Wellhead Protection Conservation Easement Program, Phase 3 (FY 2014/2015)

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2015 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,300,000
Fund Source
Clean Water Fund
Recipient
Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources
Recipient Type
State Government
Status
In Progress
Start Date
July 2013
End Date
June 2016
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Land Acquisition
Preservation
Restoration/Enhancement
Project Overview

This program is a part of a comprehensive clean water strategy to prevent sediment and nutrients from entering our lakes, rivers, and streams; enhance fish and wildlife habitat; protect groundwater and wetlands. Specifically the Wellhead Protection Conservation Easement program is targeted to protect drinking water through the Reinvest in Minnesota Program (RIM). In partnership with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and Soil and Water Conservation Districts, permanent conservation easements are purchased in areas where the vulnerability of the drinking water is designated as high or very high by MDH.
In 1986, the Reinvest in Minnesota Resources Act was enacted to restore certain marginal and environmentally sensitive agricultural land to protect soil and water quality and support fish and wildlife habitat. Utilizing the RIM conservation easement program, this program focused on converting land presently in agricultural production to native grasslands and wetlands.
Restoring native grasslands within wellhead protection areas improves water quality by providing greater distance between drinking water sources and agricultural chemical use. Changing land use from agricultural production to restored grasslands and wetlands has produced dramatic, measurable improvements in drinking water quality.
Lands that are targeted are new or existing USDA Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts with cropping history. The easements funded under this program are permanent, whereas CRP contracts are for 10-15 years. Participating
landowners receive a payment to retire land in agricultural production and to establish buffers of native vegetation.
The drinking water and wellhead protection initiative compliments other programs, both existing and yet to be developed, over the next 25 years.

Competitive Grant Making Body
Conflict of Interest Contact

Nicole Clapp

Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2013, Regular Session chapter 137, article 2, section 7
Appropriation Language

(g) $1,300,000 the first year and $1,300,000 the second year are for permanent conservation easements on wellhead protection areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 103F.515, subdivision 2, paragraph (d). Priority must be placed on land that is located where the vulnerability of the drinking water supply is designated as high or very high by the commissioner of health.

2015 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,300,000
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Land use conversion from agricultural land to conservation cover provided on approximately 300 acres of high or very high vulnerable wellhead areas.

Project Manager
First Name
Tabor
Last Name
Hoek
Organization Name
Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources
Street Address
1400 E. Lyon St.
City
Marshall
State
MN
Zip Code
56258
Phone
(507) 537-7260
Email
tabor.hoek@state.mn.us
Administered By
Administered by
Location

520 Lafayette Road North
St. Paul, MN 55155

Phone
651- 296-3767