December 28, 2018
BWSR awards 13.7 million in Clean Water Fund grants
St. Paul, Minn. — The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) approved $13.7 million in Clean Water Fund grants on Dec. 19 to improve water quality in streams, lakes, and groundwater across the state. The majority of the grant funding—$11.7 million—is allocated for voluntary conservation projects across Minnesota. In addition, $1.4 million will support accelerated implementation for high-priority projects, and $610,000 will fund multipurpose drainage management. Read the news release here.
December 10, 2018
BWSR announces 2018 Outstanding Watershed District Employee
St. Paul, Minn. — Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) Executive Director John Jaschke presented the 2018 Outstanding Soil and Water Conservation District Employee award on Monday, Dec. 10 to Fillmore Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) Administrator Donna Rasmussen. The recognition ceremony took place during the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts’ (MASWCD) annual convention in Minneapolis. Read the news release here.
December 3, 2018
BWSR announces 2018 Outstanding Soil and Water Conservation District Employee
St. Paul, Minn. — Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) Executive Director John Jaschke presented the 2018 Outstanding Watershed District Employee award on Friday, Nov. 30 to Okabena-Ocheda Watershed District Administrator Dan Livdahl. The recognition ceremony took place during the Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts’ (MAWD) annual conference in Alexandria. Read the news release here.
August 27, 2018
Local governments collaborate on water planning
St. Paul, Minn. — Continuing statewide work to shift local water planning to a more coordinated approach, the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) approved nine new planning grants for the One Watershed, One Plan program. The August 23rd board action allocates up to $2,200,000 in Clean Water Fund grants to fund nine planning projects to address water issues on a watershed basis. Read the news release here.
August 23, 2018
BWSR Board visits Rock and Nobles counties on annual tour
St. Paul, Minn. — Exploring the unique opportunities and challenges facing southwest Minnesota, the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) gathered local, state, and federal conservation staff for its annual Board Tour on August 22 in Rock and Nobles counties. The tour offers board members and staff a valuable opportunity to experience local conservation delivery in action by visiting a variety of projects that aim to improve water quality in the region. Read the news release here.
June 20, 2018
Minnesota Office for Soil Health adds State Soil Health Specialist
St. Paul, Minn. — The Minnesota Office for Soil Health (MOSH) announces the selection of the first State Soil Health Specialist, Anna Cates. This position provides expertise on soil health issues for agricultural and conservation professionals across the state. Read the news release here.
April 24, 2018
April 29-May 6 is Soil and Water Stewardship Week
St. Paul, Minn. – In the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Minnesotans have a great love for their lakes, rivers, streams and the great outdoors. For over 70 years, Minnesota’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) have been hard at work protecting our state’s critical soil and water resources by working with landowners on programs and practices that support conservation, healthy working lands, and clean water. The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) honors and celebrates that work as part of Soil and Water Stewardship Week, April 29 – May 6, 2018. Read the news release here.
April 12, 2018
BWSR Board committee votes down additional APO option
St. Paul, Minn. — Today, the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) Buffers, Soils, and Drainage Committee met in St. Paul to review public comments on a draft amendment to the Administrative Penalty Order Plan (APO) for Buffer Implementation. Based on comments received via the public notice, the Board Committee voted unanimously to reject the proposal.Read the press release here. Read the letter Executive Director John Jaschke shared with Ag groups earlier this week here. Read the news release here.
- 2017 News Releases
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December 21, 2017
Minnesota Awards $15.2 Million in Clean Water Fund Grants to Improve Water Quality Across the State
St. Paul, Minn. — Governor Mark Dayton commended the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) Board action to improve water quality in streams, rivers, lakes, and groundwater across the state. The new grants, from the state’s Clean Water Fund, include $6.5 million dollars which will be used to protect at-risk waters and restore polluted waters throughout the state. Read the news release here.
December 19, 2017
BWSR celebrates outstanding 2017 conservation work
St. Paul, Minn. — As the year draws to a close, the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) recognized the excellent work done locally in Minnesota communities to advance conservation. Read the news release here.
November 13, 2017
Sign up for MN CREP continues despite Federal CRP Continuous Signup suspension
St. Paul, Minn. — In October, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced a temporary suspension of enrollment in the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CCRP). However, Minnesota landowners are still able to participate in sign-ups for the Minnesota Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (MN CREP). Read the news release here.
November 8, 2017
The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources and the University of Minnesota launched a new healthy soils initiative
St. Paul, Minn. — Clean water depends on healthy soil – soil that supports plant growth and can absorb, hold and filter water. Healthy soil, in turn, depends on how people manage the land. The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) and the University of Minnesota’s Water Resources Center (WRC) have committed to expanding the science of soil health and sharing practical information with farmers, conservationists and others who manage our state’s soils. Read the news release here.
