DRAFT Budget and Outcomes Committee FY18-19 Clean Water Fund recommendations (July 8, 2016)

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1 Name FY18-19 Description s 20 BWSR Targeted Wellhead/Drinking Water Protection For permanent conservation easements on wellhead protection areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 103F.515, subdivision 2, paragraph (d), to permanently protect groundwater supply sources in wellhead protection areas. Priority to be placed on land that is located where the vulnerability of the drinking water supply is designated as high or very high by the commissioner of health, where drinking water protection plans have identified specific activities that will achieve long-term protection, and on lands with expiring Conservation Reserve contracts. 3,500,000 Steady 37 BWSR Surface and Drinking Water Protection/Restorati on Grants (Projects and Practices) Grants to protect and restore surface water and drinking water; to keep water on the land; to protect, enhance, and restore water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams; and to protect groundwater and drinking water. Projects must use practices demonstrated to be effective, be of long-lasting public benefit, include a match, and be consistent with total maximum daily load (TMDL) implementation plans, watershed restoration and protection strategies (WRAPS), or local water management plans or their equivalents. 20,375,000 Increase BOC recommends to increase funding for this program for FY18-19 over FY16-17 amounts, that BWSR place a greater emphasis (e.g. higher points in scoring projects) on projects focused on protection efforts, and to earmark a certain amount (e.g. $5M) of this program funding to leverage a potential Regional Conservation Partnership grant proposal. BOC would like further discussion on how to require more local commitment to implement changes (e.g. planning and zoning) and/or match in order to receive state funding dollars, if this funding should be limited to local governmental units, and how this program funding addresses drinking water project needs (note it is also related to #20). 38 BWSR Grants to Focuses on local units of government organized for comprehensive Watersheds with watershed management plan implementation of identified priority Multiyear Plans water resources where the amount of change necessary to improve (Targeted water quality is known, the actions needed to achieve results are Watershed ) identified, and those actions are capable of achieving measurable outcomes. 9,750,000 Increase Consider expanding this program idea to include One Watershed One Plan Implementation ( #310). 39 BWSR Accelerated Implementation Enhance the capacity of local governments to accelerate implementation of projects and activities that supplement or exceed current state standards for protection, enhancement, and restoration of water quality in lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater. Activities include 1) an increase in technical assistance through regional technical service areas (TSAs), 2) technical training and certification, 3) inventories of potential restoration or protection sites, and 4) developing and using analytical targeting tools that fill an identified gap. 11,500,000 Steady wq-cwc1-19 Page 1

2 Name FY18-19 Description s 40 BWSR Measures, Results and Accountability This fund is to provide state oversight and accountability for grants to local government, support program and outcomes reporting, evaluate results and measure the value of conservation program implementation by local governments, including submission to the legislature a report from the board, in consultation with the commissioners of natural resources, health, agriculture, and the Pollution Control, detailing the recipients, projects funded under this section, and the amount of pollution reduced. 1,900,000 Steady 41 BWSR Conservation Drainage Management and Assistance Implementation of a conservation drainage/multipurpose drainage water management program in consultation with the Drainage Work Group to improve surface water storage and treatment within public drainage systems by providing funding under the provisions of 103E ,500,000 Steady 42 BWSR Riparian Buffer- Permanent Conservation Easements Purchase and restore permanent conservation easements on riparian buffers adjacent to lakes, rivers, streams, and tributaries, to keep water on the land in order to decrease sediment, pollutant, and nutrient transport; reduce hydrologic impacts to surface waters; and increase infiltration for groundwater recharge. This appropriation may be used for restoration of riparian buffers protected by easements purchased with this appropriation and for stream bank restorations when the riparian buffers have been restored. 9,750,000 Increase 43 BWSR Technical Evaluation Statutory mandate to annually evaluate a sample of up to 10 habitat restoration projects, beginning July 1, BWSR and DNR have been collaborating on implementing state statue (Laws of Minnesota 2011, First Special Session, Chapter 6) that requires restoration evaluations to be conducted on habitat restoration projects completed with s, Outdoor Heritage Funds and Parks and Trail Funds. 168,000 Steady 44 BWSR Community Partners Clean Water Increase citizen and non-governmental organization participation in implementing water quality projects and programs to increase longterm sustainability of water resources. This effort and resources of active and engaged community groups, such as, lake associations, non-profits, and conservation groups, is supported through this program. This effort is delivered through local collaboration using a small grants partners program. 1,500,000 Increase Consider merging this program with the Water Legacy Grants ( #301) so additional entities (e.g. nonprofit organizations) are eligible. 45 BWSR Water Management Transition (One Watershed One Plan) Accelerate implementation of the State s Watershed Approach through the statewide development of watershed-based local water planning (103B.801) that is synchronized with Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies (WRAPS) and Groundwater Restoration and Protection Strategies (GRAPS) by providing technical assistance, program oversight, and grants to local governments. 4,200,000 Steady Page 2

