Inside this Issue:
Important upcoming dates
Conservation Contract Program replaces the Erosion Control and Water Management Program effective FY24
FY24 CWF Competitive request summary
Upcoming grant trainings at BWSR Academy
FY24-25 Watershed Based Implementation Funding
New BWSR staff: Dr. Udai Singh, Modeling and Outcomes Coordinator
Prioritize Measure Application (PTMApp) program updates
Grants fall clean-up!
Amendments for grants expiring 12/31/23
Tip of the Quarter
Local Government Road Wetland Replacement Program
Important upcoming dates
Oct 24-26: BWSR Academy - Cragun's, Brainerd, MN
Dec 15: Deadline to return grant amendments to BWSR for grants expiring 12/31/23
Dec 31: Many grants expire
Feb 1: Annual grant reporting deadline
Conservation Contract Program replaces the Erosion Control and Water Management Program effective FY24
The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) adopted the Conservation Contracts Program Policy on August 24, 2023, which will be in effect for the FY24 Conservation Contracts Program grants. The new Conservation Contracts Program is a result of recent amendments to Minnesota Statutes (section 103C.501) and replaces the Erosion Control and Water Management Program. The revised statute and new policy empower soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs) to make local program decisions through increased flexibility and reduced administration. Check out What’s Different for SWCDs? and the Optional and Example Forms for more information.
FY24 CWF Competitive request summary
The RFP for FY24 Clean Water Fund (CWF) Competitive grant programs closed on August 24th, 2023 with applications currently in the review process. BWSR received a total of 64 applications, with requests totaling $23,516,843.50.
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FY24 Competitive Clean Water Grant Funding Requested: |
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Program Name |
Total Number |
Total |
|
Projects and Practices |
54 |
$22,002,643.50 |
|
Projects and Practices - Drinking Water |
10 |
$1,514,200.00 |
Upcoming grant trainings at BWSR Academy
Connect with us at BWSR Academy! Below are session summaries for some grants related trainings offered Oct 24-26 at Craguns. Visit our BWSR Academy for more details.
Cooking up eLINK Success!: The new eLINK system has arrived, and we are excited to share with you what's new, what's familiar, and the recipe for progress reporting success. Any BWSR grant recipients are encouraged to participate. With a goal of completing your progress reports completely and accurately the first time, you will leave this session hungry to prepare a successful eLINK report!
Grant Programs: Piecing it All Together: An overview of available BWSR grant opportunities. Participants will gain a better understanding of the portfolio of BWSR grant programs, administration basics, the lifecycle and rules for grants, the annual calendar of grant activities, and where to find grant-related resources.
Grants Fiscal: Making it Make Cents: The goal of this session is to provide an overview of fiscal grants management in the implementation of BWSR grants. We will discuss BWSR requirements for determining a billing rate and time tracking. Fiscal agent responsibilities and grant match requirements will be discussed. The session will showcase various time tracking and grant tracking methods utilized across the state.
For information about these and other sessions, view the Academy session descriptions and schedule
FY24-25 Watershed Based Implementation Funding
Approximately $76.5 million dollars in Watershed Based Implementation Funding (WBIF) grants was approved for 54 partnerships in greater Minnesota and 27 partnerships in the metro (Board Order 23-55). BWSR awards WBIF grants to partnerships with an approved comprehensive watershed management plan developed under BWSR’s One Watershed, One Plan Program (1W1P) or under the metro surface water and groundwater frameworks.
The funding request feature in eLINK is now open! BWSR will process funding requests and workplans on a monthly basis. This process involves two steps that require BWSR approval. First, the grantee makes a funding request in eLINK. This step must be done by an eLINK user from the organization that will sign the grant agreement. Second, the partnership completes the final work plan.
NEW – Please note that funding requests in draft DO NOT expire at the end of the month. For more information, please visit the Watershed Based Implementation Funding Grant Program webpage.
BWSR added a provision to the FY24-25 WBIF policy making Minnesota Tribal Nations (“tribes”) eligible for WBIF. BWSR’s tribal liaison will work with tribes to determine their level of interest in participating in plan implementation. BWSR’s tribal liaison will notify groups where there may be tribal interest and, where needed, BWSR’s tribal liaison will support / facilitate discussions about incorporating funding for eligible activities to tribes in WBIF grant work plans.
New BWSR Staff: Dr. Udai Singh, Modeling and Outcomes Coordinator
BWSR is excited to announce our newest staff member to our agency. Please give a warm welcome to Udai Singh!
Udai brings over 30 years of experience in watershed assessment, watershed modeling, water quantity and quality monitoring, watershed research, project management, communications, continuing education program administration, administrative and operations and internship management. He comes to BWSR from the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) where he has been the Water Resources Director for 12 years. Prior to this, Udai was the Senior Hydrologist and Water Quality Specialist at the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD).
Udai grew up in the state of Rajasthan in India on a small farm. He has a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Agricultural Engineering from India; a Master of Engineering degree in Agricultural Land and Water Development, with special emphasis on Water Resources Management and Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, from the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Bangkok, Thailand; and a second MS and PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas. Udai is also an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota in the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems.
Prioritize Measure Application (PTMApp) program updates
A new version of the PTMApp will be released shortly with the following updates:
PTMApp GIS Desktop Model Updates:
- 4 New Watersheds (Hawk Creek, Yellow Medicine, Chippewa, and Crow Wing) are added to the new release as well as 6 old watersheds (Blue Earth, Le Sueur, Watonwan, Sand Hill, Root River, and Lake of the Woods) are updated to the most recent desktop-toolbar;
- The BUDDI toolbar will be added to the BWSR website for download; and
- ArcGIS Desktop Version of the Desktop toolbar are labeled as no longer receiving support.
For more information, contact Udai Singh, BWSR Modeling and Outcomes Coordinator, at udai.singh@state.mn.us or 507-766-5020.
Grants fall clean-up!
Fall is the time to pick up those rakes and start cleaning up the leaves, sticks and brush. Along with cleaning up your yard, you might as well clean up your grants by reporting expenditures and, submitting amendments and payment requests. The end of the year is coming and reporting season is right around the corner.
Reminder: With grant agreements and amendments now being distributed via DocuSign, if you are having difficulties or have any questions, please visit BWSR's website page Accessing your Grant Agreement or Amendment for guidance.
Amendments for grants expiring 12/31/23
Now is the time! Are you on track to complete projects and close out grants that will expire at the end of this year? Now is a good time to assess progress on any grants expiring at the end of 2023, and begin the conversation within your organization and with your Board Conservationist about whether an extension may be needed.
The Grant Agreement Amendments and Work Plan Revisions chapter of the BWSR Grants Administration Manual establishes the procedures for requesting an amendment, which should begin now!
Tip of the Quarter
Q. What costs could be direct charged to grants when using Option 1: How to Calculate Billing Rates Using Modified Base Rate + 10%?
A. The 10 percent for facilities and administration added to the modified base rate under Option 1 is intended to cover facilities and administration costs. The exceptions are costs in excess of normal facilities costs specific to achieving grant funded outcomes. Some examples are vehicle maintenance, cell phone monthly expenses, or computers where the purchase price is below the organization’s capital asset threshold.
Local Government Road Wetland Replacement Program
BWSR's Local Government Road Wetland Replacement Program (LGRWRP), which provides wetland mitigation to local road authorities, received $12 Million in bonding for new wetland restoration projects. Later this fall BWSR will be opening an Easement sign-up period. We would like to enlist your help in finding willing landowners with restorable wetlands for our program.
For more information, contact Dennis Rodacker, Wetland Mitigation Supervisor, at dennis.rodacker@state.mn.us