Staff capacity for morrison swcd to host training opportunities in the camp ripley sentinel landscape, crsl, for prescribed fire and agricultural bmps for private landowners, private foresters, etc

The National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) awarded Morrison County Soil and Water Conservation District (Morrison SWCD) an $800,000 Cooperative Agreement under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (CFDA 10.912) on September 22, 2025, with a completion date of September 21, 2030. The award funds staff capacity expansion within Morrison SWCD to develop and deliver training opportunities for private landowners, private foresters, and other stakeholders in the Camp Ripley Sentinel Landscape (CRSL) in Minnesota. Training will focus on prescribed fire management and agricultural best management practices (BMPs) implementation.

The cooperative agreement supports NRCS's broader mission to promote agricultural production, forest management, and environmental quality through technical assistance and practice implementation. By building internal staffing capacity at the local level, Morrison SWCD will enhance its ability to provide conservation planning, design support, and educational programming that helps eligible participants implement sustainable conservation practices on private lands. This award reflects NRCS's strategy of investing in local conservation delivery infrastructure to increase environmental benefits and compliance with federal, state, and local environmental standards across the designated landscape area.