ACTIVITY SUMMARY
Appropriations in 2024 Session Laws:
(a) $3,434,000 the second year is for a working-lands floodplain program and to purchase, restore, or preserve riparian land and floodplains adjacent to lakes, rivers, streams, and tributaries, by conservation easements or contracts to keep water on the land, to decrease sediment, pollutant, and nutrient transport; reduce hydrologic impacts to surface waters; and increase protection and recharge for groundwater. Up to $225,000 is for deposit in a conservation easement stewardship account established according to Minnesota Statutes, section 103B.103. This appropriation is added to the appropriation in Laws 2023, chapter 40, article 2, section 6, paragraph (f).
(b) $4,000,000 the second year is to purchase permanent conservation easements to protect lands adjacent to public waters that have good water quality but that are threatened with degradation. Up to $160,000 is for deposit in a conservation easement stewardship account established according to Minnesota Statutes, section 103B.103. This appropriation is added to the appropriation in Laws 2023, chapter 40, article 2, section 6, paragraph (k).
(c) $2,000,000 the second year is for developing and implementing a water legacy grant program to expand partnerships for clean water. Of this amount, $500,000 is for grants to watershed districts to reduce the costs to landowners for green infrastructure projects, including rain gardens, permeable pavement, rainwater harvesting and reuse, and other clean water practices. Priority must be given to projects in low-income and high-pollution areas. Watershed districts may partner with local community groups, nonprofit organizations, and other interested parties to perform the work and provide outreach to communities. This appropriation is added to the appropriation in Laws 2023, chapter 40, article 2, section 6, paragraph (m).
(d) $1,000,000 the second year is to provide support to soil and water conservation districts and other local governments and partner organizations in the Lake Superior basin to leverage Great Lakes Restoration Initiative or other federal Great Lakes funding to implement prioritized activities.
(e) $1,000,000 the second year is for conservation easements acquired under Minnesota Statutes, sections 103F.501 to 103F.535, or for grants or contracts to local units of government or Tribal governments, including for fee title acquisition or for long-term protection of groundwater supply sources. Consideration must be given to drinking water supply management areas and alternative management tools in the Department of Agriculture Minnesota Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Plan, including using low-nitrogen cropping systems or implementing nitrogen fertilizer best management practices. 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, where drinking water protection plans have identified specific activities that will achieve long-term protection, and on lands with expiring conservation contracts. Up to $50,000 is for deposit in a conservation easement stewardship account established according to Minnesota Statutes, section 103B.103. This appropriation, including the conditions and considerations, is added to the appropriation in Laws 2023, chapter 40, article 2, section 6, paragraph (g).
(f) The board must require grantees to specify the outcomes that will be achieved by the grants.
(g) The appropriations in this section are available until June 30, 2028, except grant or easement funds are available for five years after the date a grant or other agreement is executed. Returned grant funds must be regranted consistent with the purposes of this section.
Meetings are held at:
Board office, 520 Lafayette Road North, St. Paul.
Expenses Description:
Total expenditures for the 2022-2023 biennium. More information can be found on BWSR's website: https://bwsr.state.mn.us/budgetPOSITION | SEAT | AUTHORITY | 21-DAY MIN GUARANTEE | #SEATS | ACTION |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Elected City Official - Non Metro | Elected City Official - Non Metro | Governor | 2/26/2025 | 1 | APPLY |
NAME | POSITION | APPLICATION DATE |
---|---|---|
Nikiki Coler | Citizen Member | 3/13/2025 |
Mr. Thomas Godfrey | Citizen Member | 2/17/2025 |
Todd Holman | Citizen Member | 11/27/2024 |
LUEVA KARACHALIOS | Citizen Member | 2/18/2025 |
Brad Kramer | Citizen Member | 12/18/2024 |
Mr. Keith Mykleseth | Citizen Member | 4/24/2025 |
Kendra Sommerfeld | Citizen Member | 2/4/2025 |
Stephen Walker | Citizen Member | 11/23/2024 |
Craig Weber | Citizen Member | 11/22/2024 |
Sheila Wiegman | Citizen Member | 4/7/2025 |
Mrs Tina Diedrick | County Commissioner | 4/7/2025 |
Ron Staples | County Commissioner | 12/17/2024 |
Hon. Aaron Wittnebel | Elected City Official - Non Metro | 4/10/2025 |
Thomas Schulz | Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisors | 9/18/2024 |
Mark Zabel | Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisors | 12/5/2024 |