Contact: Mary Juhl
612-358-5733; mary.juhl@state.mn.us
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) approved approximately $6.7 million in competitive Clean Water Fund (CWF) grants to improve water quality in streams, lakes and groundwater across the state. Together, these projects will reduce phosphorus, sediment, nutrients, bacteria and other contaminants in Minnesota’s waters through stormwater treatment, lake restoration, erosion control, agricultural conservation practices, septic system upgrades, well sealing and groundwater protection efforts. These improvements will result in cleaner water, healthier aquatic habitats, safer drinking water and more resilient communities across the state.
“Clean water is fundamental to the health and well-being of the people who call Minnesota home,” said BWSR Executive Director John Jaschke. “These locally-led projects will help move the needle on water quality improvements throughout the state.”
Minnesota has shifted over the past several years to a Watershed-Based Implementation Funding model, which offers consistent, predictable funding to planning partnerships with approved watershed management plans. This helps partnerships focus on the highest priority projects within a specific watershed and complements the competitive CWF grants which offer funding to individual organizations for projects and practices.
The $6.7 million will fund 18 grants that will improve and protect lakes, rivers, streams and drinking water across the state. Projects funded through these grant awards include stormwater ponds, agricultural conservation practices, in-lake alum treatments, iron-enhanced sand filters and stream restorations. More information about specific grant awards can be found here.
About the Minnesota Clean Water Fund
Minnesota voters approved the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment in 2008 to protect, enhance, and restore wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish, game, and wildlife habitat; to preserve arts and cultural heritage; to support parks and trails; and to protect, enhance, and restore lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater. The Clean Water Fund receives 33 percent of the sales tax revenue generated by the Legacy Amendment. More information about the Clean Water Fund is available here.