October 5, 2017
Progress toward buffer compliance is strong ahead of first implementation deadline
St. Paul, Minn. — Minnesota farmers and landowners are making significant progress in implementing the state’s new buffer requirement that goes into effect November 1. Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) Executive Director John Jaschke, along with Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson and Department of Natural Resources Assistant Commissioner Sarah Strommen highlighted the tremendous progress that has been made regarding buffer implementation and provided reminders and resources for landowners to meet the buffer requirements. Read the news release here.
August 30, 2017
BWSR Expands Resources Available for Landowners Pursuing Alternative Practices to Buffers
St. Paul, Minn. — At the August 24, 2017 board meeting the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) approved two additional resources for landowners pursuing alternative practices to buffers. Each resource is designed to expand the options for water quality solutions in common situations where practices other than buffers may make sense. Read the news release here.
August 24, 2017
BWSR Board tours west central Minnesota and Kandiyohi County on annual tour
St. Paul, Minn. — Each year the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) gathers local, state and federal agency staff for a board tour highlighting successful conservation projects in a region of Minnesota. The tour provides staff and board members a valuable opportunity to experience Minnesota’s local conservation delivery system in action. The focus for the August 23, 2017 tour included projects in Kandiyohi County and Middle Fork Crow River Watershed District. Read the news release here.
July 10, 2017
Landowners have new options and a new website to help with Buffer law
St. Paul, Minn. — Today, the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources announced two additional resources for landowners working to come into compliance with the state’s buffer law. The law, which was passed with bipartisan support in 2015 and signed into law by Governor Dayton, requires the implementation of a buffer strip on public waters by November 1, 2017 and a buffer on public drainage ditches by November 1, 2018. Read the news release here.
May 9, 2017
BWSR Announces Expanded Buffer Law Alternative Practice Options
St. Paul, Minn. — The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) released an additional common alternative practice today that expands options for water quality solutions that provide comparable benefits to a buffer strip. The updated Common Alternative Practices guidance now includes practices for public ditches located in Glacial Lake Plain areas. Read the news release here.
May 4, 2017
MN CREP sign-up kicks off May 15, 2017
St. Paul, Minn. — Landowners have a new option to protect their environmentally sensitive cropland with the introduction of the Minnesota Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (MN CREP). The kick-off for the MN CREP continuous sign-up begins May 15, 2017. Read the news release here.
April 6, 2017
More Buffer Law Options Available for Minnesota Landowners
St. Paul, Minn. — Implementation of Minnesota’s buffer law is underway, and landowners around the state have already made good progress ahead of the first compliance date. The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) released another set of tools today to help soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs) and landowners identify alternative options. The Common Alternative Practices guidance provides water quality solutions for common situations where practices other than buffers may make sense. Read the news release here.
- 2016 News Releases
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December 22, 2016
Minnesota Approves First-Ever Comprehensive Watershed Management Plans for Yellow Medicine and Root Rivers
St. Paul, Minn. — Marking a new era in Minnesota water planning, on December 14 the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) approved the Root River Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan and the Yellow Medicine River Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan. These are the first two plans completed through BWSR’s One Watershed, One Plan program. Read the news release here.
December 7, 2016
Crow Wing SWCD's Barrick is 2016 Outstanding District Employee of the Year
St. Paul, Minn. — The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) is pleased to announce that Melissa Barrick, District Manager for the Crow Wing Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) has been honored as the 2016 Outstanding District Employee of the Year. Read the news release here.
December 7, 2016
Red Lake Watershed District's Jesme named 2016 Outstanding Watershed Employee of the Year
St. Paul, Minn. — The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) is pleased to announce that Myron Jesme, District Administrator for the Red Lake Watershed District, has been honored as the 2016 Outstanding Watershed District Employee of the Year. Read the news release here.
October 6, 2016
Innovative approach to water management takes next step
St. Paul, Minn. — Continuing statewide work to shift local water planning to a more holistic, coordinated approach, the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) approved seven new planning grants for the One Watershed, One Plan program. Read the news release here.
August 25, 2016
BWSR Board tours northwest Minnesota on annual tour
St. Paul, Minn. — On August 24, local and state staff came together to highlight conservation successes in northwest Minnesota as part of the 2016 Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) Board Tour. The annual tour highlights our state’s local conservation delivery system in action. This year’s tour focused on projects in the Red River of the North – Grand Marais Creek watershed, located in northwestern Minnesota, and highlighted work done by the Red Lake Watershed District and Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), West Polk SWCD, and Pennington SWCD. Read the news release here.
August 24, 2016
BWSR receives $1M in federal funding to support wetlands
St. Paul, Minn. — The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) announced today $1 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in support of the Minnesota Wetland Bank for Agriculture. Read the news release here.
August 23, 2016
BWSR issues $2 million in flood relief grants
St. Paul, Minn. — Continuing efforts to help counties recover from damages left in the wake of the heavy rains of 2014, the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) announced an additional $2 million in grants in the third phase of flood relief funding. Fifteen counties will use the funds to implement conservation practices to address erosion and water quality problems associated with imminent threats to private or public improvements or to repair, rehabilitate, or replace existing conservation practices on private lands. Read the news release here.
