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St. Paul, Minn. – The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) is now accepting applications for Lawns to Legumes Demonstration Neighborhood grants, which support locally-led efforts to increase residential habitat for at-risk pollinators throughout the state.

Demonstration Neighborhoods are community projects intended to enhance pollinator habitat in key corridors, raise awareness for residential pollinator protection, and showcase best practices. Organizations overseeing a demonstration neighborhood work with local residents to install four types of beneficial planting practices: native pocket plantings, pollinator beneficial trees and shrubs, pollinators lawns and pollinator meadows. Interested organizations can apply on behalf of their organization or on behalf of a group of partners who plan to work together to establish a demonstration neighborhood.

“Demonstration Neighborhoods bring Minnesota communities together around a shared goal to protect pollinators,” BWSR Executive Director John Jaschke said. “High interest in the Lawns to Legumes program tells us Minnesotans care deeply about this issue, and we’re excited to support additional partnerships working to create pollinator habitat.”

Eligible applicants include cities, counties, soil and water conservation districts, watershed districts, nonprofits and tribal nations. Applications will be accepted through Feb. 3, 2022.

How to apply: Instructions can be found here on BWSR’s website.

For more information on Lawns to Legumes, see BWSR’s website.

St. Paul, Minn. — Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) Executive Director John Jaschke presented the 2021 Outstanding Watershed District Employee award today to Cedar River Watershed District (CRWD) Project Manager Cody Fox. The recognition took place during the Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts’ (MAWD) annual conference, held virtually this year.

“Local staff is the driving force behind conservation delivery in Minnesota,” Jaschke said. “Cody Fox’s dedication to preserving our water resources is commendable, and we appreciate all he does to protect and improve water quality in the CRWD.”

During his time with the district, he’s taken the lead on capital improvement projects to improve water quality and reduce flooding problems throughout the watershed. Fox has worked with landowners and consulting engineers to implement several successful water storage projects within the Dobbins Creek watershed. When implementation began earlier this year on the Cedar River Comprehensive Management Plan (developed via the One Watershed, One Plan program), Fox directed projects by securing funding, developing agreements, and overseeing construction.

“Cody has a unique skill set that combines high-end technical skills with outstanding people skills and a superb work ethic,” said BWSR Board Conservationist Dave Copeland, who works frequently with Fox. “He specializes in connecting with landowners and understanding how their personal and business goals fit with conservation opportunities.”

Each year, BWSR celebrates the excellent work accomplished by local government staff to advance conservation efforts across the state. An award for Outstanding Soil and Water Conservation District Employee will be presented later this month during the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts’ (MASWCD) annual conference.