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St. Paul, Minn. – The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) is awarding $843,851 in grant funding to three local governments for water storage grants to improve water quality and to help make landscapes more resilient to severe weather events due to climate change. Recipients include Lyon and Le Sueur soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs) and Area II Minnesota River Basin Projects, Inc. Grant-funded work is slated to include wetland modifications to increase water storage capacity, a wetland restoration and a grade stabilization structure.

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. The state Legislature passed bipartisan legislation last year allocating $2 million to BWSR to develop a water storage program to address these challenges. A second round of grants is planned within the next year.

“These grants mark an important step toward protecting infrastructure and controlling water rates to mitigate flooding and water quality impacts in areas of the state vulnerable to intense rainfall,” BWSR Executive Director John Jaschke said. “Implementing water storage projects benefits communities and farmers alike.”

More information about BWSR’s water storage program can be found here. Learn more about the state’s climate work by visiting climate.state.mn.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Mary Juhl (612-358-5733)

ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) is now seeking applications for its Clean Water Fund Competitive Grants Program. More than $11 million in grants and $8 million in loans are available to local governments in fiscal year 2023, which begins July 1. Eligible applicants include soil and water conservation districts, watershed districts, watershed management organizations, counties, joint powers boards and municipalities with approved water management plans.

“These grants are a key component in ongoing efforts to protect Minnesota’s drinking water, surface water and groundwater sources,” said BWSR Executive Director John Jaschke. “We look forward to partnering with local governments to make strides toward improving water quality throughout the state.”

The application period opens June 27 and closes August 22. Interested applicants can find the Request for Proposals on BWSR’s website. 

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.