SD's Locally Led Conservation Success Stories

Locally Led Conservation Success Stories
See also Bootstraps, Grassland Management & Planning Project, Management-Intensive Grazing, and Haakon County Conservation District's Butterfly Gardens

Billy Webb is carrying on the family business. He has been in ranching for 25 years and has around 400 head of cattle on 3,000 acres. Not only is Webb following in his father's footsteps when it comes to caring for the livestock, but his dad taught him another valuable lesson...to care for the land. Webb has two major creeks, Dry Run and Willow Creeks, running through his property. The water that runs through Webb Ranch eventually ends up in the Missouri River. Through the management and utilization efforts of people like Webb, the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) goal of reducing the sediment in the Bad River by 30 was achieved. He was part of a project sponsored by Stanley County Conservation District. Webb moves his cattle from pasture to pasture to eliminate over and under grazing. Webb's dedication to a healthy environment is also better for the cattle. Rotating pastures encourages the cattle to graze where they usually won't. He's also keeping cattle off the creek by building stream crossings with technical assistance from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) specialists. With NRCS planning help and some financial assistance, Webb installed erosion mats and rocks in fragile areas allowing for vegetation growth and healthy banks. Webb's motive is simple. "It's a privilege to own this land. It gives you a good feeling to improve something," Webb says. "It's the next generation that will benefit from what we do."		Billy Webb Ron Olinger Painter Ranch Ted Swenson Williams Ranch Mark Jensen Top of Page Billy Webb Ron Olinger Painter Ranch Ted Swenson Williams Ranch Mark Jensen Top of Page

For years, summers at Lake Mitchell meant green algae blooms, unpleasant smell, and unsuitable water. Firesteel Creek feeds Lake Mitchell. A water quality assessment revealed the need for nutrient management within the watershed and relocation of Mitchell's storm sewers. The Firesteel Creek Watershed Project, sponsored by Davison, Aurora, and Jerauld Conservation Districts, is addressing those needs. With technical and financial assistance from the Project, Ronald D. Olinger relocated his 1,000 head feedlot from near the creek to an upland area suitable for a nutrient management system and debris basin. "Without the Firesteel Creek Project, we would never have been able to get the feedlot relocated," said Olinger. "Project manager Dave Kringen coordinated everything. Without them to help the average farmer work through this complicated process, nothing would get done. Dave did a heck of a job assisting in the permit process, providing general advice and working with the NRCS engineering team." "All of us want to rid pollution from our streams. It's going to take active involvement from lots of people. Projects that conservation districts sponsor, like Firesteel, work because they do involve everyone.		Billy Webb Ron Olinger Painter Ranch Ted Swenson Williams Ranch Mark Jensen Top of Page

Joe and Cindy Painter ranch in Harding County, South Dakota. In addition to their base ranch, the Painters have purchased the old Clanton ranch and operate his parents' ranch. Cattle and buffalo graze on land improved by the Painters' conservation practices. Over the years, they have installed 65,000 feet of pipeline, 5 range wells, 26 water tanks, 21 acres of shelterbelts, renovated 3,700 acres of pasture and hayland, and developed 5 springs. Working with NRCS and Harding County Conservation District staff, Joe and Cindy have used conservation practices to increase the profitablility of their land, but there have been other benefits to their conservation actions as well. The ranch hosts numerous adult and youth hunters and fishermen every year who enjoy the wildlife and scenic vistas that improved resource management provides.		Billy Webb Ron Olinger Painter Ranch Ted Swenson Williams Ranch Mark Jensen Top of Page

Letter to Minnehaha Conservation District from Ted Swenson: To: Kristi Lewis, Manager Thank you for helping me learn how to better manage my pasture and grazing practices by using our farm as a demonstration site for the East River Riparian Project in the Beaver Creek Watershed. Keeping the cattle off the creek banks really made a difference in the clarity of the water and natural grass growth where there used to be just dirt. The rotational grazing program that we implemented was so successful that my neighbor started a rotational program for his cattle. Yours truly, /s/Ted S. Swenson		Billy Webb Lake Mitchell Painter Ranch Ted Swenson Williams Ranch Mark Jensen Top of Page

Gene and Linda Williams, and their two sons, Tristen and Trevor, are the second and third generations to make a living on this land. The 4,000 acre ranch is primarily pastureland with approximately 400 acres in either hay or crop production. The Williams' have attempted to make improvements that would increase the earning capabilities of their ranch. These improvements have included the construction of 13 dams, 11 miles of crossfencing, a 400-yard, six-row-wide tree shelterbelt, 8.5 miles of pipeline to water pastures and several thousand feet of water spreading dikes to enhance forage growth. In the past five years, they have implemented a rotational grazing system that also includes National Grassland pastures. :"Man is part of their ecosystem. We don't control it. We should work within it. When we do, it's better for wildlife, families, our financial health, and the land," says Gene Williams.		Billy Webb Ron Olinger Painter Ranch Ted Swenson Williams Ranch Mark Jensen Top of Page

Mark Jensen farms 350 acres of crop ground, in a corn, bean, and alfalfa rotation. He also runs a 65 head cow/calf livestock operation. "After farming for 30 years already, I thought it would be fun to develop a wildlife area," says Jensen. "We have boys in our family and they are avid hunters and enjoy the outdoors. They were willing to get involved with the maintenance and work that goes along with recreation." Jensen has enrolled a 17.8 acre riparian buffer in the Continuous Signup Conservation Reserve Program (CCRP). When it comes to preserving water quality and improving wildlife habitat, Jensen comments, "I don't think of conservation as a major accomplishment or a task. It's just something a person does without looking for a lot of praise or pats on the back."		Billy Webb Ron Olinger Painter Ranch Ted Swenson Williams Ranch Mark Jensen Top of Page