WinLaC 1W1P 2025
This grant will fund about 45 projects in High Groundwater Priority areas, High Surface Water Priority area, and/or in sub-watershed with stressed/impaired streams for the four WinLaC planning regions. These practices will reduce overland total nitrogen loading and loading to groundwater; reduce overland total phosphorous and sediment; and increase headwater storage and/or reduce peak flow rates and sediment loading.
Projects include grassed waterways, WASCOBs, grade stabilization structures, soil health assistance such as cover crops and conservation tillage, along with project development and technical assistance.
Project development will include Stream Assessments using GIS to identify project sites and Mapping of undocumented wells to assist with regional effort in identification of unused wells that pose a risk to groundwater sources. Both these efforts will accelerate stream restoration work and help protect drinking water. Project development funds are also tagged for engineering design work for three potential stream restoration projects. Other project development funds include continued support for the Bluffland RIM program.
Funding will also support staff time for cost-share projects, as well as leveraging the local Area 7 TSA for engineering assistance to landowners, when needed. Additionally, the Area Soil Health (Grazing) Technician and the Nutrient Management Specialist will be supported with funding to provide technical assistance to landowners.
Annie Felix-Gerth
(a) $39,500,000 the first year and $39,500,000 the second year are for grants to implement state-approved watershed-based plans. The grants may be used to implement projects or programs that protect, enhance, and restore surface PreviouswaterNext quality in lakes, rivers, and streams; protect groundwater from degradation; and protect drinking PreviouswaterNext sources. Projects must be identified in a comprehensive watershed plan developed under the One Watershed, One Plan program and seven-county metropolitan groundwater or surface PreviouswaterNext 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. This appropriation may be used for: (1) implementing state-approved plans, including within the following watershed planning areas (see Chapter 40 Article 2 Section 6(a) (2) for the list of watershed planning areas: seven-county metropolitan groundwater or surface PreviouswaterNext management frameworks; and(3) other comprehensive watershed management plan planning areas that have a board-approved and local-government-adopted plan as authorized in Minnesota Statutes, section 103B.801. The board must establish eligibility criteria and determine whether a planning area is ready to proceed and has the nonstate match committed.
Outcomes include reducing sediment by 869 tons/yr; reducing TP by 231 lbs./yr; reducing TN by 4,793 lbs./yr; and contributing 8 acre-feet of storage. Additional outcomes include 600 acres of cover crops and 600 acres of reduced tillage (soil health practices), 50 acres of managed grazing & 2 bacteria reduction projects (low-cost feedlot fixes), sealing 5 abandoned wells, fixing 3 septic systems that are failing to protect groundwater and completing 4 urban stormwater projects.
LOCAL LEVERAGED FUNDS