Upcoming Meetings and Project Updates

Upcoming Meetings Full Council: The next meeting is Monday, October 16th (Topics: Surface water strategic planning). The packet from the September 18th meeting (topics: metro field tour preparation) has been posted at our web site. Policy Committee: The next meeting is Friday, October 27th. (Topic: Updated drainage policy statement.) The meeting on Friday, September 22nd was cancelled. The packet from the August 25th meeting (topics: drainage) has been posted at our web site. Budget & Outcomes Committee: The next meeting is Friday, November 3rd (topic: TBD). The packet from the October 6th meeting has been posted.

Updates on Projects Supported by the Clean Water Fund

Cooperation drives Pope, Swift counties' conservation - West Central Tribune: Cooperation between neighbors and collaboration between neighboring soil and water conservation districts has resulted in more effective erosion control within the East Branch Chippewa River watershed in Pope and Swift counties. Numerous water and sedimental control basins (WASCOBs) addressed turbidity impairments. (Authored by BWSR staff.)

Higher Management Skill Leads To Higher Profits | Iowa PBS: The Market to Market program on Iowa Public Television created this six-minute program on the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP).

Notice of availability of the draft Crow Wing River Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) Report Update 2023 and request for comments: The draft update for the Crow Wing River WRAPS is now available for public comment through November 8th. 

Anton Treuer: Native Americans and Logging the Northwoods: An Indigenous History - Library Events - Washington County Library (MN): This event is part of We Are Water MN, a traveling exhibit and community engagement initiative that explores the science, history, story, culture, and relationships of water in Minnesota, and, in this case, the lower St. Croix River Valley. The exhibit will be on view at Stillwater Public Library from October 12 through December 3, 2023. 

Rousus team with local SWCD, NRCS on conservation projects | by #MNLocallyLedConservation | Sep, 2023 | Medium: A complex conservation project with multiple funding sources helped water quality in the White Earth Reservation.

Arens is 17th Murray County farmer to be water quality-certified - The Globe: Supported by the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program.

What’s next for Lily Lake? Delisting achieved, partners consider possibilities – St. Croix 360: Lily Lake achieved the phosphorus reductions necessary for delisting after a regional filtration basin was installed in fall 2021 and after an alum treatment was completed the following spring. Those Middle St. Croix Water Management Organization projects drew from a $513,500 Clean Water Fund grant — the most recent of five Clean Water Fund grants BWSR awarded to the WMO since 2011 for work related to Lily Lake.

Other Relevant Water News

Ocheyedan River again goes dry despite new state requirements - Iowa Capital Dispatch: Follow-up on a watershed that interacts with a Minnesota community.

State of Water: How suburban home aesthetics are scarring Minnesota shorelines - CBS Minnesota: WCCO has this 11-minute story showing how better lakeshore property owners can improve water quality with better practices, including participation in the Lake Steward progam.

What are the urban stormwater research needs for Minnesota? The Minnesota Stormwater Research Council and the Water Resources Center want to hear from you about your research and information needs for urban stormwater practices and management. They are soliciting input to update the Stormwater Research Roadmap for Minnesota (2018) through a number of opportunities including in person and virtual listening sessions and a survey during the next two months.  More information and registration will be announced soon including the following opportunities: 

• November 8 virtual session 8:30am
• November 9 virtual session 12:00pm
• November 15 in-person and virtual 3:00 - 4:30pm - immediately following the stormwater seminar at St. Anthony Falls Lab (Minneapolis) 

Drinking water planning and design funds available for PFAS treatment: The MPCA has $22 million available for planning and design of PFAS treatment systems for owners and operators of community drinking water supply systems in Minnesota.  Eligible applicants must have a minimum of four quarters of samples taken from entry points, and a rolling average that exceeds the EPA draft maximum contaminant level values for PFOS, PFOA or the Hazard Index MCL of 1.0. Applications will be accepted on a rolling, first come, first served basis until all dedicated funds have been awarded or June 28, 2024, whichever occurs first.  Learn more about this funding opportunity, including how to apply, at the MPCA’s Drinking Water Planning and Design Funds for PFAS Treatment web page.

National Fish Habitat Funding Opportunity (fishersandfarmers.org): Fishers & Farmers Partnership (FFP) for the Upper Mississippi River Basin, a fish habitat partnership, is seeking project proposals to benefit aquatic habitat in Mississippi River basin streams. Federal funding may be available under the National Fish Habitat Partnership through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to fund the top ranked proposals. Deadline is January 15, 2024.

Dashboard lets anyone see, explore Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy progress (farmprogress.com)