November 6, 2024

Contact: Mary Juhl; mary.juhl@state.mn.us, 612-358-5733

November 6, 2024

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) will receive $21 million in Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) funding from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to support the Water Quality and Storage Program. This program establishes storage practices in Minnesota to control runoff rates and volumes to protect infrastructure, improve water quality, and mitigate climate change impacts. In addition to traditional storage practices, the RCPP funding will allow BWSR and its partners to construct more edge-of-field practices to reduce the amount of nitrogen and other pollutants entering Minnesota waterways.

“Funding water storage projects will help reduce flooding impacts, especially on agricultural lands and in rural communities,” BWSR Executive Director John Jaschke said. “This federal funding will help create more opportunities to put these valuable conservation practices on the landscape.”

The state is experiencing more frequent and intense rainfall events, resulting in negative impacts to agriculture and infrastructure, significant erosion along riverbanks, and declining water quality. In response, BWSR established the Water Quality and Storage Program in 2021, which supports storage practices statewide, with a focus on the Minnesota River Basin and the Lower Mississippi River Basin. So far, 16 grants have been awarded totaling $5.5 million. BWSR has received $19 million to date from the state’s general fund to support the Water Quality and Storage Program.

BWSR is one of 92 organizations selected by NRCS to receive a historic $1.5 billion investment via RCPP, which takes a voluntary approach to expand the reach of conservation efforts and climate-smart agriculture through public-private partnerships. 

“RCPP is one of many voluntary conservation programs funded by the Farm Bill to assist in getting critical conservation needs implemented that have impacts to the landowners who participate as well as our local communities and society,” said Troy Daniell, State Conservationist for the Minnesota NRCS. “This project will help install conservation practices that improve water quality and mitigate flood impacts during extreme weather events while at the same time enhancing wildlife habitat. This partnership-driven project will provide long term environmental, social, and economic benefits to Minnesota farmers and local communities.”

"This federal funding made available for our new water storage program recognizes our state's critical need for holding and utilizing our water longer before it leaves the landscape and enters the river system,” said Scott Sparlin, Executive Director for the Coalition for a Clean Minnesota River and Facilitator for the annual Minnesota River Congress event. “Interest is high and growing with many projects waiting in the wings."

Program staff anticipate opening a Request for Proposals in early 2025. Eligible applicants will include municipalities, towns, counties, soil and water conservation districts, watershed districts, joint powers organizations, and Tribal governments.

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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. BWSR's mission is to improve and protect Minnesota's water and soil resources by working in partnership with local organizations and private landowners