Our Mission: Protect our water and land resources by assisting Rock County landowners with understanding conservation rules and implementing best-management practices!
WARNING!!
3/25/2020 - For the second time this week someone has been hospitalized for mixing household cleaners together!
Do not mix household cleaners together!
Especially do not mix bleach with any other household chemical or cleaner.
Toxic gases form when cleaners are combined resulting in the need to hospitalized.
Especially do not mix bleach with any other household chemical or cleaner.
Toxic gases form when cleaners are combined resulting in the need to hospitalized.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT:Effective March 19, Rock County is closing all County public-facing services at our Courthouse, Law Enforcement Center, Environmental Services, Rural Water and Library until further notice. However, the lobby of the Sheriff’s Office, and services at the Transfer Station will remain open to the public at this time; District Court will remain open, but to arrange for personal access, please call 507-353-7095, ext. 4. Non-emergency visits are being discouraged at this time.
We have not taken this decision lightly and understand the hardship this creates for our customers, clients, and residents. We will continue to plan on how to define creative solutions for serving our residents that do not require person-to-person contact, but deliver these important services. Our government services continue to function, but in a very different way in these times. If you do require services from the County, please use the following contact information listed below to speak with departmental representative. Announcements, service information and full directory can be found at: www.co.rock.mn.us District Court (Courthouse) 507-353-7095; ext. #4 Motor Vehicle (Courthouse) 507-283-5024 Auditor/Treasurer (Courthouse) 507-283-5060 Land Records (Courthouse) 507-283-5022 Administration (Courthouse) 507-283-5065 Veterans Services (Courthouse) 507-283-5061 Highway Department 507-283-5010 Library 507-449-5040 Land Management Office 507-283-8862 Rural Water 507-283-8886 Rock Co. Extension Office 507-283-1302 MN CREP
WHAT IS MN CREP? MN CREP is a voluntary, federal-state funded natural resource conservation program that uses a science based approach to target environmentally sensitive land in 54 Counties in southern and western Minnesota. This is accomplished through permanent protection by establishing conservation practices via payments to farmers and agricultural land owners. CLICK HERE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON: How it works. MN CREP Objectives How the will be restored and protected. Why enroll now? Enrollment - Contact the Rock County Land Management Office
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2020 Calendar
April 13: POSTPONED 7 pm Rock County Planning & Zoning Meeting Rock SWCD Office via teleconference. Please call the office at 283-8862 for the call in access. April 20: 8 am SWCD Board Meeting Rock SWCD Office 
Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment
Click the logo for more info
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Quick Access Links
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State Cost Share
Building Permits Tiling or Watercourse Clean-Out Requirements 1) Tiling Application 2) Watercourse cleanout Earthwork and Tile Contractors No-till Drill Rental Recycling Dos and Don'ts Household Hazardous Waste |
BUFFER COMPLIANCE
The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources oversees implementation of the Buffer Law, which requires farmers to have vegetated buffers along cropland that borders ditches, streams, rivers and lakes. In accordance with the MN Board of Soil and Water Resources, Rock SWCD has developed a plan for Buffer Compliance Tracking. Click on the link below for further information.
Large Energy Wind Conversion Systems
Permitting Process
Minnesota Rules 7854
*Timeline from application acceptance to permit decision is 180 days.
Click here for a flowchart of the process.
Permitting Process
Minnesota Rules 7854
*Timeline from application acceptance to permit decision is 180 days.
Click here for a flowchart of the process.
MN Department of Commerce
Environmental Review of Energy Projects
The Minnesota Department of Commerce Energy Environmental Review and Analysis (EERA) unit conducts environmental review of proposed energy projects including power plants, transmission lines, wind farms, and pipelines. EERA conducts environmental review on behalf of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission), and EERA’s environmental review informs the permit decisions made by the Commission.
Click here for the Department of Commerce and further information.
Environmental Review of Energy Projects
The Minnesota Department of Commerce Energy Environmental Review and Analysis (EERA) unit conducts environmental review of proposed energy projects including power plants, transmission lines, wind farms, and pipelines. EERA conducts environmental review on behalf of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission), and EERA’s environmental review informs the permit decisions made by the Commission.
Click here for the Department of Commerce and further information.
Guides to Prairie Restoration in Minnesota
Restoring prairie just got easier.
