Tony Nelson
Kevin Kassenborg
“As long as I’ve been here, that is the best program that I’ve seen as far as being able to fund it at 90 percent.” – Keven Kassenborg on “One Watershed, One Plan” funds.
Clay County Commission
Dan Haglund
Kevin Kassenborg and Tony Nelson brought the 2025 numbers and dollar figures before the Clay County Board of Commissions on Tuesday.
And the year appears to have gone just swimmingly.
Kassenborg, Soil and Water Conservation District manager, and Nelson, Water Resources Management technician, provided the annual rundown with slides aplenty.
First, the No-Till Drill Rental program.
This successful venture has been offered to landowners within the county since 1993, and last year had 1,782 acres planted with 32 landowners renting drills.
Since 1996, the Ag Best Management Practices (AgBMP) Low-Interest Loan Program has facilitated more than $2.2 million in loans have been made to Clay County landowners and ag businesses for projects and practices such as conservation equipment, ag waste management, septic system upgrades and well relocation and sealing.
The equipment typically involves no-till grain drills and manure spreading equipment.
To qualify for these loans, the borrower proposes a project to the local county. If the borrower meets state eligibility requirements and the project addresses local water quality priorities, the county approves the project and assists them in locating a cooperating banker.
“One thing kind of unique about this program is it does not have to be brand new equipment,” Kassenborg said. “Used equipment is also eligible. It’s amazing how expensive some of the new equipment has gotten to be.”
The county also oversaw ten landowner projects last year, including five streambank stream-barb (northwest of Glyndon) and 22 water and sediment control basin installations. Stream-barbs, Kassenborg said, are basically rock dams jutting into a river or stream to divert the waterflow away from erosion-prone banks.
The projects cost a total of $834,755 with up to 90 percent of cost share funds available. More than $300,000 came from the federal government and more than $410,000 came from the state’s “One Watershed, One Plan” funds.
“As long as I’ve been here, that is the best program that I’ve seen as far as being able to fund it at 90 percent,” Kassenborg said.
Another project north of Moorhead that was completed last year was the $400,000 Snakey Creek rebuild. Years of neglect along the half-mile long creek, which is an outlet for County Ditch 41, prompted a state Clean Water Fund application between Clay SWCD and BRRWD.
The estimated pollution reductions from this project included 1,404 tons of sediment and 1,615 pounds of phosphorus per year.
As far as urban conservation, the county has a walk-in public access project, which includes cleaning and dead wood removal near river access points.
“We have our own robust urban conservation project,” Nelson said.
Nelson also noted participation in the Moorhead Community Education, leading evening workshops explaining rain barrels, compost tumblers and pollinator plants.
Nelson said last year about 65 people participated in those programs.
He touted a partnership with F-M Riverkeepers as well, with a tandem education effort for 1,700 fourth-graders and staff at the Water Fest.
The SWCD was started toward the end of World War II with seven major land concerns within the county: drainage, wind erosion, drought, proper land use, water erosion, weed control and water entering the region from other areas.
The SWCD outlined a broader scope of concerns by 2000, with 11 areas of focus. Those included the additions of water quality and conservation, promotion of conservation and resource programs, promotion of energy conservation, promotion of the state’s revolving low-interest rate loan program, improving wildlife habitat, improving grassland management, reclaiming mined land, promotion of special projects, and the implementation of EEO and Civil Rights responsibilities.
And with that final focus, a specific goal of maintaining strong working relationships with other agencies and organizations.
The SWCD encompasses five geographic areas, which also include 11 cities, 30 townships, 1,053 square miles and 110 lakes of more than 25 acres. The county’s Census population estimate in 2024 was 66,848.
Roughly two-thirds of Clay County’s residents live within the city limits of Moorhead.
