Contact: Celi Haga
651-315-5082 (cell)
St. Paul, Minn. - The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) today announced $2.2 million in disaster relief funding grants to help counties continue their flood recovery efforts.
June 2014 was a record-setting month for rainfall in Minnesota. For the second time in three years, the state experienced historic summer flooding. What made this heavy rainfall event much more impactful was how widespread the effects were. Fifty-five of Minnesota’s 87 counties reported damages and impacts from high rains and resulting flooding. Thirty-seven counties would eventually be included in the presidential disaster declaration.
“We’ve received damage reports from around the state,” explained John Jaschke, BWSR Executive Director. “Soil and water conservation districts are ready to get out and repair the damage done to the local conservation practices to protect the land and the water. This funding helps make that possible.”
On January 27, 2015, Governor Dayton signed legislation that allocated funding to BWSR to assist local governments in repairing conservation practices damaged during the flooding. BWSR activated its Disaster Recovery Assistance Program (DRAP) and began immediately working with local governments to determine need and start the allocation process. Seventeen counties were awarded disaster relief funds.
For more information on BWSR’s DRAP and a list of the counties that received BWSR flood recovery grants, please visit: www.bwsr.state.mn.us.
Contact: Celi Haga, 651-315-5082 (c)
St. Paul, Minn.— Conservation easements have been an important and popular tool in Minnesota’s efforts to conserve and protect our water, wildlife, and soil resources. The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) announced today the results of the 2015 ReInvest in Minnesota (RIM) Wetlands program sign-up, which continues that tradition. Interest in the program far exceeded available funds, demonstrating the longstanding commitment of Minnesotans to play a role in moving the state toward its conservation goals.
During this year’s sign-up, 44 applications were funded, putting 4,655 acres into permanent protection.
“Landowner interest in RIM programs has historically been high,” BWSR Easement Section Manager Bill Penning said, “and the applications we received for the RIM Wetlands program continue that trend. With the help of our local partners, we were able to work quickly to get this program up and running. That’s good news for Minnesota’s waters and wildlife.”
The 2015 RIM Wetlands sign-up was conducted in partnership with local soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs). During one month’s time, BWSR received 177 applications for the program representing almost 12,000 acres.
The RIM Wetlands program is a voluntary program that restores wetlands and grasslands through permanent conservation easements on privately owned lands. BWSR has received funding for this program from the constitutionally-dedicated Outdoor Heritage Fund, which is part of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. Funding was based on a recommendation from the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. Landowners receive financial incentives for their participation in the program and the land they enroll will result in restored wetlands that enhance wildlife habitat, improve water quality and provide other resource benefits.
For more information about the RIM Wetlands program, and other easement programs, visit the BWSR website: www.bwsr.state.mn.us.
Audrey Lomax, MNL, presents on ecological restoration projects. Audrey highlights specific case studies and goes in depth on the use of goats in native restorations.
TTCP
United States
St. Paul, Minn. – The mission of the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) is to improve and protect Minnesota’s water and soil resources by working in partnership with local organizations and private landowners. In 2014, those partnerships resulted in projects that are making a difference for Minnesota’s natural resources.
“With state support, our local government partners have done tremendous work to target projects and implement practices that will make progress toward our natural resource goals,” BWSR Executive Director John Jaschke said. “While change doesn’t happen overnight, the work done in 2014 helped move Minnesota closer to cleaner water and healthier soil.”
Improving Water Quality through Strategic Local Investments
The health of our water is a direct reflection of how we use our land. BWSR’s appropriations from the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment fund on-the-ground conservation projects implemented locally. BWSR awarded $14.5 million through 102 competitive grants in 2014. These projects provide multiple benefits for water quality and wildlife habitat and are estimated to provide a reduction of 18,000 tons of sediment and 18,000 pounds of phosphorus per year from entering Minnesota waters.
Changing the Water Planning Paradigm
In June 2014, our Board approved five pilot projects to start One Watershed, One Plan, a new approach to local water planning. Instead of planning along county lines, local governments work together to plan along entire stretches of streams and rivers, making better connections and decisions about how to manage our water priorities. It’s a holistic approach being tested in the Red Lake River, Lake Superior North, North Fork Crow River, Yellow Medicine River, and Root River watersheds.
Our Targeted Watershed Demonstration Program also kicked off in 2014. This program focuses on watersheds where the amount of change necessary to improve water quality is known, the actions needed to achieve results are identified, and those actions implemented within a four-year time period. $11.1 million in grants were awarded to seven projects located throughout the state.
Permanently Protecting Critical Lands, Benefiting Water, Soil and Wildlife Habitat
The Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) Reserve Program is a critical component of the state’s goals to protect and improve water quality and protect and enhance wildlife habitat through permanent easements that remain in private ownership. In 2014, BWSR acquired 238 easements protecting almost 10,000 acres through the program. For Minnesota, that means land that’s permanently protected, providing better habitat and water quality improvements. That’s thousands of acres for native plants to grow, pollinators to thrive, and habitat for pheasants and other wildlife to call home.
Training today’s conservation leaders – and the leaders of tomorrow
2014 marked the sixth year we offered statewide training to local conservation professionals through our BWSR Academy. Over 400 participants took part in the annual event, which offered a variety of sessions to help local government staff build on their skills and learn from their colleagues around the state about what’s working best in Minnesota conservation.
We’re making sure our future workforce has the skills they need to navigate tomorrow’s natural resource challenges by learning from the conservation experts of today. Our partnership with the Minnesota Conservation Corps to implement a summer apprenticeship program entered into its fourth year. Thirty-seven students gained on-the-job training working side by side with conservation professionals in local soil and water conservation districts.
For more information about BWSR and its programs, please visit www.bwsr.state.mn.us.