Kanabec Soil & Water Conservation District

09/14/2026

Don't forget to join Kanabec SWCD at our Septic Week 2026 Watch Party!
Tuesday September 15
Kanabec County Courthouse Basement Meeting Room
6:15-8:30 pm. Refreshments Provided: More information here:
https://canva.link/watch-party-9-15-2026

Think at the Sink!
Learn what not to put down your kitchen sink (such as fats, oils, or greases), how to properly dispose of food waste, and how to use cleaning supplies in moderation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIWoB2QtBvY

09/10/2026

Thank you to our Snake River Watershed Plan Partnership board members, staff, and partners who joined us for our 2026 Board Tour! 🌿

We had a great time getting out in the watershed together and seeing conservation work in action. We visited the newest shoreline planting at Challeen Park in Pine City, as well as a buffer planting at Cross Lake that is about two years old, giving us a chance to see how these projects grow and change over time.

It was a great morning of learning, conversation, and connecting with the people who help make this work possible. Thanks to everyone who came along!

09/04/2026

HAVE BUCKTHORN? WE KNOW A GUY. 🐐

Goats love buckthorn, and they’re very good at managing it, perhaps cementing their status as truly the Greatest Of All Time (sorry for the bad pun). They’ll hammer existing shrubs by defoliating them and reducing their ability to photosynthesize. Buckthorn berries also act as a laxative for many birds, which helps them spread the seeds around in their droppings. 💩 Goats are a different. Research from the University of Minnesota found that only about 2% of buckthorn seeds eaten by goats make it through their digestive system intact!

On the flip side, do you have goats that could use some free feed? Whether it’s your business or you’d just be willing to bring them out to a neighbor’s property, let us know! We’d love to add more local goat owners to our vendor list.

09/02/2026

Join UMN Extension, MN DNR, and other partners at a free seed collection training event near you! 🌱

Seed collection is a rewarding way to participate in forest regeneration. There is a growing need for new people to learn this important skill, as the number of experienced collectors is dwindling. These workshops will help you to identify a couple of key tree species and their ripe seeds, confidently collect high-quality tree seed, and understand how to process seeds to sell to the state nursery or other vendors. For more information see the flyer or visit treeseed.umn.edu!

08/24/2026

Looking for a local farmer interested in trying some conservation farming practices on 16.3 acres of SWCD-owned land.

Interested? Check out the details below and contact us by September 11!

Government organization

08/20/2026

Due to prolonged dry weather, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has moved the St. Croix River basin—which includes the City of Mora—into the Drought Warning Response Phase. The effects of the dry weather can be seen around the City, County and State.
To protect our municipal water supply and meet state mandates, all residents and businesses are asked to reduce non-essential water use immediately to help protect this valuable resource.
Please check out https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/waters/watermgmt_section/appropriations/water-conservation-residents.html andhttps://files.dnr.state.mn.us/natural_resources/climate/drought/drought_plan_matrix.pdf for more information.
Thank you for doing your part to help reduce use.

08/19/2026

Forest tent caterpillars or Armyworms, are within the range of a possible outbreak in the coming years. While typically not fatal to trees, forest tent caterpillars can defoliate entire branches, and can cause some branch die back if their numbers are large enough. Be on the lookout for large numbers of these caterpillars!

https://www.kaxe.org/local-news/2026-08-10/forest-tent-caterpillar-damage-rising-as-dnr-eyes-potential-2027-outbreak

08/18/2026

08/18/2026

Kanabec SWCD is excited to welcome Mallory Kaiser to the team as a Conservation Technician!

Mallory recently earned her M.S. in Biological Sciences from Minnesota State University, Mankato, with a focus in aquatic ecosystems. Raised on a family farm, she also brings hands-on agricultural experience and a strong understanding of conservation and land management.

We’re glad to have Mallory on board supporting local landowners and natural resources. Welcome to the team, Mallory!