of Elim Creek. Elim Creek is in
the Skunk Creek Watershed and is a tributary of the turbidity-impaired North
Fork of the Nemadji River. The structures in this project had all exceeded their
design life expectancy; one of these structures has already failed, causing
approximately 300 tons of sediment to be flushed into the watershed and into
the Superior, WI harbor.
Spillway at Dam 1, 1978.
The two upstream structures both had rusted principle pipe spillways making
failure a serious threat. The project eliminated this threat by removing the structures and restoring a natural stream
channel to Elim Creek to alleviate continued long term sediment delivery. In addition, the Elim Creek restoration reestablished 1/3 mile of Brook Trout habitat supporting the US Fish Wildlife Service Fish Passage Program to further the
Brook Trout habitat re-connection program in the Lake Superior Watershed.
The Conservation Corps Field Crew planted the riparian buffer
planting and donated extra labor to this project.
Installing the toe
wood to provide
roughness and
protection to the
stream bank outside bends.
Engineering and design work was completed by the South St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District (Technical Service Area 3),
construction was completed by a contractor in Duluth, riparian tree planting was conducted by the Conservation Corps field crew,
and permitting/grant management was completed by the Carlton SWCD.
Dam 1 Construction: The new step pool stream channel constructed left of the old spillway pipe, just before opening the
stream’s new channel and removing the old corroded pipe.
The new meandering channel through the old dam 3 site. The
wood was placed in and under the banks to provide roughness
and protection on the outside bends.
Dam 1 Over Time
In the three photos below, the stand of pine trees in the center
are the same.
TSA Engineers measure the width of the constructed
stream channel.
In the Hammitt Dams Project, 3,600 cubic
yards of dirt was moved.
That’s equal to about 300 dump truck loads!
Shortly after the dam was constructed, 1978.
This project included:

Removing 3 earthen dams

Creating new stream channels through the
dams

Installing a livestock exclusion fence with tree
planting along the entire project riparian zone
The focus of the restoration was to use a ‘Natural
Channel Design’ method, which involved removing
the dam material to the floodplain elevation and
using the stream’s geomorphology to create a new
stream channel which overtime will become more
stable.
After dam material was
removed and during the
stream construction.
The project was completed October 2014.
Expenditures
Actual
Budgeted
Staff Time
Riparian Buffer and Fence
Materials
Construction*
Permit Fees
Total
$ 22,537
$ 15,775
$22,537
$19,309
$ 83,217
$ 1,010
$122,541
$52,388
$0.00
$94,234
*Additional funding was provided by the US Fish and
Wildlife Service Fish Passage Program ($30, 017)
Dam 1 after dam removal/stream
restoration, Nov. 2014
Nemadji River Watershed Culvert Inventory Completed
During the summer of 2013 and 2014, the Carlton County Soil and Water Conservation District conducted a fish passage inventory
of the culverts acting as road/trail- stream crossings in the Nemadji Watershed in Carlton County. This project inventoried and
assessed perennial stream-road and trail crossings in the Nemadji River watershed located in Carlton County, MN. The inventory
will aid in prioritizing future culvert restoration efforts.
Field Inspections were conducted on 86 crossing sites:

9 crossings are Complete Barriers to native species

62 are Significant Barriers where most species and life stages cannot
pass at most stream flows

15 met Passable criteria
Complete Barrier to Fish Passage,
Perched more than 2 Feet.
The Nemadji River Watershed is an important fishery resource in Carlton
County, containing self-sustaining populations of brook, brown and rainbow
trout. All of these species must migrate between habitats during different seasons and life-stages, but improper culvert crossings
can inhibit this movement. In addition, improper culverts in the Nemadji Watershed contribute to stream stability issues that
increase erosion and degrade water quality. The Nemadji River and some if its tributaries are listed as impaired for turbidity by the
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Significant Barrier Crossing on Stateline Creek.
ATV Trail Crossings made up 13 of
the 86 sites assessed:

