 BWSR accepting applications for water storage grants
Contact: Mary Juhl; mary.juhl@state.mn.us, 612-358-5733
February 12, 2024
ST. PAUL, Minn. —The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) is now accepting applications for water storage grants to help make landscapes more resilient to severe weather events. Eligible applicants include tribal governments and soil and water conservation districts, watershed districts, counties, and watershed management organizations with a state-approved, locally adopted water management plan.
The state is experiencing more frequent and intense rainfall events, resulting in negative impacts to agriculture and infrastructure, significant erosion along riverbanks, and declining water quality. In 2021, the Minnesota Legislature passed a law directing BWSR to develop a program to protect infrastructure, improve water quality and mitigate the effects of climate change. In response, BWSR established the Water Quality and Storage Grant Program, which supports storage practices statewide, with a focus on the Minnesota River Basin and the Lower Mississippi River Basin.
“These grants will target areas of the state that contain topography with steep elevation changes that make flooding and erosion pressing concerns,” said BWSR Executive Director John Jaschke. “Local governments have an essential role to play in protecting Minnesota communities from the impacts of flooding.”
The Water Quality and Storage Grant Program has approximately $3 million available in grant funding this year. Up to $500,000 is available to pay for modeling and conceptual design of storage practices. The remaining $2.5 million will be for final design and construction of storage practices.
Applications will be accepted through 4:30 p.m. on April 11, 2024. Applications must be submitted through eLINK, BWSR’s grants management system. More information on how to apply can be found here.
This program is part of a suite of legislation passed in recent years to mitigate negative environmental impacts caused by climate change. Learn more about the state’s climate work by visiting climate.state.mn.us.
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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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