2023 - CREP Outreach and Implementation Continuation (Watonwan SWCD)
Annie Felix-Gerth
(k) $1,771,000 the first year and $3,829,000 the second year are to purchase and restore permanent conservation sites via easements or contracts to treat and store water on the land for water quality improvement purposes and related technical assistance. This work may be done in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture with a first-priority use to accomplish a conservation reserve enhancement program, or equivalent, in the state. Up to $280,000 is for deposit in a monitoring and enforcement account. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2028.
Grant funds were used as proposed in the work plan, ensuring staff capacity to provide technical assistance to deliver the MN CREP. 1,384 hours were spent providing technical assistance. 14 landowners were contacted regarding CREP. Conservation technical assistance was provided for the 2 CREP applications that were submitted. One application was approved for funding, which totaled 83.86 acres. Technical assistance includes; site visits, contract guidance, seeding/management assistance, wildlife biology assistance, etc.
LOCAL LEVERAGED FUNDS