June 27, 2016
BWSR Seeks Input on Buffer Implementation Policies
St. Paul, Minn. — The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) is charged with overseeing program implementation of the buffer law. The agency is seeking public comment on key policies that will be used for implementation of the program on public waters and public drainage systems. Read the news release here.
May 9, 2016
BWSR issues $3 million in flood relief grants
St. Paul, Minn. — While the high waters from the heavy 2014 rains have receded, counties continue to recover from the damage left in their wake. Today the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) announced $3 million in grants as part of a third phase of flood relief funding. Fifteen counties will use the funds to implement conservation practices where human safety and health is a concern and to address erosion and water quality problems associated with imminent threats to private or public improvements. Read the news release here.
March 29, 2016
One Watershed, One Plan launches statewide
St. Paul, Minn. — Wrapping up a successful, almost two-year pilot period, the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources’ (BWSR) One Watershed, One Plan program begins the next phase of roll-out this week. The program aligns major watershed boundaries with prioritized, targeted, and measurable watershed plans that are developed and implemented locally. Read the news release here.
- 2015 News Releases
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December 30, 2015
BWSR tracks 2015 progress for state’s soil and water
St. Paul, Minn. — The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) works, in partnership with local governments and private landowners, year-round to make a difference for Minnesota’s natural resources. Through Clean Water Fund grants, conservation easement programs, disaster relief, and more, BWSR helps local conservation staff get projects on the ground that are cleaning up and protecting our waters and our soil. Read the news release here.
December 22, 2015
BWSR salutes outstanding 2015 conservation work
St. Paul, Minn. — As 2015 draws to an end, the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) recognizes outstanding work done at the local level this past year to advance Minnesota conservation. Read the news release here.
December 16, 2015
$11.7 million awarded to accelerate work toward cleaner Minnesota waters
St. Paul, Minn. — Restored shorelines, blooming raingardens, clearer lakes – throughout Minnesota these projects speak to the work being done to improve and protect our state’s natural resources thanks to the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. Today, the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) announced another wave of Clean Water Fund grants, more than $11 million to help local governments put more projects in the ground that benefit Minnesota’s streams, rivers, lakes and groundwater. Read the news release here.
June 19, 2015
Wetlands 101: What to Know Before You Work
St. Paul, Minn. — Minnesota’s landscape includes roughly 10.6 million acres of wetlands. While many people think of wetlands as swampy, marshy areas with standing water and cattails, the reality is wetlands take on many forms. In addition to swampy, marshy areas, wetlands can vary from grassy meadows, to forested wetlands covered in trees and shrubs, to wet areas of cultivated farm fields. Many wetlands are actually dry for most of the year, with no standing water. Read the news release here.
April 23, 2015
BWSR recognizes 60th Soil and Water Stewardship Week
St. Paul, Minn. — For over 70 years, Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) have been hard at work for Minnesota’s soil, water, and wildlife. Locally, these districts manage programs that work toward conservation and healthy use and development of our natural resources. The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) honors and celebrates that work as part of Soil and Water Stewardship Week, April 26 – May 3, 2015. Read the news release here.
March 23, 2015
BWSR issues $2.2 million in flood relief grants
St. Paul, Minn. — The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) today announced $2.2 million in disaster relief funding grants to help counties continue their flood recovery efforts. Read the news release here.
March 19, 2015
Demand High for RIM Wetlands Easement Program
St. Paul, Minn. — Conservation easements have been an important and popular tool in Minnesota’s efforts to conserve and protect our water, wildlife, and soil resources. The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) announced today the results of the 2015 ReInvest in Minnesota (RIM) Wetlands program sign-up, which continues that tradition. Read the news release here.
January 2, 2015
BWSR highlights 2014 progress for state’s soil and water
St. Paul, Minn. — The mission of the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) is to improve and protect Minnesota’s water and soil resources by working in partnership with local organizations and private landowners. In 2014, those partnerships resulted in projects that are making a difference for Minnesota’s natural resources. Read the news release here.
- 2014 News Releases
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January 2, 2015
BWSR salutes outstanding 2014 conservation work
St. Paul, Minn. — As 2014 comes to a close, the Minnesota Board of Soil and Water Resources (BWSR) took time to recognize outstanding work done at the local level to advance Minnesota conservation. Read the news release here.
August 26, 2015
BWSR Board to tour north Twin Cities metro on annual tour
St. Paul, Minn. — Minnesota’s local governments - counties, cities, watershed districts, conservation districts, and more - work every day on behalf of our state’s natural resources. On Wednesday, August 27, Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) board members will take part in an annual tour that showcases how those efforts are making a difference in local communities. Stormwater re-use, ravine stabilizations, and wetland restorations are a few of the project highlights featured as part of the tour, centered in the Twin Cities north metro. Read the news release here.