2 Complete Barrier Crossings

11 Significant Barriers

0 met Passable criteria
Passable Crossing on Spring Creek, this is a new SWCD
restoration project that was completed in 2012.
The SWCD’s Economic Impact
The dollar amount of conservation project coming into the county from Carlton SWCD programs is substantial at an annual average
of over $220,000. These are funds that buy fencing supplies, cat and backhoe time, and seed and fertilizer. These funds pay local
contractors for their time in constructing the conservation practices installed in the county.
5 Year History of Program Dollars into Carlton County
Program
Ag BMP Lans
2010
$7,400
2011
$87,400
2012
$36,300
2013
$21,500
2014
$35,000
$7,100
$3,600
$4,615
$13,195
$3,600
$14,000
$620
$4,975
$18,795
$36,205
$83,000
State Cost Share Regular
Special Projects
2012 Flood Relief
Grant Projects
USDA Programs
TOTALS
$237,897
$255,997
$168,000
$260,015
$840,792
$907,887
$41,368
$487,000 $143,925
$550,488 $321,900
Here is an example of the impact of SWCD programs to both a participant, but also regional businesses. This example uses the
Grazing Management conservation practice. A farmer has 80 acres of pasture land for grazing beef cows. Through cost share
programs and technical assistance from the SWCD and partners, the farmer implements a grazing management system on these
acres. According to grazing specialist in the county, the carrying capacity of this pasture is doubled, from 2-acre/cow to 1-acre/
cow or in this scenario from 40 cows to 80 cows resulting in an additional 40 feeder calves to market. When sold these additional
40 calves gross the farmer $ 1,560/calf or $62,400 for 40 calves (2014 beef inflated - at 2013 prices $960/calf or $38,400 for 40
calves)
Total financial impact to individual landowner implementing 80 ac. of Grazing Management = $78,400 per year.
On the average year, 567 acres of grazing management is implemented with cost share on Carlton County farms. 567 ac./
80ac. (average acres/farm) = 7 farmers x $40,000 cost share = $280,000 of cost share to Carlton Co. landowners.
Through the USDA conservation cost share program, cost share paid to landowner for implementing this conservation
practice = $40,000/ 80 acres.
The same 7 farmers each produce 40 more calves as a result of implementing better grazing management practices.
7 x 40 animals = 283 average more calves per year county wide. Here are a few predictable business impacts listed for 40 animals.
Farmer buys fencing supplies at local feed mill
$ 4,356
Pays contractor to build fence
$ 4,000
Farmer buys cattle watering supplies at local feed mill
$ 2,000
Contractor to dig in water lines and install watering
components
Livestock hauler caries 40 more cows to market
$ 5,600
Vet treatment
$ 960
Soil Amendments applied as per Soil test recommendations to increase forage production 4 ton/ac @ $42/
ton
Total additional $ for practice
$13,440
$ 500
$30,856
Total $ 30,856/40 animals = About $ 771/additional animal x 283 average animals/year = $218,193 impact to
regional businesses to support practice implementation and process the resulting increase in animal numbers.
2014 Conservation Awards
Each year the Carlton SWCD recognizes conservation efforts across Carlton County with an awards program.
Outstanding Conservationist, Bill Jaskari
Bill was nominated for his comprehensive management and
long term protection of timber, wildlife habitat, water quality
and wild rice resources on his property in Corona and
Progress Townships.
Each SWCD around the state nominates an Outstanding
Conservationist to the MN Association of SWCDs
(MASWCD). Bill traveled to the state convention in
December to be recognized as the Carlton SWCD’s
Outstanding Conservationist’s.
Conservation Legislator, Mike Sundin
Conservation Partner, Thom Petersen
A valuable partner in the state legislature, Mike represents the
new district 11A. Mike has supported and advanced issues
such as the SWCD Building Project, and the recent legislation
to permit tree seedling sales to SWCDs from state nurseries.
He has attended Area SWCD meetings and local issues
meetings to better understand the SWCD and local landowner
conservation issues.
Thom works with state and federal legislators, to advance
policies that help landowners manage their soil and water
resources. He has helped the Carlton SWCD in legislative
issues such as the Tree Nursery bill and ongoing SWCD stable
funding initiatives. He meets regularly with Carlton Farmers
Union members and Carlton County resource managers to
understand local issues and projects.
2014 Conservation Awards
Conservation Educators
Stream Stewards, Brad and Jackie Edgerton
The Edgertons have worked with the SWCD to establish a
riparian buffer enhancing water quality and fish habitat on
their property on the Midway River in Thomson Township.
Ann Gustafson & Matt Winbigler
Cloquet Middle School teachers, Ann Gustafson and Matt
Winbigler, established a recycling and food waste collection
program. They educated staff and administration on the need
and necessity to improve the recycling program involving
students to collect and distribute recyclable materials.
Employee Recognition, Kelly Smith
Kelly Smith celebrated 20 years of service with the Carlton SWCD in October of 2014. Smith was
honored at a Carlton SWCD board meeting and presented a 20 year plaque by Carlton SWCD Board Chair
Jim Nynas and Carlton SWCD District Manager Brad Matlack. The Cloquet Pine Journal printed an article
on Kelly that was written and submitted by Carlton SWCD Board member and P.R. Office Kim Samuelson.
Congratulations to Kelly on 20 years with the Carlton SWCD. Thank you for your dedication and
commitment to private landowners of Carlton County.
Legislative Days
The Carlton SWCD regularly attends the annual SWCD Day at the Capitol visiting with state
legislators and agency leaders. SWCD supervisors Merrill Loy, Mark Thell and Barb Dahl
met with Senator Tony Lourey and Representative Mike Sundin during the 2013
Legislative Days.
Thank You to Our Conservation Partners
The Carlton SWCD is a sub-division of State Government under State Statute 103c.
Established in 1961 the Carlton SWCD implements state legislation to protect the states
natural resources. Through partnerships with legislators, county commissioners, state,
federal and local government agencies, landowners, and volunteers the Carlton SWCD
accomplishes great things with minimal resources. These partnerships are strong and
Local Partnerships:
State Partnerships:
Carlton County Extension.
Pollution Control Agency
Carlton County Board and Carlton County
Land Department
DNR Forestry, Fisheries, Trails, Ecological Services, Enforcement, and Lake Superior Coastal Program
Aitkin SWCD and Big Sandy Watershed
Board of Water and Soil Resources
Carlton County Weed Inspector
Carlton Water Plan Staff
MN Forest Resource Council—North East Landscape Program
Carlton County Highway Department
Governor’s office
Department of Health
Visit the Carlton SWCD on Facebook or
on the web at:
Federal Partnerships:
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
facebook.com/CarltonSWCD
Fish and Wildlife Service
and
Great Lakes Restoration
www.carltonswcd.org
Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)