2018 - SWCD Local Capacity Services (Hennepin County)
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 Hennepin County staff making 202 field visits (in addition to MANY virtual visits and phone calls due to the pandemic). This included supporting Rural Conservationist and their field activities that included
?on-going BMP projects & developing projects
?assess new potential BMP projects
?respond to requests of technical assistance/investigate resource concerns from Hennepin County residents
?supporting Elm Creek and Pioneer-Sarah Creek watersheds to increase participation in private lands conservation efforts.
?building connections with rural and agricultural landowners
?leveraging connections with the Elm Creek and Pioneer-Sarah Creek watersheds to accelerate the pace of conservation implementation in those geographies.
This led to an opportunity for BMP implementation using State Cost Share funding included the Fox Creek Estates gully stabilization and the Meyer Barn Gutter/Manure Bunker projects.
LOCAL LEVERAGED FUNDS