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St. Paul, Minn. –  The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) requests public comments on potential amendments to the Chapter 8420 Rule governing the state’s Wetland Conservation Act (WCA).

Any comments submitted will be added to previous comment period input to be considered during the upcoming rulemaking process.

Proposed rules will be drafted after public comments are received. Members of the public will have another opportunity to comment after the rules are formally proposed.

Comments will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. on March 19, 2022. Written comments, questions, requests to receive a draft of the rules once they are available, and requests for more information on the rulemaking process can be directed to BWSR Wetlands Section Manager Les Lemm. Written comments can be submitted by emailing les.lemm@state.mn.us, or by mail using the address 520 Lafayette Road North, St. Paul, MN 55155.

State statute requires BWSR to adopt rules to implement the WCA, including the approval of wetland value replacement plans. The rules were originally adopted in 1993 and have been amended several times, with the current rules adopted in 2009. A primary purpose of this rulemaking process will be to reconcile the current rules with statute changes that have been made in 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2017. Information on these statute changes is available on BWSR’s website.

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

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) Executive Director John Jaschke presented the 2023 Outstanding Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) Employee award to Olmsted SWCD District Manager Skip Langer during the annual Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts’ (MASWCD) convention in Bloomington.

“It’s a privilege to recognize the accomplishments of professionals like Skip Langer, who work diligently to improve and protect water and soil resources in their districts,” Jaschke said. “The passion and commitment demonstrated by local government staff is what drives successful conservation delivery throughout Minnesota.”

Langer joined the district as a conservation technician in 1998 and was promoted to district manager in 2015. He oversees a team of seven full time employees, plus seasonal and regional staff. He was instrumental in developing a new program launched in 2022 to address groundwater protection and soil health, helping to secure $5 million in Olmsted County funding to support producers who implement best management practices such as cover crops, alternative crops and increased haying and grazing. He’s taken leadership roles in complex, multi-government projects such as the South Branch Cascade Creek restoration and development project, which restored a former 40-acre golf course to its natural habitat. Langer has also contributed to the Root River One Watershed, One Plan comprehensive watershed management planning process.

“Olmsted SWCD is a small but mighty team, and Langer promotes that culture from the top,” said Cheryl Winters, Olmsted SWCD District 3 supervisor, who nominated Langer along with the full Board of Supervisors. “His expertise and leadership are often sought after across the southeast Minnesota region, and his technical knowledge and in-depth understanding of the water quality and conservation issues strengthens the quality of our work.”

Each year, BWSR celebrates the excellent work accomplished by local government staff to advance conservation efforts across the state. An award for the 2023 Outstanding Watershed District Employee was presented to Minnehaha Creek Watershed District Director of Projects Michael Hayman on Nov. 30 during the Minnesota Watersheds’ annual conference in Alexandria.

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

ST. PAUL, Minn. –  The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) approved approximately $10 million in Clean Water Fund (CWF) grants today to improve water quality in streams, lakes and groundwater across the state. Most of the grant funding is allocated for voluntary conservation projects across Minnesota, including funding for projects that focus on improving and protecting drinking water.

“These grants will equip local governments to work in partnership with landowners across Minnesota to put projects on the ground that protect our valuable water and soil resources,” said BWSR Executive Director John Jaschke. “This locally led work is key to improving water quality and soil health in Minnesota.”

A Projects and Practices grant will support the Mustinka River rehabilitation project, which will replace the existing ditch with a 300-foot wide, 260-acre floodplain corridor with a 6.7-mile meandering channel. The project will provide approximately 34 acres of constructed wetland habitat and 226 acres of native upland buffer areas within the stream channel and associated floodplain areas, permanently protected by the Bois de Sioux Watershed District.

A Drinking Water Projects and Practices grant will help Morrison County SWCD meet its goal to reduce the risk of nitrate contamination in more than 220 vulnerable public water supply wells by planting 2,500 acres of cover crops each year for three years. Participating landowners will be given the opportunity to work with an SWCD technician to identify additional ways to improve management to reduce leaching of nitrates into groundwater.

The $10 million will fund 32 grants. Learn more about the grant recipients:

• Projects and Practices (23 grants)
• Drinking Water Projects and Practices (9 grants)

BWSR awards competitive CWF grants annually. The state is shifting to a Watershed-Based Implementation Funding model, which offers consistent, non-competitive funding to planning partnerships with approved watershed management plans. This helps partnerships focus on the highest priority projects within a specific watershed. Competitive CWF grants remain an important part of conservation delivery despite this shift, offering funding to individual districts for projects and practices.

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.