2011
- August 4, 2011: Competitive state grants available for water quality projects. $16.6 million in competitive grants is available for projects that will protect and restore Minnesota’s streams, rivers, lakes and groundwater. Funding for the competitive grants is provided by the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. In addition to the grants, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has $4.5 million available through its AgBMP Loan program, and interested landowners should apply for a loan during this same application period by contacting their SWCD.
- March 22, 2011: Updated photos of 2010 flooding in Southern Minnesota, including updated photos of conservation practices.
- Jan. 11, 2011: $26 million available for conservation easements on frequently flooded lands in southern Minnesota through the RIM-WRP partnership
- Jan. 3, 2011: Lake Protection Challenge Grant -- This grant opportunity is focused on assessing existing lake water quality and watershed data for lakes not identified on the draft 2010 MPCA Impaired Waters (303(d)) List for parameters other than mercury. The Announcement, Request for Proposals, and Application are on the Clean Water Legacy Act page.
2010
- Dec. 15, 2010: $10 million in Legacy Amendment grants approved -- BWSR has approved $10 million in state dollars for conservation projects that will protect and restore streams, rivers, lakes and groundwater. Funding for the grants was from the Minnesota Clean Water Fund (one of four funds available through the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment). Read the news release
- Dec. 13, 2010
- 2010 Outstanding Watershed District Employee -- Justin Hanson, Turtle Creek Watershed District Administrator, received the award. This is the first year such an award has been given, and employees in 46 watershed districts statewide were eligible.
- 2010 County Conservation Award -- Stearns County received the award for its creation of a Natural Resources Conservation Overlay District.
- 2010 Outstanding SWCD Employee -- Kathy Smith, Martin Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) Administrator received the award.
- Oct. 19, 2010: $13 million available for flood recovery -- BWSR received $13 million through the flood disaster relief law signed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty following the Oct. 18 Special Legislative Session. The money will pay for conservation projects on marginal, flood-prone lands that will prevent future flood-related damage to property in the 21 disaster-declared counties. BWSR flood recovery news release
- August 4, 2010: $12 million available through Clean Water Fund Competitive Grant -- Application materials are available on the BWSR Grants Page for the Fiscal Year 2011 Clean Water Fund Competitive Grants. Eligible local government units may apply for these grants from now until the Sept. 15, 2010 application deadline. The Clean Water Fund is one of four funds established by the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, approved by voters in 2008. Read the news release announcing the available grants
- July 15, 2010: RIM-WRP will restore 7,504 acres of wetlands and grasslands -- BWSR and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced today that 7,504 acres of wetlands and grasslands will be restored through RIM-WRP. A total of $8.37 million in state funds -- including $6.895 million from the Outdoor Heritage Fund -- made it possible to leverage $13.75 million in federal dollars. BWSR and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) administer the RIM-WRP program, a local-state-federal partnership that combines the state's Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) Reserve conservation easement program with the USDA Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP). Soil and Water Conservation Districts implement the program at the local level.
- July 1, 2010: Grants for feedlot and septic system improvement projects -- More than $4 million in state grants is available to local government units for projects to protect and restore water quality by improving feedlots near impaired waters and replacing subsurface sewage treatment systems (SSTS) that are identified as an imminent health threat. Application forms and instructions are available on the BWSR Grants page.
- April 1, 2010: RIM-WRP Signup Announced -- Landowners looking for competitive payment rates to restore wetlands are encouraged to sign up for the Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) - Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) program through May 14, 2010.
- March 1, 2010: On Jan. 28, 2010, BWSR approved about $14 million ($12 million from the Clean Water Fund and $2 million from the General Fund) in competitive state grants for projects that will protect and restore Minnesota’s streams, rivers, lakes and groundwater. The BWSR Fiscal Year 2010 Clean Water Fund Report and information about a series of listening sessions that were held around the state to gather ideas and insights to inform the Minnesota Water Sustainability Framework, a 25-year plan on how and when to make investments that will ensure the purity and abundance of Minnesota’s water for generations to come. The BWSR Clean Water Fund page has information about the dollars that BWSR has received through the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.
- Jan. 28, 2010: BWSR FY 2010 Competitive Grants News Release: news release - BWSR approved more than $14 million in state grants for projects that will protect and restore Minnesota’s streams, rivers, lakes and groundwater. Funding the competitive grants includes $2 million from the state's general fund and $12 million from the Minnesota Clean Water Fund. Most of the funded projects also leverage local and federal dollars.
- List of FY 2010 competitive grant recipients, amounts and brief summary (includes projects funded through Clean Water Fund and General Fund dollars)
- List of Native Buffer Grant and Cooperative Weed Management Area grant recipients
- List of Conservation Drainage grant recipients
- List of FY 2010 competitive grant recipients, amounts and brief summary (includes projects funded through Clean Water Fund and General Fund dollars)
2009
- Dec. 23, 2009: State-Federal Coordination of Wetland Protection Efforts
- December 7, 2009: Reinvest In Minnesota - Wetlands Reserve Program (RIM-WRP) MOU Signed
- October 1, 2009: Outreach meetings for Clean Water Fund Grants
- August 14, 2009: Conservation project tour will highlight SE MN flood recovery status
- May 29, 2009: RIM-WRP Partnership receives Minnesota Environmental Initiative Partnership of the Year Award
News release archive
For older news releases, please contact the BWSR webmaster
