Contact: Celi Haga
651-215-9008 (Office)
St. Paul, Minn. – While the high waters from the heavy 2014 rains have receded, counties continue to recover from the damage left in their wake. Today the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) announced $3 million in grants as part of a third phase of flood relief funding. Fifteen counties will use the funds to implement conservation practices where human safety and health is a concern and to address erosion and water quality problems associated with imminent threats to private or public improvements.
“Our local government partners have done great work to determine the best practices to address water quality, health, and safety issues,” explained John Jaschke, BWSR Executive Director. “If there are wells at risk of contamination or roads in danger of washing out because of flooding, these funds will enable counties to take action and address those issues.”
The 15 local governments are: Brown Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), Carver SWCD, Lake of the Woods SWCD, Le Sueur SWCD, Martin SWCD, Nicollet SWCD, Redwood SWCD, Rice SWCD, Rock SWCD, Roseau County, Scott SWCD, Steele SWCD, Warroad River Watershed District, Watonwan SWCD, and Wright SWCD. BWSR anticipates that a second round of allocations in this phase will occur mid-summer. Those allocations will focus on projects that repair, rehabilitate, or replace existing conservation practices on private lands.
These funds are in addition to $7.8 million awarded in the two previous phases of flood relief funding.
For more information on BWSR’s Disaster Relief Assistance Program and a list of counties that received BWSR flood recovery grants in this phase, please visit: www.bwsr.state.mn.us.