Cook County Soil and Water was recently notified by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) that it would receive a grant of $133,000 to create a culvert inventory for Cook County, Minnesota.
“We have not officially received the grant,” said District Manager, Cook County Soil and Water, Ilena Hansel. “We have to do some administrative work on our end. We will start the work this summer. We are still working out the details and determine the path forward.”
The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) approved $13.7 million in Clean Water Fund grants on Dec. 19. The grants were made to improve water quality in streams, lakes, and groundwater across the state.
A majority of the grant funding—$ 11.7 million—is allocated for voluntary conservation projects across Minnesota. In addition, $1.4 million will support accelerated implementation for high-priority projects, and $610,000 will fund multipurpose drainage management.
For Cook County the culvert inventory will include the minimum data required in the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources “Stream Crossing Basic Assessment Form” to be consistent with inventory work being done statewide and in other CWF grant projects such as the Lake County culvert inventory.
According to the BWSR press release, while the watersheds in northeast Minnesota contain “some of the least-polluted waters in the state, development and climate change pose an increased threat to aquatic resources if culverts are not installed, retrofitted, or replaced properly.”
Outgoing Minnesota Mark Dayton said, “All Minnesotans deserve water that is safe for drinking, swimming, and fishing. These 52 grants will improve water quality throughout our state, and help provide more Minnesotans the clean water they expect and deserve.”
The $13.7 million will fund 52 separate grants, 36 of which are dedicated to specific projects and practices. For example, a grant awarded to the Martin Soil and Water Conservation District will support their efforts to improve drinking water in the Fairmont area by implementing agriculture best management practices near the Fairmont Chain of Lakes. Upon project completion, sediment in the chain of lakes is estimated to be reduced by 130 tons each year.
About the Minnesota Clean Water Fund:
Minnesota voters approved the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment in 2008 to protect, enhance, and restore wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish, game, and wildlife habitat; to preserve arts and cultural heritage; to support parks and trails; and to protect, enhance, and restore lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater. The Clean Water Fund receives 33 percent of the sales tax revenue generated by the Legacy Amendment.
Leave a Reply