Lower MN River West WBIF
The Lower Minnesota River West Partnership (Partnership) is a group of the Counties and Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) of McLeod, Nicollet, and Sibley, and High Island Creek Watershed District. The Partnership covers an area north and west of the Minnesota River (498,000 acres), including four major tributaries (High Island Creek, Rush River, Silver Creek and Bevens Creek) . The Partnership was formed to develop a Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan (Plan) through the One Watershed, One Plan (1W1P) program detailed in Minnesota Statutes 103B.801. Through the 1W1P program, the Partners have and will work cooperatively towards water and natural resource management actions over the next 10 years. Since the plan approval (March 2023), the Partnership passed resolutions to adopt and implement the plan, formed a JPCA, and approved a WBIF implementation guidance document. This grant will work towards ensuring that the partnership achieves the goals of the plan and provide measurable results.
Annie Felix-Gerth
$21,197,000 the first year and $22,367,000 the second year are for performance-based grants with multiyear implementation plans to local government units. The grants may be used to implement projects that protect, enhance, and restore surface water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams; protect groundwater from degradation; and protect drinking water sources. Projects must be identified in a comprehensive watershed plan developed under the One Watershed, One Plan and seven-county metropolitan groundwater or surface water management frameworks as provided for in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 103B, 103C, 103D, and 114D. Grant recipients must identify a nonstate match and may use other legacy funds to supplement projects funded under this paragraph.
BMPs include; 48 structural practices, 800 acres of soil health practices, 2 MDM projects, 20 tile system. Outreach events include 2 soil health, 2 MDM, 2 regarding natural resource protection. Host 4 field days demonstrating soil health practices.
LOCAL LEVERAGED FUNDS