2018 - SWCD Local Capacity Services (Stearns 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 the Grants and Administration Coordinator position to increase staff efficiency at completing grant reporting and other administrative functions; technology upgrades including drone, image/video processing computer, projector, monitors and laptops; funds were also used to contribute to the 2018 Stearns County high resolution flight to identify projects and resource concerns. Staff use this imagery daily to design conservation practices.
LOCAL LEVERAGED FUNDS