BWSR PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS NUTRIENT LOSS

Transcription

1 BWSR PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS NUTRIENT LOSS DRAINAGE LAW BUFFER PROGRAM CREP - GRANT PROGRAMS - PROJECTS 2017 MVTL Agronomy Update Meeting New Ulm, MN February 28, 2017 Jill Sackett Eberhart ~ BWSR Board Conservationist

2 WHO IS BWSR? Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) State agency charged with improving and protecting Minnesota s water and soil resources by working in partnership with local organizations and private landowners

3 BWSR CORE FUNCTIONS

4 KEY MINNESOTA STATUTES All BWSR duties/roles/power Derived from State Legislature / Statute 103A Water Policy 103B Water Planning 103C SWCD law 103D Watershed District law 103E Drainage Law 103F Shoreland, Floodplain, RIM, others 103G Wetlands Conservation 103H Groundwater Protection 114D Clean Water Legacy

5 BWSR Board 20 members (local government units, state agencies, citizens) Appointed by the governor to four-year terms Act as the administrative agency for soil and water conservation districts, watershed districts, metropolitan watershed management organizations and county water managers Staff and Offices Staff provide technical and financial assistance to local governments to plan and implement agency policy on private lands Regional field offices (Bemidji, Brainerd, Duluth, Detroit Lakes, Mankato, Marshall, New Ulm, Rochester, St. Paul, Waite Park) Central office (St. Paul)

6 Budget General Fund and Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment funds (Clean Water Fund) since 2008 Majority passed through to local government units to administer state policies and programs geared towards improving water and soil resources History Created in 1987 by the Legislature (merger of three state boards)

7 MINNESOTA S WATER AND SOIL RESOURCES DIVERSITY IS THE NAME OF THE GAME Topographic Diversity

8 Land Use Diversity Urban Cultivated / Ag Grassland Brushland Forest Water Bog/Marsh/Fen Mining

9 Soil Diversity Type Quality Health Use

10 Water Diversity Type - Quality - Quantity - Use

11 ALL THIS DIVERSITY MEANS ONE SIZE DOESN T FIT ALL Diverse problems Diverse Solutions (Programs, Initiatives, etc) Diverse Successes (and how success is gauged) Diverse Opinions Diverse Attitudes

12 MINNESOTA DRAINAGE LAW Minnesota Drainage Law (MN Statute Chapter 103E) General Provisions (103E.005 thru 103E. 121) Petitions for Drainage Projects (103E.202 thru 103E.238) Preliminary Survey and Hearing (103E.241 thru 103E.261) Detailed Survey and Viewing (103E.265 thru 103E.323) Final Hearing (103E.325 thru 103E.345) Redetermining of Benefits (103E.351) Outlets for Drainage Systems (103E.401 thru 103E.411) Constructing Drainage Project (103E.501 thru 103E.555) Funding, Collecting, and Paying Drainage System Costs (103E.601 thru 103E.661) Procedure to Repair Drainage Systems (103E.701 to 103E.745) Consolidating, Dividing, and Abandoning Drainage Systems (103E.801 thru 103E.812)

13 Minnesota Public Drainage Manual Guidance document for administration of drainage systems Users: Chapter 103E drainage authorities, drainage engineers, county auditors, attorneys, drainage inspectors, landowners, regulatory agencies, etc. Objectives of the Manual Uniformity in MN Drainage Law interpretation Information about interaction between drainage law and other laws Suggest uniform procedures for implementing drainage law Provide standardized forms for use in drainage proceedings

14 Minnesota Public Drainage Manual, continued First published in 1991 (hard copy) ~ Updated in 2016 (online wiki format) Chapters include: 1. Introduction and Definitions 2. Administration and Legal Issues 3. Engineering and Environmental Review 4. Viewing/Appraising 5. Drainage System Best Management Practices (new) 6. Supporting Information/Appendices Additional Objectives for 2016 Update: Web-based, user friendly, easier to update Enhanced guidance for multipurpose water management Provide a new chapter and related guidance on implementation of BMPs

15 Multipurpose Drainage Management Drainage Manual Chapter 5 Drainage System Best Management Practices Management of drainage infrastructure to: 1. Provide adequate drainage system capacity 2. Reduce downstream peak flows and flooding 3. Reduce erosion and sedimentation 4. Protect or improve water quality Grant Opportunities and Loan Programs BWSR Clean Water Fund Multipurpose Drainage Management Grant Program MDA Ag Best Management Practice Loan Program USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service EQIP

16 Drainage Contacts and Additional Information Local Contacts: County or Watershed District Drainage Authority Soil and Water Conservation District County Environmental Office Regional/State Groups: Drainage Management Team Drainage Work Group (BWSR website > Conservation Implementation > Drainage)

17 MINNESOTA BUFFER LAW Existing Rules and Laws on the books for decades Shoreland Rules MN Statutes 103E Drainage Law 2015 and 2016 Legislative action ( ) The Buffer Law Purpose Statement: It is the policy of the state to establish riparian buffers and water quality practices to: 1. Protect state water resources from erosion and runoff pollution; 2. Stabilize soils, shores, and banks; and 3. Protect or provide riparian corridors.

