The Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources received 290 proposals requesting a total of $203 million for projects July 1, 2020-June 30, 2021, far exceeding the $61 million expected to be available. The funding comes from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, derived from Minnesota Lottery proceeds and investment income.
The commission will begin paring down the list in June as it selects proposals for presentations for further consideration, based on 10 evaluation criteria. It will make final decisions in July for recommendations to the 2020 Minnesota Legislature for funding decisions.
The proposals range from $50,000 for the Cannon Valley Trail to update its biological inventory to $10 million for the Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources, to rehabilitate, enhance or develop recreational trails.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is seeking $1.4 million to develop strategies to help municipal wastewater treatment plants, landfills and compost facilities manage per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in land-applied biosolids. The agency is also seeking $1 million to establish carbon credits and quantify alternatives to costly stormwater infrastructure by preserving mature ash trees.
The function of the commission is to make funding recommendations to the legislature for special projects that help maintain and enhance Minnesota's environment and natural resources. The commission developed from a program initiated in 1963, and has since recommended about $999 million for more than 2,200 projects.
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The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources is accepting proposals for One Watershed, One Plan planning grants. Planning grants are available to groups of counties, soil and water conservation districts, and watershed districts within a One Watershed, One Plan Planning boundary to assist with the costs of developing a plan. Proposals are due electronically by 4:30 p.m. June 6. For details, see the Request for Proposals online,
isw.permit.mpca@state.mn.usThe MPCA is proposing clearer requirements for companies covered under its industrial stormwater general permit. With the existing permit set to expire in 2020, the MPCA is seeking the public’s input on the proposed permit to ensure Minnesota’s waters are protected.
The industrial stormwater general permit requires Minnesota businesses that store materials outside or perform certain types of work in the open to control rain and snow melt runoff from their properties. Stormwater runoff can carry pollutants into nearby bodies of water. The permit applies to more than 4,000 businesses in Minnesota, including salvage yards and scrap recyclers, landfills, airports, trucking companies, food processors, and manufacturers.
“Managing stormwater runoff from industrial facilities, as well as construction sites and city pavements, is a critical part of improving and protecting water quality in Minnesota,” says Katrina Kessler, MPCA’s assistant commissioner for water. “The MPCA’s goal is to protect Minnesota’s waters while ensuring our permitting process is effective and efficient. The proposed permit changes balance both goals.”
A general permit covers multiple entities with similar operations and types of water-quality protection concerns. When general permits are a feasible option, issuing them allows for faster and more efficient permitting compared to issuing individual permits.
The proposed changes incorporate feedback from industry leaders and business owners covered by the permit. One change affects companies, such as landfills, that use earth movers daily. The proposed permit makes it clearer that such businesses don’t require a separate construction stormwater permit for earth-moving activities.
In another change, airports that do not use de-icing chemicals would no longer be required to test their discharges for the chemical components in de-icers.
The MPCA is seeking additional input on the proposed permit, which is open for public comment until 4:30 p.m. on June 18. The proposed permit in on the MPCA's Public Notices webpage (scroll to the May 20 date). Submit comments via mail to Samantha Adams, MPCA, 7678 College Road, Suite 105, Baxter, MN 56425, or by email to isw.permit.mpca@state.mn.us.
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At the request of several interested parties, the MPCA has posted a highlighted version of the draft Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) General Permit (MNR040000) in the Minnesota Stormwater Manual. This version highlights permit requirements the MPCA finds notable, such as new requirements or existing requirements where additional specificity was included from the 2013 MS4 General Permit. Please note this version does not highlight every change from the 2013 MS4 General Permit, such as requirements that were reorganized, reworded, or removed. The initial draft MS4 General Permit is open for informal review and comment through June 6. The official public notice will follow later this year.
To view the highlighted version of the draft permit, please visit https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=MS4_General_Permit_reissuance.
The MPCA is seeking volunteers to monitor water quality in the state’s more than 12,000 lakes and more than 92,000 miles of streams and rivers. The MPCA needs volunteers to measure water clarity in hundreds of streams — including 676 high-priority sites — and 2,857 lakes, then report back to the agency.
MPCA Citizen Water Monitoring volunteers do a simple water clarity test twice a month during the summer. Lake monitors boat to a designated spot to check water clarity. Stream monitors perform their test from the streambank or from a bridge over the stream. The MPCA provides equipment and training and no prior experience is needed.
Data gathered by volunteers extends the agency’s reach and complements the MPCA’s intensive water monitoring around the state. In some cases, the information gathered by volunteers is the only monitoring done on a lake or stream.
“It’s one of the best volunteer opportunities there is,” according to Michael Brinda, a volunteer monitor on Lake Harriet in Minneapolis.
In a new video, you can hear from Michael and other MPCA water monitoring volunteers about their experiences. Some like having a good excuse to get out on the water. Others enjoy doing their testing as a family, to spark an appreciation for the environment in their kids.
To learn more and sign up, visit the MPCA’s Citizen Water Monitoring webpage, or call 651-296-6300 or 800-657-3864. Find out which bodies of water need volunteers with an interactive map.
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The MPCA is offering a new state certification course: Smart Salting for Property Managers, on June 5, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District in Chanhassen.
The goal is to help property managers save money and protect water resources by using less salt to de-ice parking lots, sidewalks and other surfaces. The salt used in winter maintenance is having serious side effects on infrastructure, vegetation and lakes, streams and groundwater. Participants will learn strategies for achieving safe surfaces in the winter with less salt.
There is no fee for the training, but registration is required. Sign up online at EventBrite. For more information, contact Connie Fortin of Fortin Consulting at 763-478-3606 or connie@fortinconsulting.com.
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The MPCA has 0% interest loans available, through the Clean Water Partnership program, for government units and tribes to use for programs and projects that reduce non-point source pollution. These efforts can include programs tor reduce chloride in stormwater and wastewater:
- Start a program for residents to trade in old and inefficient water softeners for high-efficiency units.
- Implement other best management practices (BMPs) to reduce chloride in wastewater.
- Buy equipment to help reduce road salt applications, such as upgrading salt applicators.
- Buy equipment for street sweeping.
- Start a loan program for residents to replace their private laterals that connect to municipal wastewater lines, in order to reduce inflow and infiltration.
- Other BMPS that reduce or manage stormwater, such as green infrastructure, pervious pavements and rain gardens.
In addition, tribes and government units can use loans to implement projects directly or to set up a loan fund for landowners and other stakeholders for projects such as:
- Buffers: purchase of native seeds and vegetation
- Septic system upgrades and replacements
- Technical assistance, outreach, and education
- Equipment purchases supporting nonpoint BMPs
- Any nonpoint source BMP
- Feedlot upgrades and replacement
Government units and tribes may apply to MPCA at any time. See the program webpage for more information, or contact:
- Cindy Penny, 651-757-2099 or cynthia.penny@state.mn.us
- Kurt Soular, 651-757-2748 or kurtis.soular@state.mn.us
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