BWSR’s mission is to improve and protect Minnesota's water and soil resources by working in partnership with local organizations and private landowners. Core functions include implementing the state's soil and water conservation policy, comprehensive local water management, and the Wetland Conservation Act as it relates to the 41.7 million acres of private land in Minnesota.
Legislation, policy information for the 2023 legislative session
2024-2025 Governor's CWF Budget
FY24-25 Governor's CWF budget fact sheet (pdf)
Clean Water Council Funding recommendations
FY24-25 Clean Water fund and Policy Recommendations Report (pdf)
2023 Capital Investment Priorities
Local Government Roads Wetland Replacement Program (pdf)
Minnesota CREP Capital Investment (pdf)
2023 Legislative Priorities
Climate Initiatives
Soil Health Practices
Establishes a voluntary and locally‐driven Soil Health Practices Program to set practices on sensitive lands to slow water and nutrient movement. Mitigates climate change impacts through carbon sequestration. ($27.16M)
Building Healthy Soil fact sheet (pdf)
Accelerated Water Storage
Acquire, design, and construct projects to control water volume and rate to adapt to changing climate and weather patterns. ($17M)
Water Storage and Treatment fact sheet (pdf)
Habitat Enhancement Landscape Programs
Encourage individual actions that increase carbon storage and establish landscapes to conserve and enhance biodiversity. ($9M)
Habitat Friendly Utilities Program fact sheet (pdf)
HELP Pilot Program fact Sheet (pdf)
Lawns to Legumes Program fact Sheet (pdf)
Private Grasslands and Working Lands Easements
Restore privately‐owned grasslands and working lands to sequester and store carbon in grasslands, wetlands, and other landscapes with
high conservation value. ($22M)
Grasslands, Working Lands fact sheet (pdf)
Peatland Restoration Easements
Protect existing peatlands and other wetlands, and restore drained, farmed, or pastured peatlands and wetlands to increase carbon
storage. ($15M)
Private Lands Peatland Restoration fact sheet (pdf)
RIM Easement Enhancements for Climate Mitigation and Resiliency
Inspect aging easement infrastructure and make repairs and improvements to practices on existing conservation easements so they will be
more resilient to climate change. ($7.1M)
RIM Easement Program Enhancements fact sheet (pdf)
Strengthening Partnerships
Permanent Funding for Agency Tribal Liaison
This action aligns with recent laws enacted that codify government‐to‐government relations and consultation between Minnesota state agencies and Tribal Nations. ($265K)
Clarify Ability to Work With Tribal Governments
Clarification will extend more opportunities for collaboration to partners outside of BWSR’s traditional clientele of local governments.
Natural Resource Block Grant Funding Restoration
These grants are available to Minnesota Counties to implement programs designed to protect and improve water resources via conservation practices such as shoreland restoration and wetland mitigation and enhancement. ($2.5M)
Support Soil and Water Conservation District Aid
Support Department of Revenue’s Proposal to provide direct and specific funding to the state’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts.