Clean Water Fund
ON NOVEMBER 4, 2008, MINNESOTA VOTERS APPROVED THE CLEAN WATER, LAND & LEGACY AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION TO:
- protect drinking water sources;
- protect, enhance, and restore wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish, game, and wildlife habitat;
- preserve arts and cultural heritage;
- support parks and trails;
- and protect, enhance, and restore lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater.
THE AMENDMENT INCREASES THE SALES AND USE TAX RATE BY THREE-EIGHTS OF ONE PERCENT ON TAXABLE SALES, STARTING JULY 1, 2009, CONTINUING THROUGH 2034. THOSE DOLLARS ARE DEDICATED TO FOUR FUNS: OUTDOOR HERITAGE FUND, CLEAN WATER FUND, PARKS AND TRAILS FUND, AND ARTS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE FUND.
For more information about the State Clean Water Fund grant program go to the Board of Water and Soil Resources webpage: http://www.bwsr.state.mn.us/cleanwaterfund/
IN 2011, THE CHISAGO SWCD RECEIVED FOUR CLEAN WATER FUND GRANTS TOTALLING $389,474. THE GRANTS WERE:
- Chain of Lakes Stormwater Retrofit Assessment Best Management Practices ($230,526) – In the cities of Lindstrom and Center City, a total of 20 rain gardens, 2 tree pits, 1 grade stabilization, 1 shoreline restoration, and an area of pervious asphalt was installed with this grant funding. Together, these practices reduce an estimated 35 pounds of phosphorus, 20 tons of sediment, and 48 acre-feet per year of water from reaching local water bodies.
- Stabilizing Erosion Areas Draining to the Sunrise and St. Croix River ($89,474) –The Kost Dam project was completed in 2012 as planned. Additional projects were installed at the Taylors Falls Public Works Building in Taylors Falls and along County Road 20 in Lindstrom. Two large gullies were stabilized at these sites. Together, these three projects have reduced total phosphorus and total suspended solids reaching public waterways by 102 pounds per year and 102 tons per year, respectively.
- St. Croix River Escarpment Gully Inventory and Outreach ($31,579) – A total of 618 gullies were identified and 494 were field-verified. Of those 494 checked, 112 gullies were identified as actively eroding. A total of 36 gullies were ranked as severely eroding from the list of 112 active gullies. These gullies will be targeted for correction. The Chisago SWCD received a 2012 Clean Water Fund grant to begin implementing gully stabilization projects for the gullies identified as high priority in the final report.
- Implementation of Water-Smart Best Management Practices at Schools and Libraries ($37,895) – All total five rain gardens and one vegetated swale were installed at the Wyoming Library, the Chisago Lakes Middle School, and the Rush City High School. The combined effect of this project resulted in 4.8 pounds per year of phosphorus and 2,400 pounds per year of total suspended solids being filtered out of local waterbodies.
IN 2012, THE CHISAGO SWCD RECEIVED THREE CLEAN WATER FUND GRANTS TOTALING $362,840. THE GRANTS WERE:
- Chain of Lakes Stormwater Retrofit Assessment Best Management Practices ($238,640) – With this grant, 28 rain gardens and 4 vegetated swales were installed in Lindstrom, Center City, and Chisago City. Together, these projects reduced the amount of sediment by 10.8 tons per year, the amount of phosphorus by 28.2 pounds per year, and the volume of water by 17.6 acre-feet per year from reaching nearby lakes and rivers.
- Chisago County Feedlots ($39,800) – A concrete animal waste storage facility was constructed at the Lindahl Farms. The animal waste storage facility allows manure to be stored on a concrete staking slab throughout the winter and land applied in the spring according to a nutrient management plan.
