Upcoming Meetings and Project Updates

Upcoming Meetings NOTE: Seven positions on the Clean Water Council are up for appointment this year by the Governor. See more information at the Secretary of State's office web site. Full Council: The next meeting is Monday, March 18th (topics: final recommendations for FY24-25 supplemental Clean Water Fund recommendations; first set of Clean Water Fund proposals for implementation projects for FY26-27 biennium). The packet from the February 26th meeting (topics: adoption of strategic plan and communications plan, local government roundtable, Clean Water Fund Performance Report, lake de-listings, Watershed Health Assessment Framework for Lakes) has been posted at our web site. Policy Committee: The next meeting is Friday, March 22nd. The packet from the February 23rd meeting (topics: private wells, soil health) has been posted at our web site.  Budget & Outcomes Committee: The next meeting is Friday, April 5th (topic: review of March 18th budget presentations). The March 1st meeting is cancelled. The packet from the February 2nd meeting (topics: Restoration Evaluations, Clean Water Fund Performance Report.) has been posted.

Updates on Projects Supported by the Clean Water Fund

Watershed-Based Implementation Funding: Wright SWCD (YouTube): Wright Soil and Water Conservation District staff discuss how Watershed-Based Implementation Funding, a dedicated funding source of Clean Water Fund dollars, has made it possible to complete more and larger projects — including work that affects a source of Twin Cities drinking water by curbing sediment-loading to the North Fork Crow River, a Mississippi River tributary.

Dakota SWCD Receives State Grant: In partnership with Dakota County, the Lower Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization, and the City of Mendota Heights, the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) received a $585,000 Clean Water Fund Grant for the Interstate Valley Creek (IVC) Streambank Stabilization and Stormwater Best Management Practices project. This project will install streambank stabilizations and stormwater treatment practices to reduce stormwater volume, minimize erosion, and provide cleaner water in both Interstate Valley Creek and the Mississippi River.

Hawk Creek Watershed Project watching nitrogen, phosphorus levels in west central Minnesota lakes - West Central Tribune | News, weather, sports from Willmar Minnesota (wctrib.com): Phosphorus and total suspended solids are declining and nitrates are neither increasing nor decreasing. 

Other Relevant Water News

Environmental Firm to Host Second Annual Southern Minnesota Lake Resources Conference | ISG Inc: ISG will host the second annual Future of Southern Minnesota Lakes Conference at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato, Minnesota on April 12-13.

Public Notice: Notice of availability and request for comments on the draft Interagency Fish Kill Response Guidance Document and Protocol: To best unify state agency responses to fish kills in the state, the MPCA coordinated an interagency team consisting of the Department of Natural Resources, Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, and the MPCA to create interagency communications protocols and field response considerations. A public meeting to provide an overview of the document will be held via Webex on April 16, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.

Register for 2024 Salt Symposium - Early Bird Discount: The annual Salt Symposium will be online August 6-7.

Fertilizer tax proposal advances despite opposition from agriculture groups • Minnesota Reformer: The Minnesota House Agriculture Committee voted on a fertilizer fee to support nitrate mitigation in private wells. 

Fertilizer tax on farmers would raise millions to pay for clean drinking water in southeastern Minnesota (startribune.com): More on the fertilizer fee.

New tech to treat water could spur economic development (minnpost.com): "The University of Minnesota is partnering with a consortium of science and engineering researchers across the Great Lakes region to develop technological innovations around water management and resource conservation."

Latest BWSR Project Snapshots: The Board of Water and Soil Resources has published its latest monthly set of project Snapshots.

• Marshall’s HELP grant sites aim to increase habitat, awareness: Marshall city leaders anticipate environmental benefits and reduced maintenance costs will result from grant-supported habitat enhancements. HELP will transition from pilot to program when BWSR issues a request for proposals. [Supported by Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund]

• Meet the Morrison SWCD staffer behind 350-plus RIM easements: One Morrison SWCD staffer has worked with landowners surrounding Camp Ripley to enroll more than 38,000 acres in RIM easements through the Army Compatible Use Buffer program. Co-workers said Lance Chisholm’s ability to connect with landowners was the key. [Outdoor Heritage Fund]

• Wetland training program offers professional certification options: A training program run by BWSR aimed at wetland professionals has certified more than 600 people since 2020.

• Grazing, NRCS assistance boost productivity of sheep flock, land: With rotational
  grazing and assistance from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Tom Scarponcini has improved the health of both livestock and land on his Winona County farm.

In our record-breaking warm winter, what happens to our stockpiles of road salt? (startribune.com)

2024 Water Resources Conference Call for Abstracts: The Minnesota Water Resources Conference is the premier event for all things water in Minnesota because professionals like you share your research, policy, implementation plans, and project takeaways. The window to submit an abstract is open for the 2024 conference, and we want to hear from you! Topics of interest include:

• Agricultural Water Issues
• Climate Change/Resiliency
• Stakeholder & Community Engagement
• Stream Restoration
• Water Resource Sustainability