BWSR Awards $18 Million in Clean Water Fund Grants

For release: Dec. 13, 2012                                          Contact: Angie Becker Kudelka, 612-616-5112

                                                                  

Board of Water and Soil Resources awards $18 Million in Clean Water Fund grants

 

 

St. Paul, Minn.— Cleaning up the Pomme de Terre River, treating urban stormwater in over 20 locations and protecting the City of Faribault’s drinking water supply are just a few of the projects that were selected to receive Clean Water Funding.

 

The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) awarded more than $18 million in grants to local governments on December 12^th, for projects that will protect and restore Minnesota’s streams, rivers, lakes and groundwater.

 

BWSR’s Executive Director, John Jaschke, said the selected projects will make considerable impact to Minnesota’s lakes and rivers. “Thanks to the newly awarded Legacy Funds, our water will get cleaner and our soil will stay where it should: on the land and out of the water,” Jaschke said. “The investments local governments are making continue to improve and protect Minnesota’s landscape all across the state.”

 

The Greater Blue Earth River Basin Alliance, a local conservation organization located in south central Minnesota, is one of the awardees.  They’ll work with partners to install conservation practices to address severe ravines and gullies, removing over 4,000 tons of sediment per year from the area, ultimately benefiting the Blue Earth and LeSuer Rivers. 

 

The Clean Water Legacy funds are targeting polluted and at-risk waters throughout the state. Some funded projects will create catchment areas to slow down water, allowing pollutants to filter out before reaching a lake or stream.  Others will improve livestock waste management, filter water entering drainage systems, protect drinking water wells, and reduce soil erosion. 

 

The need still outweighs available funds.  Over 280 applications requesting almost $68 million dollars were received for the $18 million in available funds.   “BWSR continually strives to fund the most effective projects based on good science, sound planning and local commitment,” Jaschke explained. “Every year funding from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment has been available, we’ve had exceptional projects to choose from.”

 

See how the legacy funds are affecting the land and waters important to you.  For a complete list of projects, including a Minnesota map of project areas, visit www.bwsr.state.mn.us.

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Broadcast version: St. Paul, Minn.— Cleaning up the Pomme de Terre River, treating urban stormwater in over 20 locations and protecting the City of Faribault’s drinking water supply are just a few of the projects that were selected to receive Clean Water Funding.

 

The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) awarded $18 million in grants to local governments on December 12^th for projects that will protect and restore Minnesota’s streams, rivers, lakes and groundwater. See how the legacy funds are affecting the land and waters important to you.  For a complete list of projects, including a Minnesota map of project areas, visit www.bwsr.state.mn.us.