3 Name FY18-19 Description s 77 BWSR Buffer and Soil Erosion Law Implementation Provides grants for purposes of supporting local governments in their implementation of the statewide buffer and excessive soil erosion laws. 5,000,000 Increase 78 BWSR Conservation Reserve Enhancement (CREP) To purchase and restore permanent conservation easements to treat and store water on the land for water quality improvement purposes and related technical assistance. This work may be done in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture with a first priority use to accomplish a conservation reserve enhancement program, or equivalent, in the state. 18,000,000 No Funding BOC members are very supportive of this program but there is concern that this funding would be substituting for traditional sources (e.g. bonding) of funding. 79 BWSR Critical Shoreland Protection- Permanent Conservation Easements To purchase permanent conservation easements to protect lands adjacent to public waters with good water quality but threatened with degradation. 2,000,000 Increase 80 BWSR Tillage and Erosion Transects to systematically collect data and produce statistically valid estimates of the rate of soil erosion and tracking the adoption of high residue cropping systems in in those 67 counties with greater than 30% land in agricultural row crop production. 1,000,000 Decrease Reduction in funding because it doesn't need as much funding to maintain efforts. 90 BWSR Grants to Soil and Water Conservation Districts Grants to Soil and Water Conservation Districts: Payments to SWCDs to comply with sections 103C.321 and 103C.331. Each SWCD will receive increase in its base funding. 22,000,000 No Funding FY16-17 appropriation language states that future funding for these efforts should come from the General Fund. 301 BWSR Water Legacy Grants to provide competitive grants of up to $100,000 to local, regional, state, tribal, and national organizations for projects that protect, enhance, and restore water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams, protect groundwater from degradation, and project drinking water sources. 0 Fund (New) This would be a new program. Consider merging this new program with BWSR's Community Partners ( #44) so additional entities (e.g. nonprofit organizations) are eligible. 310 BWSR A non-competitive, performance based, pilot grants program for implementation projects that protect, enhance, and restore water One Watershed One quality in lakes, rivers, and streams, protect groundwater from Plan Implementation degradation, and project drinking water sources. Projects must be identified in comprehensive watershed plans that use the One Watershed, One Plan framework or Metropolitan surface watershed management plans and groundwater plans. 0 Fund (New) This would be a new program. Consider replacing BWSR's Targeted Watershed ( #38) with this program. 5 DNR Stream Flow Monitoring (DNR) Collect stream flow data, which is used to calculate pollutant loads for MPCA s water quality assessments. Sample bedload at select stations to analyze sediment transport in streams. 4,000,000 Steady BOC has follow-up questions to DNR on substitute versus supplement Page 3

