Contact: Celi Haga
651-215-9008
St. Paul, Minn. – As 2015 draws to an end, the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) recognizes outstanding work done at the local level this past year to advance Minnesota conservation.
John Jaschke, BWSR’s Executive Director, explains, “Our local government partners are on the front lines of the state’s conservation work. The excellent work being done by Dan, Brad, and Darren shines a light on the passion and commitment of Minnesota’s local conservation staff. We applaud Lake of the Woods County for their leadership and commitment to conservation.”
2015 Outstanding Watershed Employee of the Year
Dan Wilkens, District Administrator for the Sand Hill River Watershed District, was honored at the Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts annual meeting on December 4, 2015. Dan was involved in the creation of the district in 1975, and has served as District Administrator since 1999. He is a leader on Red River Basin flood control and statewide drainage issues.
2015 Outstanding District Employees of the Year
Brad Mergens, District Manager for the West Otter Tail Soil and Water Conservation District, and Darren Newville, District Manager for the East Otter Tail Soil and Water Conservation District, were honored at the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts annual meeting on December 7, 2015. Brad and Darren were honored for their partnership to develop the successful Otter Tail County Buffer Initiative and their track records as exceptional district managers.
2015 County Conservation Award
Lake of the Woods County was honored at the 2015 Association of Minnesota Counties annual meeting on December 8, 2015, for its work to improve state wetland mitigation policy. County staff helped drive changes to the Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act that will improve the targeting of wetland mitigation sites.
More information about the BWSR’s local government partners and the local conservation delivery system can be found at BWSR’s website: www.bwsr.state.mn.us. Full profiles of the award winners are available on the BWSR homepage. Pictures of the award winners are available by request.
Contact: Celi Haga
651-315-5082 (Cell)
St. Paul, Minn.— Restored shorelines, blooming raingardens, clearer lakes – throughout Minnesota these projects speak to the work being done to improve and protect our state’s natural resources thanks to the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. Today, the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) announced another wave of Clean Water Fund grants, more than $11 million to help local governments put more projects in the ground that benefit Minnesota’s streams, rivers, lakes and groundwater.
BWSR Executive Director John Jaschke said these projects are helping the state make progress toward its water quality goals. “Using sound science and the expertise of local government conservation staff, these projects are prioritized and targeted to make the most effective use of Clean Water Fund dollars. This work, and the state, local and private landowner partnerships that support it, will continue to move Minnesota forward.”
The Clean Water Legacy funds are used to both protect at-risk waters and target polluted waters throughout the state. Gully stabilizations, basins that slow down water, and raingardens are just some of the practices used in this year’s projects. This round includes six Multipurpose Drainage Management grants, new to the program this year, which focus on water quality improvements in public drainage systems.
BWSR funded 64 applications totaling $11.7 million dollars this round, but interest in this program continues to outpace available funding. 133 applications were received, totaling $31.4 million in requests.
Some examples of funded projects:
See how the Legacy funds are affecting the land and waters important to you. For detailed project information and maps visit www.bwsr.state.mn.us.
Contact: Celi Haga
651-315-5082 (Cell)
St. Paul, Minn.— Restored shorelines, blooming raingardens, clearer lakes – throughout Minnesota these projects speak to the work being done to improve and protect our state’s natural resources thanks to the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. Today, the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) announced another wave of Clean Water Fund grants, more than $11 million to help local governments put more projects in the ground that benefit Minnesota’s streams, rivers, lakes and groundwater.
BWSR’s Executive Director, John Jaschke, said these projects are helping the state make progress toward its water quality goals. “Using sound science and the expertise of local government conservation staff, these projects are prioritized and targeted to make the most effective use of Clean Water Fund dollars. This work, and the state, local and private landowner partnerships that supports it, will continue to move Minnesota forward.”
The Clean Water Legacy funds are used to both protect at-risk waters and target polluted waters throughout the state. Gully stabilizations, basins that slow down water, stormwater control, and raingardens are just some of the practices used in this year’s projects. This round includes six Multipurpose Drainage Management grants, new to the program this year, which focus on water quality improvements in public drainage systems.
BWSR funded 64 applications totaling $11.7 million dollars this round, but interest in this program continues to outpace available funding. 133 applications were received, totaling $31.4 million in requests.
Northern Minnesota projects include work to reduce runoff and pollutants from entering the Otter Tail River; sediment reduction to the Red Lake and Roseau Rivers, and installation of other conservation practices throughout the region’s lakes, rivers, and streams to improve water quality.
Some specific project examples are:
Pope County: Pope Soil and Water Conservation District, $287,500
This project will fund water and sediment control projects and shoreline and riparian restoration, reducing phosphorus to Lake Emily by 33%.
Red Lake County: Red Lake Soil and Water Conservation District, $194,000
This project will install agricultural best management practices in targeted areas entering the Red Lake River. The district estimates these practices will reduce keep 690 tons of sediment and 580 pounds of phosphorus from the Red Lake River annually.
Wilkin County: Wilkin Soil and Water Conservation District, $135,000
This project will reduce phosphorus in Silver Lake through a variety of best management practices, structural water quality improvements, and retrofits. The District estimates these practices will keep 15 pounds of phosphorus from entering the lake, which is 40% of the current load.
See how the Legacy funds are affecting the land and waters important to you. For detailed project information and maps visit www.bwsr.state.mn.us.