2023 - SWCD Local Capacity Services (Douglas SWCD)
Annie Felix-Gerth
(q) $12,000,000 the first year and $12,000,000 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 grants to soil and water conservation districts as determined by the board based on county allocations to soil and water conservation districts and the amount of private land and public waters. 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 board may use up to two percent for the administration of payments.
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.
The Douglas SWCD used the FY 23 local capacity funds to enhance the provision of services to local residents including supplementing the buffer law implementation efforts, facilitating the implementation of the county water plan, and the delivery of conservation technical assistance. As such, they district fully meant the intent of the grant.
LOCAL LEVERAGED FUNDS