4 Name FY18-19 Description s 6 DNR Lake IBI assessment (DNR) Support MPCA s lake water quality assessments by providing data and interpretation about fish and plant populations. 2,600,000 Steady 7 DNR Fish Contamination Assessment (DNR) Sample mercury and other contaminants in fish to determine fish consumption advisories, impairment status, and trend markers for those sites. 270,000 Steady 10 DNR Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies (DNR) Work with state and local partners to provide expertise, data, analysis, and support for watershed studies and the development of watershed restoration and protection strategies. 3,880,000 Steady 18 DNR Aquifer Monitoring for Water Supply Planning (DNR) Monitor Minnesota s observation well network to collect critical aquifer level data and flow dynamics needed to protect drinking water, water supplies, and natural resources that depend on groundwater. Includes analysis, modeling, and work with stakeholders to address sustainability management and planning. 2,750,000 Steady or Increase 34 DNR Nonpoint Source Restoration and Protection Activities (DNR) Support local planning and implementation efforts, including: One Watershed, One Plan, systematic conservation planning based on community values, technical assistance with implementation, and targeted forest stewardship for water quality. 2,000,000 Steady 57 DNR Applied Research and Tools (DNR) Maintain and update LiDAR-derived elevation data and tools; develop fine-scale watershed models that enhance our understanding of the effects of drainage, soil health, and different BMP scenarios on water flow and water quality; assess relationships among disturbance patterns, BMP applications, and water quality in forested watersheds. 1,350,000 Steady or Decrease 59 DNR County Geologic Atlases (DNR) Work with the Minnesota Geological Survey to accelerate completion or updates to County Geologic Atlases that provide critical groundwater and geology information to local governments. 500,000 Steady 76 DNR Riparian Buffer Information (Color Infrared Imagery and Analysis) (DNR) Update and maintain maps of public waters and ditch systems that require permanent vegetation buffers. 650,000 Undecided (need more information) BOC needs to discuss both buffer mapping and infrared imagery efforts. 63 Legislatur e Legislative Coordinating Commission (LCC) Website Legacy Website: Basic maintenance and general upgrades to the website and underlying database. 0 Fund LCC requesting $15,000 for FY18-19 efforts. Page 4

5 Name FY18-19 Description s 4 MDA 15 MDA 17 MDA 31 MDA 32 MDA Monitoring for Pesticides in Surface Water and Groundwater (MDA) Nitrate in Groundwater (MDA) Irrigation Water Quality Protection (MDA) AgBMP Loan (MDA) Technical Assistance (MDA) Ongoing operation and maintenance of state-of-the-art laboratory instruments which provides increased capability and greater capacity for pesticides monitoring. Nitrate-nitrogen is one of the contaminants of greatest concern for groundwater in Minnesota. In some shallow vulnerable aquifers a significant percent of the drinking water wells exceed the drinking water standard. The MDA has developed a Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Plan which outlines a process to address nitrate in groundwater including prevention by working with local farmers to address areas with high nitrate, and if necessary, regulation. This funding is used to address, monitor and evaluate trends in the concentration of nitrate in groundwater in areas vulnerable to groundwater degradation; promoting, developing, and evaluating regional and crop-specific nitrogen fertilizer best management practices; assessing best management practice adoption; promoting vegetative cover in targeted high risk areas, education and technical support from UMN Extension; and other actions to protect groundwater degradation from nitrate. Nitrogen contributions to groundwater under irrigated agriculture can be significant in some parts of Minnesota. Funding will provide a regional irrigation water quality specialist via a contract with UMN extension. This position will develop irrigation water quality Best Management Practices (BMPs) and provide supporting education and guidance. The AgBMP Loan will continue to provide revolving low interest loans throughout the state to farmers and rural landowners to help finance practices, structures and other improvements that reduce or eliminate water pollution. This loan program is administered by local governments, has very low transaction cost, and as loans are repaid, the repayments are used to fund additional projects. Provide technical assistance on impaired waters issues in agricultural landscapes and demonstrate and promote agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs). Ensure that current and accurate technical information on agricultural practices and implementation tools is provided to local governments, farm organizations and others to support the selection and adoption of appropriate BMPs. 700,000 Steady 5,171,000 Steady or Increase 220,000 Steady 150,000 Steady 2,250,000 Steady Page 5