18 Nitrogen Removal Effectiveness (%) 90 Buffers are a BMP that can help reduce phosphorus, nitrogen, and sediment in surface water Buffer Width (ft) 200 Photo Credit: Cannon River Watershed Partnership, 2008 Slide Credit MN DNR, 2015

19 Important landowner dates

20 Important Landowner Dates for Compliance Practices Installed on Public Waters Compliance waiver for Financial Assistance until 2018 Practices Installed on Public Ditches

21 Buffer Protection Map (DNR)

22 Buffer Program Policy and Guidance (BWSR) BWSR State Contact Program Coordinator Tom Gile BWSR Regional Contacts Area Board Conservationists Local Contacts Soil and Water Conservation Districts

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24 MINNESOTA CREP Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) A plan to improve water quality and enhance habitat under a voluntary program Federal, State, and local partnership Federal USDA Farm Service Agency Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) State ReInvest in Minnesota Reserve Program (RIM) Local Soil and Water Conservation District implementation Permanent retirement of sensitive lands on ~60,000 acres in 54 counties focusing on areas of: Filter strips / riparian buffers Wetland restoration Wellhead protection

25 BWSR REINVEST IN MINNESOTA (RIM) RESERVE PROGRAM Reinvest in Minnesota Resources Act (1986) Restore certain marginal and environmentally sensitive agricultural land in order to protect soil and water quality and support fish and wildlife habitat Focus areas: Permanent wetland restoration Adjacent native grassland wildlife habitat complexes Permanent riparian buffers RIM Reserve Conservation Easements

26 RIM Reserve Conservation Easements Improving water quality, reducing soil erosion, and establishing wildlife habitat on privately owned land Landowner receives a payment to stop cropping and/or grazing and in turn establishes conservation practices consisting of native perennials Depending on available program easements are either permanent or long term

27 BWSR GRANTS TARGETING NUTRIENTS & EROSION Who can apply for BWSR Grants? Local Government Units that deliver soil and water conservation services (counties, SWCDs, watershed districts, etc.) Some grants are base grants = noncompetitive, annual Some grants are competitive = ranking/scoring process, often annual What do BWSR grants do? Support local capacity to implement programs and projects Provide cost-share with landowners that install conservation practices on their land to benefit Minnesota water and soil resources

28 State Conservation Cost-Share Erosion Control and Water Management Program (MN Statutes 103C.501) Conservation Practices must provide at least one of the following: ~control nutrient runoff ~divert runoff for water quality purposes ~ control sedimentation ~ reduce wind erosion ~ control gully, rill, or sheet erosion ~ control storm water runoff ~ protect/improve surface and ground water ~ alleviate water quantity issues due to altered hydrology Funds up to 75% of each practice and up to 50% for unused well sealing Contact: local Soil and Water Conservation District

29 Clean Water Fund Competitive Grants 2008 Minnesota voted/approved the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment (3/8 th cent tax) to 2034 Funds are used to: Protect drinking water sources Protect, enhance, and restore lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater Protect, enhance, and restore natural ecosystems and habitat Preserve arts and cultural heritage Support parks and trails Funds distributed via: 1)Outdoor Heritage Fund, 2)Clean Water Fund, 3)Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund, 4)Parks & Trails Fund

30 CWF Competitive Grants, continued Funded applications/projects must: restore, protect and/or enhance water quality Four categories Projects and Practices Accelerated Implementation Grant Community Partners Multipurpose Drainage Management (previously discussed) Contacts and Information: Local SWCDs, watershed districts, watershed projects, counties BWSR website will have a list of funded grant projects, with map

31 Disaster Recovery Assistance Program (DRAP) Only used when there is a state and federal declared natural disaster or extreme environmental impact Local Government Units (usually the SWCD) use funds to install, repair, or rehabilitate erosion and sediment control and water quality and watershed protection projects in the designated disaster area. Most projects are pre-determined before DRAP is authorized or a fund allocation is decided. Sometimes new projects can get added to the list

32 BWSR RESEARCH / PROJECTS TARGETING NUTRIENTS & EROSION LCCMR Southeast Minnesota Cover Crop and Soil Health Erosion Development of on-farm demo sites for data collection and education/outreach events 11 county area of southeast Minnesota CWF Tillage Transect and Soil Erosion Survey Objectives: long-term data collection for tillage type, cover crop adoption, and land cover trends 67 county area (30% of land dedicated to row crop production) Partners: University of Minnesota, Iowa State University, BWSR Contact: Matt Drewitz ~ Matt.Drewitz@state.mn.us ~ Website:

33 QUESTIONS? Jill Sackett Eberhart BWSR Board Conservationist New Ulm, MN Contact Information: (office)