Clean Water Research Program
The goals of the program are to evaluate the effectiveness of agricultural conservation practices, identify underlying processes that affect water quality, and develop technologies to target critical areas of the landscape. Funded projects provide current and accurate scientific data on the environmental impacts of agricultural practices and help to develop or revise agricultural practices that reduce environmental impacts while maintaining farm profitability.
Since 2008, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture has announced 11 requests for research proposals. Any organization, research entity, or individual may apply for these funds. Once all the proposals are received, a committee comprised of state agency and non-agency representatives with expertise in agricultural water quality and quantity issues review the proposals and select those that will receive funding. A Technical Advisory Committee, comprised of subject matter experts, provides input on projects to ensure they produce relevant and useful information for a diverse group of stakeholders.
Goals of the Research Program
- Identify underlying processes that affect water quality
- Evaluate the effectiveness of agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs)
- Develop technologies to target BMPs to critical areas of the landscape
Research priorities are developed with input from multiple stakeholders including agricultural groups, state agencies, and researchers.
Supported 40 research projects (8 active projects, 32 completed)
- 16 of the supported research projects evaluate practices to reduce nitrate losses. Practices include emerging technologies such as nitrification inhibitors and optical sensing tools, perennial and vegetative cover for water quality benefits or treatment of agricultural drainage systems.
12 different organizations have been awarded research contracts through the program
Researchers have used initial results from CWF supported research to leverage over $10 million of additional research funding.
M.L. 2017 (e) $663,000 the first year and $662,000 the second year are for research to quantify and reduce agricultural contributions to impaired waters and for development and evaluation of best management practices to protect and restore water resources. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2022.
(e) $663,000 the first year and $662,000 the second year are for research to quantify and reduce agricultural contributions to impaired waters and for development and evaluation of best management practices to protect and restore water resources. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2023.
(e) $663,000 the first year and $662,000 the second year are for research to quantify and reduce agricultural contributions to impaired waters and for development and evaluation of best management practices to protect and restore water resources. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2023.
M.L. 2017 (e) $663,000 the first year and $662,000 the second year are for research to quantify and reduce agricultural contributions to impaired waters and for development and evaluation of best management practices to protect and restore water resources. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2022.
The following measures are tracked for the Clean Water Research Program. The values reported are cumulative over the life of the program.
- Number of research projects supported
- Amount of funding requested in research contracts
- Number of different organizations that acess Clean Water Fund dollars
M. L. 2017: (e) $663,000 the first year and $662,000 the second year are for research to quantify and reduce agricultural contributions to impaired waters and for development and evaluation of best management practices to protect and restore water resources. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2022.
Supported 35 research projects (5 active projects, 30 completed)
- 16 of the supported research projects evaluate practices to reduce nitrate losses. Practices include emerging technologies such as nitrification inhibitors and optical sensing tools, perennial and vegetative cover for water quality benefits or treatment of agricultural drainage systems.
10 different organizations have been awarded research contracts through the program
Researchers have used initial results from CWF supported research to leverage over $10 million of additional research funding. Below are examples of funding secured based on initial results and technology supported by Clean Water research projects:
| FY | Project | $ |
|---|---|---|
| 10-11 | EPA 319 | 45,600 |
| MnDRIVE (Discovery Research and InnoVation Economy) | 43,000 | |
| Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program | 1,600 | |
| 12-13 | USDA NIFA-AFRI (National Institute of Food and Ag– Ag & Food Research Initiative) | 475,000 |
| National Science Foundation | 4,300,000 | |
| USGS- Water Resource Center | 28,760 | |
| 14-15 | MN Soybean | 65,000 |
| USDA NIFA-CAP (Coordinated Ag Products) | 5,700,000 | |
| USDA CIG (Conservation Innovation Grant) | 400,000 |
Research results used in WRAPS and One Watershed One Plan documents.
