West Otter Tail SWCD - Blog

January 15, 2020 by Aaron Larsen

Mike Koep and his son, Kevin, practice conservation on their farmland, and they know the importance of protecting our water and soil.  Because of their conservation decisions, the Koep farms near Urbank are now Water Quality Certified in the Minnesota Ag Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP).  The Koep farming operation joins over 800 Water Quality Certified farming operations in Minnesota’s unique, 5-year old program that recognizes farmers’ efforts to protect the state’s water quality.

January 04, 2020 by Aaron Larsen

Each year, the West Otter Tail Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) recognizes individuals or organizations for outstanding accomplishments in implementing conservation practices that improve and protect Otter Tail County’s natural resources. The 2019’s Outstanding Conservationist is Adam and Ashley Fronning of Underwood.

June 24, 2019 by Aaron Larsen

Ryan Pesch, Pelican Rapids, was recently recognized by the West Otter Tail Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) and the MN Department of Agriculture for meeting the standards of Minnesota’s Agriculture Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP).  The certification represents an acknowledgement of the outstanding attention to water quality related management that Ryan is doing in his vegetable production operation.

October 31, 2018 by Aaron Larsen

Developers envisioned houses on Paul Brutlag’s lake-view property in Otter Tail County. But Brutlag chose instead to place 129 acres of his Eagle Lake Township farm into a perpetual easement through a state and federal partnership. Seven years later and six years after seeding, yellow, lavender and pink wildflowers bloom among native grasses in the restored wetland and prairie.

October 04, 2018 by Aaron Larsen

Thanks to the local effort and partnership of the West Otter Tail Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), Pheasants Forever, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Minnesota's Otter Tail County has surpassed 17,000 acres enrolled in conservation programs, since starting the partnership in 2008.