- St. Croix Basin Gully Stabilization ($84,400) – All total six water and sediment control basins were installed that corrected seven gullies that were identified in the St. Croix River Escarpment Gully Inventory report. In addition, a vegetated swale with rock ditch checks was installed upstream of another identified gully. Together, these projects have reduced the Total Phosphorus and Sediment reaching the St. Croix River by 120.4 lbs/year and 118.4 tons/year respectively.
IN 2013, THE CHISAGO SWCD RECEIVED ONE CLEAN WATER FUND GRAND TOTALLING $68,483 FOR:
The City of Lindstrom Pleasant Hill Park project. The city park was used as a large filtration/infiltration area. The stormwater pipe was cut off so that the water outlets to the surface in the park, where it can spread out over a large area. Underneath the turf grass is engineered soils with perforated pipes. The water canminfiltrate into the ground and excess water leaves through the pipes, which reconnect to the original outlet. This project reduced the Total Phosphorus and Sediment reaching South Lindstrom Lake by 23 lbs/year 4.8 tons/year respectively.
IN 2014, THE CHISAGO SWCD RECEIVED TWO CLEAN WATER FUND GRANTS TOTALLING $367,000. THE GRANTS WERE:
- Chain of Lakes Stormwater Retrofit Assessment Best Management Practices ($250,000) – This grant will be utilized to continue implementing urban and rural BMPs identified in the Stormwater Retrofit Assessments for the Chisago Lakes Chain of Lakes watershed.
- St. Croix Basin Gully Stabilization ($117,000) – This grant will be utilized to continue implementing urban and rural BMPs identified in the St. Croix River Escarpment Gully Inventory report.
IN 2015, THE CHISAGO SWCD RECEIVED THREE CLEAN WATER FUND GRANTS TOTALLING $210,000. THE GRANTS WERE:
- Dry Creek Watershed Gully Stabilization Program ($150,000) – This grant will be used to work with Amador Township, Chisago County, and private landowners to correct two large, actively eroding gullies located a few miles apart in Amador Township. The two gullies are located along Quinlan and Reed Ave. Stabilizing these two gullies will greatly reduce the sediment and phosphorus loading to the St. Croix River.
- Chisago County Community Partners Grant ($30,000) – Grant funds will be offered to local lake associations to partner with local residents to install lakeshore restorations and rain gardens on private property. The goal is to implement this grant in 2016.
- Lower Sunrise Gully Inventory ($30,000) – Our goal is to use the St. Croix Escarpment Gully Inventory project as a model to complete a similar inventory of actively eroding gullies along the Sunrise River from the Kost Dam to the confluence with the St. Croix, which includes the North
IN 2015, THE CHISAGO SWCD RECEIVED A TARGETED WATERSHED DEMONSTRATION GRANT TOTALLING $887,632.
This grant will be utilized to continue implementing urban and rural BMPs identified in the Stormwater Retrofit Assessments for the Chisago Lakes Chain of Lakes Watershed.
IN 2016, THE CHISAGO SWCD RECEIVED ONE CLEAN WATER FUND GRANT TOTALLING $220,500. THE GRANT WAS:
- St. Croix River Escarpment Taylors Falls Gully Stabilization ($220,500) – This grant will be used to continue stabilizing large gullies that were identified in the St. Croix River Escarpment Inventory report. Two large gullies in the residential area of Taylors Falls will be stabilized to reduce the amount of sediment and phosphorus reaching the St. Croix River.
IN 2017, THE CHISAGO SWCD RECEIVED TWO CLEAN WATER FUND GRANTs TOTALLING $310,000. THE GRANTS WERE:
- Water Quality Improvements on the Mallery Jersey Dairy Farm ($60,000) – This grant will be used to help stabilize several active gullies, divert clean water around potential contamination, stabilize the outlet of a wetland, and other projects that together will improve water quality in the nearby St. Croix River.
- Goose/Rush Creek Watershed TMDL/WRAPS Implementation ($250,000) – This grant will be used to provide project development, technical assistance, and cost share funding to develop and implement projects in the watershed of Goose and Rush Creeks.