Many landowners and managers have land that they would like to see covered with native flowers and grasses. But, creating a prairie is hard and often unpredictable work. The techniques and types of seeds planted will vary depending on the current state of the land, how moist or dry the site is, and type of prairie you would like to establish.
To deal with these issues, The Nature Conservancy and the University of Minnesota have developed 20 different restoration guides, each specific to one of five different types of starting conditions, two different moisture levels, and two different intended uses for restored prairie.
Each guide includes recommended techniques, timing and plant species, as well as estimated costs for completing a successful prairie restoration. The guides can be downloaded for free at:
Many landowners and managers have land that they would like to see covered with native flowers and grasses. But, creating a prairie is hard and often unpredictable work. The techniques and types of seeds planted will vary depending on the current state of the land, how moist or dry the site is, and type of prairie you would like to establish.
To deal with these issues, The Nature Conservancy and the University of Minnesota have developed 20 different restoration guides, each specific to one of five different types of starting conditions, two different moisture levels, and two different intended uses for restored prairie.
Each guide includes recommended techniques, timing and plant species, as well as estimated costs for completing a successful prairie restoration. The guides can be downloaded for free at:
www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/minnesota/explore/prairie-restoration-guides.xml
Grazing, wildlife habitat, and improving water quality and quantity are just a few reasons why landowners restore prairie on their land. Find out what steps to take to achieve your restoration goals.
2019 OUTSTANDING CONSERVATIONIST:
CONGRATULATIONS TO DAN AND AMY LEUTHOLD
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The Rock SWCD Board of Supervisors and Staff awarded the Dan Leuthold Family Farm as the 2019 Rock County Outstanding Conservationist.
They operate a third generation grain and livestock farm raising corn and soybeans, cereal rye for cover crop seed, along with 900 head of finishing cattle and 80 cow calf pairs. Dan’s first year farming was in 1993, when he and wife, Amy were married. Their sons, Mitch and Jerad, both have careers off the farm but are actively involved in the operation. Over the years, the Leutholds have installed grassed waterways, a farmstead windbreak, feedlot runoff controls, use of cover crops in their row cropping systems, no-till, nutrient management, rotational grazing, integrated pest management and other practices.
Dan graduated from Ellsworth High School and went on to the University of Minnesta – Waseca for 2 years to pursue an agricultural degree. Dan shared that one of his landlords is a retired geology college professor who moved back to his own family’s farm in retirement. Through this relationship he has with this particular landlord, Dan has been willing to try new practices including the seeding and grazing of warm season grasses in pastures along with more intensely managed rotational grazing in his pastures and on nearby fields seeded to cover crops.
Dan has served as board member for the Rock/Nobles Cattlemen's Association and is currently a director on the Sioux Valley Cooperative Energy Board.
Dan credits his father, his uncles, and his grandparents for teaching him a great deal about not only farming, but life in general. Dan lives by what his grandfather told him, “Buy a farm when you are young. Take care of it and it will take care of you when you get old.”
They operate a third generation grain and livestock farm raising corn and soybeans, cereal rye for cover crop seed, along with 900 head of finishing cattle and 80 cow calf pairs. Dan’s first year farming was in 1993, when he and wife, Amy were married. Their sons, Mitch and Jerad, both have careers off the farm but are actively involved in the operation. Over the years, the Leutholds have installed grassed waterways, a farmstead windbreak, feedlot runoff controls, use of cover crops in their row cropping systems, no-till, nutrient management, rotational grazing, integrated pest management and other practices.
Dan graduated from Ellsworth High School and went on to the University of Minnesta – Waseca for 2 years to pursue an agricultural degree. Dan shared that one of his landlords is a retired geology college professor who moved back to his own family’s farm in retirement. Through this relationship he has with this particular landlord, Dan has been willing to try new practices including the seeding and grazing of warm season grasses in pastures along with more intensely managed rotational grazing in his pastures and on nearby fields seeded to cover crops.
Dan has served as board member for the Rock/Nobles Cattlemen's Association and is currently a director on the Sioux Valley Cooperative Energy Board.
Dan credits his father, his uncles, and his grandparents for teaching him a great deal about not only farming, but life in general. Dan lives by what his grandfather told him, “Buy a farm when you are young. Take care of it and it will take care of you when you get old.”
