Area projects receive Crow Wing SWCD water quality protection grants

The Crow Wing Soil and Water District (SWCD) awarded $45,000 in grants to local organizations in Crow Wing County (CWC) for five water quality protection projects.

Grants are competitive cost-share grants through the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) Community Partnership program, which helps build local capacity and address the priorities of county comprehensive local water plans. Local organizations provide matching cash or in-kind dollars for the projects. Funding was provided by the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment, Clean Water Fund, approved by voters in 2008.

Six applications were submitted for a total of $60,812 in grant funding requests. Area projects receiving grants included:

Legionville Training Center, water retention-erosion prevention water gardens, $18,750.

Whitefish Area Property Owners Association (WAPOA), 2012-13 WAPOA Shoreline Restoration Contest, $11,250.

Northland Arboretum, rain barrel project, $16,950.

Fifty Lakes Property Owners Association (FLPOA), Renew Our Shoreline restoration projects, $3,686.

Portage Crooked Lake Improvement Association (PCLIA), demonstration/education projects, shoreline re-vegetation and previous treatment on an access path, $2,566.

This spring, grant applications were accepted from citizens, businesses, nonprofits, faith organizations and property owners associations. The applications were reviewed and ranked by an interagency team that included CWC, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, University of Minnesota Extension, Thirty Lakes Watershed District and Crow Wing SWCD.

The SWCD will have a second round of competitive grants in 2013 to award about $45,000.

For more information on this project, contact Melissa Barrick at 218-828-6197 or melissa.barrick@co.crow-wing.mn.us or visit http://www2.co.crow-wing.mn.us/swcd/.