Beltrami SWCD Stormwater Community Partners Grant Program
The Beltrami SWCD proposes to partner with citizen and non-profit groups to complete projects that will reduce stormwater runoff and retain water on the land. The majority of the projects will be in the Lake Bemidji lakeshed which has recently been identified in the WRAPs project as being on the verge of impaired for nutrients. With the City of Bemidji being a regional hub for Northwestern Minnesota and the First City on the Mississippi, there are ample opportunities for citizen involvement and ample opportunities for stormwater improvements. This project is also anticipated to raise awareness and educate the citizens of Beltrami County and the Greater Bemidji Area in regards to stormwater treatment and the impacts that citizens can have on our most valued resources by showcasing these projects once completed. The SWCD will implement a grant program and provide competitive grants to an anticipated 6 citizen groups. These groups will undoubtedly leverage the creativity of their group to apply for the grant funds to implement the most cost-effective projects that will have the biggest impact on stormwater reduction, treatment, and inflitration. The SWCD will work with all of our partners in the County in any of the 7 major watersheds but we anticipate that the majority of the projects will be completed within the Mississippi River Headwaters Watershed (where the majority of the population resides). Examples of anticipated projects include rain gardens, stormwater reuse projects, stormwater treatment and infiltration projects, reducing impervious surfaces, shoreline buffers, and any other projects that can demonstrate a water quality benefit by reducing impacts from stormwater.
See http://www.bwsr.state.mn.us/aboutbwsr/index.html and http://www.bwsr.state.mn.us/aboutbwsr/boarddirectory.pdf
See http://www.bwsr.state.mn.us/aboutbwsr/index.html
Marcey Westrick
Community Partners 2016: Laws of MN 2015 First Special Session Chapter 2, Article 7, Section 7
This project will result in the removal of approximately 20 pounds of phosphorous and 30 tons of sediment per year.
This project resulted in an estimated annual reduction of 70.056 lbs of phosphorus, 803 tons of sediment, and 2.1606 acre-feet per year of water volume.
LOCAL LEVERAGED FUNDS