Changes coming to grants for volunteer water monitoring

Each year, the MPCA opens a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Surface Water Assessment Grants (SWAG) that support lake and stream water chemistry monitoring.  One important change this year for prospective applicants to note – only those lakes or stream sites included in the RFP appendices will be eligible for monitoring through SWAG. The MPCA and its local partners specifically chose these sites as priority resources within each major watershed.   By limiting sites eligible for monitoring through SWAG, the MPCA will be able to support a second type of grant for event-based stream sampling, such as during spring snowmelt and rain events, on specific sites being monitored for flow.       This event-based water chemistry sampling, combined with flow information, will allow the MPCA to determine pollutant loads, which is critical information for investigating pollution sources.

BWSR to issue RFP for $21 million in Clean Water funds

Special session: $450 million for Legacy spending

Special session: 69 lottery-funded projects to proceed

Special session: $238 million for environmental spending

The Minnesota Legislature and Gov. Dayton agreed on $238 million for environmental funding for the next two years, which is $36.5 million more than the conference committee bill and $39 million less than the governor’s proposal.   According to Minnesota Public Radio, highlights of the bill include:

• Water Quality: Requires a study of water quality laws instead of a two-year moratorium on making any new ones.  
• Lake Pepin: Instructs the MPCA to reduce phosphorus levels only in the summer.
• Wild rice sulfate standard: Doesn't toughen standard, which some legislators wanted earlier in the session. Companies are not required to invest in sulfate-reducing equipment to meet state standard for probably another two years. Provides $4 million over biennium for research.
• Aquatic invasive species: Invests $5.5 million over biennium to develop best-management practices at boat landings.
• About $500,000 for bio-monitoring related to perfluorochemicals and mercury in Lake Superior.
• No money for Board of Water and Soil Resources' cost-sharing programs with counties on weed management and vegetation buffers.

Updates made to Clean Water Partnership law

• Eliminate activities or programs that have been completed since the Law’s 1990 inception.
• Simplify and provide more flexibility to address water quality restoration and protection concerns within major watershed restoration and protection strategies.
• Increase the amount of funding potentially available for projects through the Public Facilities Authority.
• Invite other important state partnerships, including local soil, water and conservation districts, to sponsor water quality projects.
• Allow further coordination and implementation of the TMDL program designed to restore Minnesota’s impaired waters.
• End the Project Coordination Team (PCT), a state-wide interagency group which assisted the MPCA with reviewing grant proposals and choosing projects for funding.

MPCA extends public comment periods for water studies, Lake Winona standard

• Buffalo Creek TMDL, noticed in the State Register on June 13, 2011
• Cedar and McMahon Lakes TMDL, noticed in the State Register on June 20, 2011
• Elk River Watershed TMDL, noticed in the State Register on June 20, 2011
• Lake Winona Site Specific Standard, noticed in the State Register on May 31, 2011
• Shingle and Bass Creeks TMDL, noticed in the State Register on June 20, 2011

EPA approves TMDLs for river, several lakes

Citizens set island-building as priority for Mississippi project

The MPCA recently approved the implementation plan for the Mississippi Makeover. In the plan, the project’s Citizens Advisory Group set island-building as the top priority for Spring Lake and Lower Pool 2 of the Mississippi. Establishing islands will help reduce wind fetch that stirs sediment and clouds the water. The islands will also provide wildlife habitat.   The goal of the Mississippi Makeover is to engage citizens in developing restoration plans for Spring Lake in Pool 2 of the Mississippi, Pool 3 of the Mississippi, and the Lower Vermillion River. These water bodies all suffer from turbidity, are physically similar, and are located close together.

Crews find trout despite high nutrients in Northfield creeks

MPCA crews and local partners found trout are reproducing in creeks near Northfield, but high nutrient levels post a threat to the fish and overall health of the creeks. For more information, including a video of trout being released by sampling crews, go to the Locally Grown Northfield web site.    This monitoring effort is part of the agency’s goal to measure the health of Minnesota’s 80 major watersheds on a 10-year rotation.

Events: Sediment control workshop, 'Carpzilla' presentation

Online: Reduce erosion, paddling upstream, Clean Water law

Submissions welcome