Isanti Soil & Water Conservation District

Our office is open to the public! We are here to help you Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm.

Staff may not be in the office at all times due to the outdoor nature of our work. Consider calling our office before your visit at 763-689-3271. See the Contact Us page for other ways to contact staff members.

Congratulations to Keith Stamm, recipient of the 2023 Isanti Soil and Water Conservation District’s Outstanding Conservationist Award! Each year, the Isanti SWCD recognizes an individual or organization for their outstanding accomplishments in implementing conservation practices and improving Minnesota’s natural resources. This year, the Isanti SWCD board of supervisors voted unanimously to name Keith Stamm an Outstanding Conservationist in recognition of his proactive efforts in building and promoting Soil Health.

In the land of 10,000 lakes, not all lakes are created equal. Watch our recorded webinar to learn more about natural environment lakes, a classification reserved for smaller, shallower lakes that have a more limited capacity to absorb the impacts of development and traditional recreational use.

Watch this short video to learn how to find zebra mussels. These small creatures are very damaging to a lake's ecosystem and recreation. Unfortunately, once they are in a lake, zebra mussels are impossible to eradicate, making prevention the best method. You can help by learning how to identify these creatures and remembering to clean, drain, and dry your watercraft.

Practical Farmers of Iowa is accepting applications for their cover crop cost-share program! This program is available to midwestern farmers, including those in Isanti and neighboring counties. Payment rates are $10 per acre on an unlimited number of acres, and they may be stacked with other publicly funded cost-share programs. Deadline to apply is December 1st.

Holly Pearson and Rocky DeVries are one of the dedicated farmers in Minnesota who can proudly display the MAWQCP sign on their property. MAWQCP stands for Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program, a voluntary initiative recognizing farmers who implement and maintain best practices to protect water quality. To become certified, farmers have to undergo an assessment of their land and water resources and adopt a conservation plan that meets or exceeds state standards. Holly and Rocky have done that on their small livestock farm outside Isanti, where they raise goats, sheep, and horses. Holly stated it was important for their farm to get certified because they "are into conservation. We are in favor of putting carbon back in the ground and protecting clean water." They use many tactics on their farm to capture carbon and protect water quality. Their farm practices prescribed grazing, which means they rotate their animals among different pastures to improve and diversify its biology. They also no-till their fields to prevent erosion and protect water quality. Holly keeps a beautiful pollinator garden of native species and keeps honey bees to pollinate her crops and flowers. Their farm is dedicated to conservation because, as Holly sees it, conservation means "leaving your farm or property better than you found it".

Holly Pearson is not only a certified water steward, but also a leader in the local sustainable farming community. She serves on the local Sustainable Farming Association board, sharing her knowledge and experience with other farmers who want to improve their environmental performance. Holly and Rocky are examples of how farming can be both profitable and eco-friendly and how MAWQCP can help farmers achieve both goals.