2023 Dakota County Well Seal Program
In Dakota County, groundwater supplies more than 90 percent of the drinking water. In order to protect Dakota County's primary drinking water source, this project proposes to support the County well seal grant cost-share program. The project will provide 50 percent cost-share funding to reimburse landowners for the sealing of unused wells. The goal is to permanently seal between 80-100 unused/abandoned wells throughout the county. Unsealed water supply wells that are not in use pose a threat to health, safety, and the environment by providing a potential conduit for contamination to go from the surface down to drinking water aquifers. In addition, Minnesota Statute 103I requires well owners to seal unused wells. Through the Minnesota Department of Health Delegated Well Program, Dakota County staff maintain a well inventory list that identifies potential sites with unused wells. Staff will send communication letters to landowners with suspected unused wells outlining State regulations and encouraging the proper sealing of wells. To reduce risk to municipal drinking water supplies, the project will target suspected unused, unsealed wells within Drinking Water Supply Management Areas (DWSMAs) first and prioritize applicants within DWSMAs.
In Dakota County, groundwater supplies more than 90 percent of the drinking water. In order to protect Dakota County's primary drinking water source, this project proposes to support the County well seal grant cost-share program. The project will provide 50 percent cost-share funding to reimburse landowners for the sealing of unused wells. The goal is to permanently seal between 80-100 unused/abandoned wells throughout the county. Unsealed water supply wells that are not in use pose a threat to health, safety, and the environment by providing a potential conduit for contamination to go from the surface down to drinking water aquifers. In addition, Minnesota Statute 103I requires well owners to seal unused wells. Through the Minnesota Department of Health Delegated Well Program, Dakota County staff maintain a well inventory list that identifies potential sites with unused wells. Staff will send communication letters to landowners with suspected unused wells outlining State regulations and encouraging the proper sealing of wells. To reduce risk to municipal drinking water supplies, the project will target suspected unused, unsealed wells within Drinking Water Supply Management Areas (DWSMAs) first and prioritize applicants within DWSMAs.
Annie Felix-Gerth
(b) $10,762,000 the first year and $11,504,000 the second year are for grants to local government units to protect and restore surface water and drinking water; to keep water on the land; to protect, enhance, and restore water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams; and to protect groundwater and drinking water, including feedlot water quality and subsurface sewage treatment system projects and stream bank, stream channel, shoreline restoration, and ravine stabilization projects. The projects must use practices demonstrated to be effective, be of long-lasting public benefit, include a match, and be consistent with total maximum daily load (TMDL) implementation plans, watershed restoration and protection strategies (WRAPS), or local water management plans or their equivalents. Up to 20 percent of this appropriation is available for land-treatment projects and practices that benefit drinking water. & (i) $2,904,000 the first year and $2,904,000 the second year are for assistance, oversight, and grants to local governments to transition local water management plans to a watershed approach as provided for in Minnesota Statutes, section 103B.801. & (p) $2,000,000 the first year and $2,000,000 the second year are for grants to farmers who own or rent land to enhance adoption of cover crops and other soil health practices in areas where there are direct benefits to public water supplies. Up to $400,000 is for an agreement with the University of Minnesota Office for Soil Health for applied research and education on Minnesota's agroecosystems and soil health management systems.
This project will prevent groundwater contamination by sealing between 80-100 unused/abandoned wells throughout Dakota County.
Provide cost-share payment to seal total of 55 wells throughout Dakota County, of which 13 were located within Drinking Water Supply Management Areas (DWSMAs). Note that there were a couple of highly complex sealing situations that were not anticipated at the time of the grant application. These complicated scenarios cost more than routine sealings, leading to fewer wells sealed than originally proposed.
LOCAL LEVERAGED FUNDS