 BWSR Awards $10 million in Clean Water Fund Grants
32 grants will support projects to improve water quality in Minnesota
Contact: Mary Juhl; mary.juhl@state.mn.us, 612-358-5733
December 14, 2023
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) approved approximately $10 million in Clean Water Fund (CWF) grants today to improve water quality in streams, lakes and groundwater across the state. Most of the grant funding is allocated for voluntary conservation projects across Minnesota, including funding for projects that focus on improving and protecting drinking water.
“These grants will equip local governments to work in partnership with landowners across Minnesota to put projects on the ground that protect our valuable water and soil resources,” said BWSR Executive Director John Jaschke. “This locally led work is key to improving water quality and soil health in Minnesota.”
A Projects and Practices grant will support the Mustinka River rehabilitation project, which will replace the existing ditch with a 300-foot wide, 260-acre floodplain corridor with a 6.7-mile meandering channel. The project will provide approximately 34 acres of constructed wetland habitat and 226 acres of native upland buffer areas within the stream channel and associated floodplain areas, permanently protected by the Bois de Sioux Watershed District.
A Drinking Water Projects and Practices grant will help Morrison County SWCD meet its goal to reduce the risk of nitrate contamination in more than 220 vulnerable public water supply wells by planting 2,500 acres of cover crops each year for three years. Participating landowners will be given the opportunity to work with an SWCD technician to identify additional ways to improve management to reduce leaching of nitrates into groundwater.
The $10 million will fund 32 grants. Learn more about the grant recipients:
BWSR awards competitive CWF grants annually. The state is shifting to a Watershed-Based Implementation Funding model, which offers consistent, non-competitive funding to planning partnerships with approved watershed management plans. This helps partnerships focus on the highest priority projects within a specific watershed. Competitive CWF grants remain an important part of conservation delivery despite this shift, offering funding to individual districts for projects and practices.
About the Minnesota Clean Water Fund
Minnesota voters approved the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment in 2008 to protect, enhance, and restore wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish, game, and wildlife habitat; to preserve arts and cultural heritage; to support parks and trails; and to protect, enhance, and restore lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater. The Clean Water Fund receives 33 percent of the sales tax revenue generated by the Legacy Amendment. More information about the Clean Water Fund is available here.
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BWSR is the state soil and water conservation agency, and it administers programs that prevent sediment and nutrients from entering our lakes, rivers, and streams; enhance fish and wildlife habitat; and protect wetlands. The 20-member board consists of representatives of local and state government agencies and citizens. BWSR’s mission is to improve and protect Minnesota's water and soil resources by working in partnership with local organizations and private landowners.
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