6 Name FY18-19 Description s 33 MDA MN Agricultural Water Quality Certification (MDA) The Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification (MAWQCP) is a first of its kind, voluntary program that supports the implementation of conservation practices on a field by field, whole farm basis. Through its innovative and nationally recognized process of identifying and mitigating agricultural risks to water quality, the MAWQCP delivers on-farm conservation practices that help protect and restore Minnesota s lakes, rivers, and streams. The MAWQCP is a national pilot program that is operated as a federal-state partnership between the State of Minnesota, the United States Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Environmental Protection. 5,000,000 Undecided (need more information) BOC needs further discussion of this program. 55 MDA Projects focus on supporting the development of agricultural BMPs Academic and quantifying agricultural contributions to impaired waters with a Research/Evaluation focus on gaining a better understanding of the processes that (MDA) underlie these contributions. BMPs will be developed and evaluated to protect and restore water resources. 1,575,000 Steady 56 MDA Research Inventory Database (MDA) The Minnesota Water Research Digital Library (MNWRL) is a userfriendly, searchable inventory of water research relevant to Minnesota. The Library provides one-stop access to all types of water research, including both peer-reviewed articles and white papers and reports. 100,000 Steady 75 MDA Vegetative Cover and Soil Health (MDA) This program will focus on a market driven approach to identify and develop markets for environmentally protective crops in targeted high risk areas. Efforts will be closely integrated with other vegetative cover initiatives and state and local clean water implementation activities, and will focus on traditional and cover crop systems. 0 Fund (New) This would be a new program. 81 MDA To develop perennial and cover cropping systems specific to MN that Forever Green are necessary to protect and restore the state's surface and Agriculture Initiative groundwater resources while increasing efficiency, profitability, and productivity of Minnesota farmers. 1,000,000 Undecided (need more information) BOC needs further discussion needed because a large increase ($7.89M for FY18-19) is requested by UMN. 307 MDA Pesticide Testing of Private Wells (MDA) All private wells in townships with vulnerable groundwater and 20% row crop agriculture are offered a free nitrate test under the MDA private well Township Testing for nitrate. If nitrate is detected they are also offered a free pesticide test funded under this program. This activity was previously funded under the Nitrate in Groundwater activity. Undecided See notes for # MDH Drinking Water Contaminants of Emerging Concern (MDH) Build new productive partnerships through education and outreach grants. Grants oriented towards actions to reduce contamination, including work on behavior change, will be preferred. 2,200,000 Undecided (Hold) Need more information - see what the results are from UMN study (June 2016). Page 6

7 Name FY18-19 Description s 24 MDH Source Water Protection (MDH) Source water protection planning and implementation work is advanced for communities with vulnerable water supplies and for small public water systems that are challenged by health equity issues. Most efforts to date have focused on public water systems with groundwater sources. Those efforts will continue; FY work will address gaps in source water protection planning and implementation for surface water systems. There will also be an effort to increase coordination and integration with comprehensive watershed planning efforts. 3,800,000 Steady or Increase 26 MDH Well Sealing Cost Share (MDH) Continue addressing the need for sealing for both private and public wells. 225,000 Steady 27 MDH Groundwater Virus Monitoring Plan (MDH) Potential follow-up activities of an ongoing groundwater virus study that is examining the occurrence, fate and transport of viruses in groundwater sources in Minnesota and estimating the risk of acute gastrointestinal illness from consuming drinking water from undisinfected groundwater sources. Reducing acute microbial risk and exposure is the highest public health priority associated with drinking water. 350,000 Steady or No Funding BOC is waiting for agency s; MDH will have results from epidemiological study in about 9 months. 28 MDH Private Well Water Supply Protection (MDH) Evaluate the occurrence and distribution of other contaminants in private wells. Develop additional education, outreach and interventions to protect private well owners. 650,000 Steady Note that the funding direction will be more for educational efforts than testing of private wells. 74 MDH Groundwater Restoration and Protection Strategies (MDH) Groundwater Restoration and Protection Strategies process is scaled up to match local needs regarding data/information delivery, staff capacity, training/education, and strategy development. Project workflow will be coordinated with other state agency efforts and will result in completed projects that dovetail with WRAPS or 1W1P efforts. Interagency coordination and workflow is formalized. 250,000 Steady or Increase 305 MDH Drinking Water Protection (MDH) For drinking water protection efforts that go beyond the minimum requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Develop public health policies and an implementable action plan to address emerging threats and ensuring long-term safe drinking water in Minnesota by engaging local and national experts. Conduct an analysis to determine the scope of the lead problem in Minnesota s drinking water and cost to eliminate lead exposure in drinking water. 0 Fund (New) This would be a new program. 309 MDH 21 Met Council Statewide Recreational Water Testing Portal (MDH) Metropolitan Area Water Supply Sustainability Support (Met Council) Develop a statewide portal for beach monitoring results, closures, and public health notifications. Metropolitan Council will continue implementing projects that address emerging drinking water supply threats, provide costeffective regional solutions, leverage inter-jurisdictional coordination, support local implementation of water supply reliability projects, and prevent degradation of groundwater resources. 65% of Metropolitan Council s appropriation is supporting activities in the metro area through technical assistance, tool development and project implementation; 35% of the fund is supporting Met Council staff to carry out these activities. 0 Fund (New) This would be a new program. 1,950,000 Decrease BOC requests that Met Council provide more information on the projects and tools developed with this program. Page 7

