White Cedar
Close your eyes and picture northern Minnesota. Do images of pristine lakes, abundant forests, white tailed deer, black bear and bobcats come to mind? It is that very picture that the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) is working to protect. Click here to read the article..
WDCP
Minnesota is known for being ahead of the curve when it comes to protecting wetlands. So it only makes sense that the program we use to keep wetland professionals up to speed, the Wetland Delineator Certification Program, is also widely esteemed. Click here to read the article..
Academy
Over 350 of Minnesota's natural resource professionals converged on Brainerd, Minnesota during the last week in October with a shared goal: improving their ability to deliver conservation to the citizens of Minnesota. Click here to read the article..
Frost Aster
Many asters can bloom into October and even November when other plants have gone dormant, providing important energy reserves for pollinators. Our featured plant, "Frost Aster" is mainly found in southern Minnesota but it spreads by wind and can aggressively colonize disturbed sites. As a result, it will likely expand its range with climate change and other landscape disturbances. Click here to read more..
Read past stories
Announcements
November 8, 2013
Telling the Story: Crow Wing County Lakes Celebrating Five-Year Anniversary of Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment Passage
Crow Wing County is home to 416 lakes and Melissa Barrick believes all of them need to be protected, some sooner rather than later. Find out how Clean Water Funds helped. Read here.
November 7, 2013
Telling the Story: Brown’s Creek Celebrating Five-Year Anniversary of Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment Passage
Golfers who played Oak Glen Golf Course in Stillwater this summer may have noticed the course looked different than in 2012. Find out why and how Clean Water Funds played a role. Read here.
November 6, 2013
Telling the Story: LeSueur Celebrating Five-Year Anniversary of Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment Passage
To some people, living on a high bluff overlooking the LeSueur River may seem like a dream come true, but residents in Blue Earth County might tell you otherwise. In 2003, the landowners of “Bluff 3” on the LeSueur River called their local soil and water conservation district (SWCD) to report a problem. Read about how the program addressed this issue.
November 1, 2013
Five year anniversary of Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment passage marks investments, environmental improvements in Minnesota
Communities across Minnesota are marking the 5 year anniversary of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, approved by Minnesota voters in 2008, by taking note of improvements to the state’s water and soil resources that have been achieved through state investments and local actions. Read the news release.
October 31, 2013
Conservation Priorities for the Farm Bill
Minnesota has a major stake in the federal Farm Bill. Farm Bill conservation programs are the biggest single source of funding for conservation on privately owned lands, and Minnesota is among the top recipients. State and local conservation delivery partners leverage this funding in conjunction with Minnesota’s Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment objectives and funding. Read more about the state agencies’ priority recommendations.
October 17, 2013
Clean Water Fund RFP application numbers
From Sept. 3 – Oct. 4, 2013, BWSR held the first of two Clean Water Fund competitive grant application processes. Local governments were encouraged to apply for funds to protect and improve water quality in their communities, connecting their proposals to priorities from local water management plans. The response was overwhelming – 244 applications were received, totaling more than $51 million. Read more here.
October 16, 2013
October Grants Quarterly now available
October’s Grants Quarterly is now available, with information about BWSR’s new Disaster Recovery Assistance Program, important upcoming dates, the Targeted Watershed Demonstration Program, and much more. Read it here: October Grants Quarterly.
Announcements Archive
To view previous announcements, visit the archive
Legacy Amendment
Information For Citizens: How These Dollars Are Being Spent and How You Can Participate
BWSR receives appropriations from the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment to pay for on-the-ground conservation projects that provide multiple benefits for water quality and wildlife habitat.
- View FY2013 Grant Recipients - New
- Read more about the Legacy Amendment
- Explore the Clean Water Fund Stories
BWSR Media Center
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About BWSR
BWSR Mission: Improve and protect Minnesota's water and soil resources by working in partnership with local organizations and private landowners
BWSR is the state soil and water conservation agency, and it administers programs that prevent sediment and nutrients from entering our lakes, rivers, and streams; enhance fish and wildlife habitat; and protect wetlands. The 20-member board consists of representatives of local and state government agencies and citizens.
Partners
BWSR works in partnership with local government units, state and federal government agencies, and other organizations.
Local Government Units and Partner Agencies -- Overview of BWSR's conservation partners, includes directories, maps, guidance documents and publications.
Performance data for local government units -- Through the Performance Review and Assistance Program (PRAP), BWSR staff evaluate water management entities, and, where necessary, provide assistance.
Training
The BWSR Training page has dates and locations of training sessions conducted by BWSR staff as well as other training-related information.
Maps
The BWSR Map Portal contains maps that BWSR staff and partner agencies use to administer conservation programs.