Bonding, Budget, Water Quality Trading Rpt: Clean Water Council Update

Minnesota Clean Water Council sent this bulletin at 01/20/2022 07:00 PM CST

2022 Bonding & Legislative Funding Proposals

Governor Walz unveiled the administration's capital budget recommendations this week. These recommendations may be considered for inclusion in the Legislature's capital investment bill (aka "bonding bill").

Recommendations of interest to clean water efforts along with page references and the proposing agency:

Local Government Stormwater Construction Grants (MPCA): $21.1 million (p. 19)
Continuous Nitrate Sensor Network (MPCA): $1 million (p. 20)
Water Infrastructure Initiative--State Match for Federal Grants to State Revolving Loan Programs (Public Facilities Authority-PFA): $49 million (p. 21)
Water Infrastructure Initiative--Water Infrastructure Funding Program (PFA): $76 million
Water Infrastructure Initiative--Point Source Implementation Grant program (PFA): $75 million
Inflow and Infiltration Grant Program (Metropolitan Council): $5 million (p. 9)
Conservation Reserve and Enhancement Program (BWSR): $9.9 million (p. 27)

The House majority DFL caucus introduced a climate action plan this week as well for consideration in a supplemental budget. It proposes uses of the budget surplus, including some that would have relevance to water quality work:

$40 million in funding for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), and other programs that conserve native grasses
$20 million to develop agricultural products and practices that conserve soil and water while driving economic opportunity
$20 million to establish a cost-sharing program that will help maintain and improve soil health
$10 million to invest in diverse crops that provide ground cover and economic opportunities throughout the entire year

Upcoming Meetings & Project Updates

Upcoming Meetings

Full Council: The next meeting is Monday, January 24th. (Topics: Manganese Response Plan, 2022 Performance Report, officer elections, Water Gremlin update.) The December 20th meeting was cancelled. The packet from the November 15th meeting (small grants RFP draft, strategic plan review, timeline for 2022 Clean Water Fund recommendations process) has been posted at our web site.

Policy Committee: The next meeting is Friday, January 28th. (The December meeting was cancelled.) The presentations from the November 19th meeting (topics: soil health conversation, pharmaceutical policy statement) have been posted at our web site.

Budget & Outcomes Committee: The next meeting is Friday, February 4th. The packet from the January 7th meeting (topics: Clean Water Fund Performance Report; Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Lakewide Action and Management Plans-LAMP; draft LiDAR report) has been posted.

Meetings at MPCA have WebEx capability for on-line viewing. Contact us for details. NOTE: WebEx recordings are moving to a new server. We will only have on-demand access to archived WebEx recordings for the previous six months.

Updates on Projects Supported by the Clean Water Fund

Water Quality Trading in the North Fork Crow River Watershed | Minnesota Pollution Control Agency: In 2021, the MPCA worked with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and BWSR to convene local partners in the North Fork Crow River Watershed and discuss challenges and opportunities related to water quality trading in the area. A new report outlines the resulting recommendations.

BWSR Awards $12.7 Million in Clean Water Fund Grants | isanti-chisagocountystar.com: Blue Lake in Isanti County will receive a Projects and Practices grant from the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR). The lake needs a reduction of 360 pounds of total phosphorus. The project will reduce it by 590 pounds using a buffered alum treatment.

Alexandria's Lake Ida Gets $288K grant | Echo Press: The Douglas County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) received a BWSR Projects and Practices grant to support Lake Ida. The article states that "It plans to use this grant to reduce sediment to Lake Ida by 361 tons per year and total phosphorus by 343 pounds per year to meet watershed goals for the lake of reducing sediment by 10% and total phosphorus by 300 pounds. Projects will include seven shoreline restorations, two gully fixes, three water and sediment control basins, one terrace, one manure storage practice and 10 alternative tile intakes."

Farmland Is Part of Minnesota's Plan to Improve Impaired Waters | Agweek: BWSR grants in Pope and Grant Counties are featured.

Clean Water Project Video for Mississippi River-Brainerd Watershed: The soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs) from Crow Wing, Morrison, Aitkin, and Todd Counties share farmer and lakeshore landowner projects in the Mississippi River-Brainerd Watershed. The YouTube video features a Clean Water Fund project at Serpent Lake project at 6:43.

St. Louis River Area of Concern: The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announce the availability of the updated, 2021 St. Louis River Area of Concern (SLRAOC) Remedial Action Plan (RAP). The RAP is updated annually to incorporate public input into the program and to show the current status of the management actions, which are being implemented to address the beneficial use impairments identified after the SLRAOC was listed by the U.S. and Canada in 1987. To view the 2021 RAP or for more information on the SLRAOC program, visit the MPCA's SLRAOC web page.

Minnesota River Headwaters Watershed News Roundup: The MPCA's summary of the recently drafted Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies (WRAPS) for the Minnesota River Headwaters Watershed has been in the news.

Other Relevant Water News

Cover crop lessons from four Midwest farmers | Successful Farming (agriculture.com): "At the Soil Management Summit in Mankato, Minnesota, farmers shared their mistakes and successes planting cover crops on their farms." Two Minnesota farmers are featured.

St. Paul officials say it's time to get the lead out of city's pipes - StarTribune.com: St. Paul Regional Water Services discusses next steps and challenges in removing lead from the water delivery system.