Examples:
- Dr. Sadowsky’s work is often referenced in TMDLs related to E. coli
- Results from the Root River Sediment Budget have been used to inform implementation plans developed through the WRAPS and 1W1P process in Southeastern Minnesota watersheds.
- Efficiency values quantified through funded research have been incorporated into state supported assessment tools (PTMApp).
M.L. 2015: (e) $788,000 the first year and $787,000 the second year are for research to quantify and reduce agricultural contributions to impaired waters and for development and evaluation of best management practices to protect and restore water resources. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2020.
M.L. 2015: (e) $788,000 the first year and $787,000 the second year are for research to quantify and reduce agricultural contributions to impaired waters and for development and evaluation of best management practices to protect and restore water resources. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2020.
M.L. 2013: (e) $1,000,000 the first year and $1,100,000 the second year are for research to quantify agricultural contributions to impaired waters and for development and evaluation of best management practices to protect and restore water resources while maintaining productivity. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2018.
Minnesota state agencies are working together to establish and report outcome-based performance measures that monitor the progress and impact of Clean Water Fund activities. This inter-agency group completed Clean Water Performance Reports in 2012 and 2014. At the heart of these reports is a suite of quantifiable performance measures.MDA's Clean Water Research Program is reporting on performance measure OPM12: Percent of research projects meeting research efficiency goals.This performance measure was developed using guidelines from the National Academies of Sciences 2008 report Evaluating Research Efficiency in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.Each individual research project has specific deliverables.According to the National Academies' framework projects are evaluated according to two main criteria:1) Investment efficiency: is the agency making investments in the right projects? Investment efficiency is best evaluated by an independent, expert review panel that uses predominantly qualitative metrics to evaluate the program. The charge of the review panel is to determine if the research supported is relevant, of the highest quality, effective and efficient.Relevance is a measure of how well research supports the mission or purpose of the Clean Water Fund, which is to protect, enhance and restore lakes, rivers, streams, groundwater and drinking water in Minnesota.Quality refers to how research contributes to our understanding and knowledge of water resources in Minnesota. The review panel will evaluate the soundness, accuracy, novelty and reproducibility of the research projects.Effectiveness refers to the usability of research results by various stakeholders such as TMDL and other technical field staff, conservation professionals, and policy-makers.Efficiency refers to the ability to achieve quality, relevance, and effectiveness while minimizing resources devoted to the project in terms of time and money The review panel can also identify emerging issues and determine their place in research priorities. 2) Process efficiency: are the research investments being managed well?Process efficiency uses quantitative measures to track dollars and hours devoted to a project. Process efficiency refers to inputs, outputs, and intermediate outcomes of a research project and overall program.Inputs include agency resources such as funding, facilities, and staff that support research.Outputs are products delivered by a research project such as conclusions, reports, published papers, monitoring data and new techniques developed.Intermediate outcomes provide the review panel tangible metrics of evaluation. Examples of intermediate outcomes may include an improved body of knowledge available for decision-making, and newly developed tools and models. Tracking Outreach and EducationNumber of outreach activities (presentations, workshops, field days, and other events)Number of educational events (presentations or outreach to K-12 students or teachers, undergraduate science classes, non-science majors, grad students, etc)Number of peer-reviewed publications
M.L. 2013: (e) $1,000,000 the first year and $1,100,000 the second year are for research to quantify agricultural contributions to impaired waters and for development and evaluation of best management practices to protect and restore water resources while maintaining productivity. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2018.
Please refer to fiscal year 2015
M.L. 2011: (e) $1,050,000 the first year and $1,050,000 the second year are for research to quantify agricultural contributions to impaired waters and for development and evaluation of best management practices to protect and restore water resources while maintaining productivity. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2016.
Please refer to fiscal year 2015
M.L. 2011: (e) $1,050,000 the first year and $1,050,000 the second year are for research to quantify agricultural contributions to impaired waters and for development and evaluation of best management practices to protect and restore water resources while maintaining productivity. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2016.
Please refer to fiscal year 2015