Dave Ausen and Chris Dahl, from the Freeborn County Soil and Water Conservation District, attended a legislative briefing and meetings at the State Capitol Feb. 17-18 in St. Paul.

They joined a group of other officials from the state’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) who met in St. Paul to gather support for conservation districts’ programs and issues.

“It is important for us to get the conservation message out to our elected officials in St. Paul.” said Ausen, of Alden. The 2010 Legislative Session will be a difficult one, as the state faces a budget deficit and develops a capitol improvement bonding bill.

“With budget concerns being what they are at the state level, we have to work hard to make sure local soil and water conservation issues don’t fall by the wayside,” he added.

“In addition to addressing the state’s budget deficit, legislators this session will address issues like the Reinvest in Minnesota reserve program. This is an important state program for working with landowners on wetland restorations and has the potential for leveraging millions of dollars in federal funding through the USDA’s Wetland Reserve Program,” Ausen said.

During the visit to St. Paul, Ausen and Dahl met with local legislators Jeanne Poppe and Dan Sparks.

The event was sponsored by the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

SWCDs fill the crucial niche of providing land and water conservation services to owners of private lands. Minnesota has 91 Soil and Water Conservation Districts. For more information on the Freeborn County Soil and Water Conservation District, call 373-5607 Ext. 3.