2018 - SWCD Local Capacity Services (Cook SWCD)
Provides grants to Soil and Water Conservation Districts that focuses on increasing capacity to address four resource concern areas?Soil Erosion, Riparian Zone Management, Water Storage and Treatment, and Excess Nutrients.
Annie Felix-Gerth
SWCD Local Capacity Services 2018 - [SWCD Local Capacity Services 2018] $11,000,000 the first year and $11,000,000 the second year are for payments to soil and water conservation districts for the purposes of Minnesota Statutes, sections 103C.321 and 103C.331. From this appropriation, each soil and water conservation district shall receive an increase in its base funding of $100,000 per year. Money remaining after the base increase is available for matching grants to soil and water conservation districts based on county allocations to soil and water conservation districts. The board and other agencies may reduce the amount of grants to a county by an amount equal to any reduction in the county's allocation to a soil and water conservation district from the county's previous year allocation when the board determines that the reduction was disproportionate.
The grant targets four resource concern areas - Soil Erosion, Riparian Zone Management, Water Storage and Treatment, and Excess Nutrients - and supports increased capacity by funding expenses in the following categories: Staffing, Cost Share/Incentives, Technology/Capital Equipment, and Operations.
Work was completed as per the approved work plan and included funds being used for staff time that predominately was used for Educational Activities this included distribution of educational print materials to local educators for all area students, materials for public engagement, planning and prep for Envirothon, workshops and mini-sessions with youth and classrooms to educate on environmental aspects related to conservation, public outreach with monthly radio interviews on highlight topics of local conservation/environment/current projects, engagement with lake associations and watershed neighborhoods, created District brochures and a comprehensive shoreland stewardship guide; staff and technician hours; training occurred throughout the year with Minnesota?s Lake Superior Coastal Program (MLSCP); grant funds also supported resource and grant administration staff time; collaborative work with local municipality to develop urban stormwater plan; Stormwater planning for future projects and assessment program expenses to focus on work with water plan implementation throughout the County
LOCAL LEVERAGED FUNDS