Each year, the MPCA opens a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Surface Water Assessment Grants (SWAG) that support lake and stream water chemistry monitoring. One important change this year for prospective applicants to note – only those lakes or stream sites included in the RFP appendices will be eligible for monitoring through SWAG. The MPCA and its local partners specifically chose these sites as priority resources within each major watershed.
By limiting sites eligible for monitoring through SWAG, the MPCA will be able to support a second type of grant for event-based stream sampling, such as during spring snowmelt and rain events, on specific sites being monitored for flow.
This event-based water chemistry sampling, combined with flow information, will allow the MPCA to determine pollutant loads, which is critical information for investigating pollution sources.
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