2019 - SWCD Local Capacity Services (Benton SWCD)
The SWCD Local Capacity Services grant program provides funds 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.
Marcey Westrick
[SWCD Local Capacity Services 2019] $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.
Funds were utilized to supplement staff time need to meet the demand for coordinating outreach and public education activities for the District and coordinating implementation of the Benton County Local Water Management Plan. Funds were also used to to employ technical staff to work new water quality projects. Time was spent for providing technical assistance for practice planning, design, and implementation of water quality best management practices including - farmstead site visits and assessments for 5 farmers, 1 EQIP contract for 630 WASCOB, 1 CNMP Amendment, 2 EQIP 590 Nutrient Mgmt Annual Field Plans for 2019&2020, 1 manure spreader calibration, 1 EQIP 329 No-Till Contract, 2 Prescribe Grazing Plans, 2 preventative plant cover crops applications, 1 cover crop contract, construction inspection on shoreline/streambank protection project, construction inspection on 1 EQIP feedlot project, various trainings for conservation planning and practices, assisting with District's Irrigation Program and Online Irrigation Management Assistant.
LOCAL LEVERAGED FUNDS