The Water Quality and Storage Program provide financial assistance to LGUs and Tribal Governments to control water rates and/or volumes to protect infrastructure, improve water quality and related public benefits, and mitigate climate change impacts.
Donor Name: Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources
State: Minnesota
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/04/2023
Size of the Grant: Up to $1,000,000
Details:
Projects and practices funded under this program must show that they reduce flow rates and/or volumes at an applicant defined area of interest. Given the current funding levels, this program is being established as a pilot that will fund design and construction of storage projects and practices.
Funding Priorities and Ranking
Priority for funding will be given to projects that meet the following criteria (in order of priority):
- Project is located in the Minnesota River basin or the Lower Mississippi River basin in Minnesota.
- The applicant shows they are taking a comprehensive approach to flow reduction in the watershed, by implementing soil health or other conservation practices.
- Practices that show higher levels of flood protection, improvement of water quality, etc.
- Practices that demonstrate reduction in flood potential, improvement of water quality, AND mitigation for climate change.
- Evidence of project installment readiness, which may include local letters of intent from government partners, evidence of support from willing landowners, and permitting agencies have been consulted regarding project permitability.
Funding Information
Up to $1,000,000 is available for this program in FY23 and priority will be given to applicants in the Minnesota River Basin or Lower Mississippi River Basin.
Eligible Activities
Eligible activities must result in a reduction to peak flow rates and/or volumes to demonstrate a decrease in downstream flooding, improvement of water quality or related public benefits, or to mitigate climate change impacts. Grants may include any number of practices, but the practices cumulatively must reduce the hydrograph peak at an area of interest (to be determined by the applicant). The area of interest must be identified at the time of application and an explanation provided of the flooding, water quality, or climate vulnerabilities at that location. Pre-project and post-project runoff hydrographs must be provided to quantify the reduction in peak flow rate and/or volume.
Examples of eligible practices include, but are not limited to:
- Ponds without permanent pools (Dry detention ponds)
- Ponds with permanent pools (Wet detention ponds)
- WASCOBs
- Wetland Construction or Restorations
- Improvements or retrofits of existing storage areas to increase storage capacity or retention time
Project lifespan must be at least 25-years and the applicant must develop an Operation and Maintenance plan that includes and inspection schedule, expectations for routine maintenance, and a financing system to ensure the design function of the project.
Eligible activities include construction costs, project development, grant management, and administration. Technical and engineering assistance necessary for design of these practices is essential and may be included in the project cost
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants include municipalities, towns, counties, soil and water conservation districts, watershed districts, or organizations formed for the joint exercise of powers, as defined under section 103B.305, subdivision 5, and includes tribal governments.
Applicant must have a State or tribally approved and locally adopted local water management plan, comprehensive watershed management plan, watershed district plan, or soil and water conservation district (SWCD) comprehensive plan. Applicant must have calculated the reduction in runoff rate or volume due to the project at a downstream area of interest (to be determined by the applicant).
For more information, visit BWSR.
