Contact: Mary Juhl; (612)-358-5733
St. Paul, Minn. — The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) today approved approximately $76.5 million dollars in Watershed-Based Implementation Funding (WBIF) grants to 54 partnerships in greater Minnesota and 27 partnerships in the metro. BWSR awards WBIF grants to partnerships with an approved comprehensive watershed management plan developed under BWSR’s One Watershed, One Plan Program (1W1P) or under the metro surface water and groundwater frameworks.
These grants signify a shift away from the traditional competitive grant process to a new approach that empowers planning partnerships to pursue projects based on a watershed’s highest priorities. The grants can be used until December 31, 2027.
“Addressing resource concerns on a watershed level makes local conservation efforts more streamlined and effective,” BWSR Executive Director John Jaschke said. “These grants allow local governments to work together to target the most pressing needs in their communities.”
To learn more about how local governments have used previous WBIF grants to support watershed priorities, see the following BWSR stories:
WBIF is supported solely by the Clean Water Fund.
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.