BWSR issues more than $3.5 million in flood relief grants

For release: Feb. 26, 2013          Contact: Jennifer Maleitzke, 651-215-9008 (office); 651-315-5082 (cell)

 BWSR issues more than $3.5 million in flood relief grants

 St. Paul, Minn.—The second phase of flood relief is on the way to counties and landowners affected by last June’s severe storms.

Today, the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) issued more than $3.58 million to seven soil and water conservation districts, including: South St. Louis ($1,938,403), Pine ($240,000), Lake ($367,233), Aitkin ($246,755), Goodhue ($381,956), Dakota ($125,000) and Rice ($277,951).  

“Last fall, we directed more than $1 million to address emergency situations,” John Jaschke, BWSR Executive Director said. “Now, after assessing need, determining eligible projects, and working with partners on funding sources, this round of grants will tackle ‘ready-to-go’ projects to help landowners fix their properties."   

The funds will be used for erosion, sediment and water quality control projects such as stream channel restorations and stabilization of landslide areas that threaten public or private property. Some specific projects include:  

• Imminent threat streambank stabilization projects adjacent to nine private homes on the French River, Bent Creek, Keene Creek, Chester Creek, St. Louis River and Miller Creek in St. Louis County, 
• Imminent threat shoreline stabilization projects for five private homes adjacent to Lake Superior in St. Louis and Lake County, 
• Restoration of emergency accesses to two private properties along the Little Stewart River and Knife River in Lake County, 
• Streambank stabilization projects adjacent to six private properties on the Kettle River in Pine County, 
• Shoreline stabilization and repair for 21 lakeshore properties on Big Sandy, Cedar and Farm Island Lakes in Aitkin County, 
• Streambank erosion protection along 1,000 feet of the Cannon River in Goodhue County, and 
• Repair or installation of 26 conservation practices on cropland in Goodhue, Rice and Dakota Counties.        

These grants will provide funding to complete 166 projects, all managed by local governments. Recommendations for this funding was provided by the MN Recovers Task Force, a team of federal, state and local agencies working together to prioritize and coordinate disaster recovery efforts by its member agencies. 

Following passage of the flood relief bill during a special legislative session last August, BWSR was appropriated $12.5 million in grants and cost share funding. The agency will be issuing more grants in the near future as it prioritizes requests and completes preliminary project designs submitted by local governments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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