8 Name FY18-19 Description s 72 Met Council Water Demand Reduction Grant Pilot (Met Council) Provides grants to assist municipalities in metro area with implementation of water demand reduction measures to ensure the reliability and protection of drinking water supplies. Grants that range from 2,000 to 50,000 to Communities to support the purchase and installation of products that reduce water use, such as EPA WaterSense-labeled toilets, Energy Star-rated washing machines, WaterSense-labeled smart irrigation controllers, irrigation audits and repairs. Grants are providing 75% of the program cost; each municipality provides the remaining 25%. 500,000 Steady 306 Met Council 1 MPCA Metropolitan Area Water Quality Sustainability Support (Met Council) Continue monitoring & assessment efforts to meet the 10-year cycle s will be used to implement projects and programs in the 7 county metropolitan area. A collaborative process will be used to prioritize water quality improvement opportunities, leverage shared resources and knowhow across jurisdictions, and support local implementation of local surface water plans and watershed plans, to measurably improve water quality. The first 10-year cycle of monitoring and assessment is scheduled to be completed in the winter of The design for the second cycle of Intensive Watershed Monitoring will also be piloted, and implementation begun. Based on the evaluation and refinement work that has been completed to date on the 10-year cycle, the focus of the second cycle will likely be on identifying any changes that have occurred at the major watershed level since the first cycle, and supporting state and local monitoring needs that are specific to each watershed. 0 No Funding (New) This would be a new program. 16,550,000 Steady 9 MPCA Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies (includes TMDL development) Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies (WRAPS), including TMDLs, are developed with local partners to set strategies for restoring impaired waters and protecting unimpaired waters by setting pollution reduction and waterbody protection goals, milestones, strategies, and measures to guide state and local government funding and implementation efforts. 20,290,000 Undecided (need more information) BOC has questions on indirect costs and how that effects pass-through funding and where indirect costs were covered in the past. 11 MPCA Groundwater Assessment Groundwater monitoring and assessment to continue to help the MPCA and local and state partners track contaminant trends in an early warning well network, assess downward migration of key contaminants into drinking water aquifers, investigate potential new sources of contamination to the state s groundwater, and better understand the interaction between ground and surface waters in specific areas. Groundwater quality data, modeling, and information about surface water and groundwater interactions will inform restoration and protection strategies developed by the MPCA and local and state partners, advancement of groundwater protection BMPs, and evaluation of their effectiveness in protecting groundwater for drinking, irrigation and healthy aquatic ecosystems. Complete update of Local Government Unit (LGU) ordinances, continue to manage grants and reporting, policy and rule development as appropriate, inspections and enforcement, training and unsewered area projects. 2,363,000 Steady 12 MPCA Enhanced County Inspections/SSTS Corrective Actions 7,245,000 Steady or Increase BOC needs more information on how much progress making we are making compared with the scope of the problem. Page 8

9 Name FY18-19 Description s 29 MPCA Great Lakes Restoration Project Implementation of the St. Louis River Area of Concern Remedial Action Plan will remove 8 remaining identified impairments through implementation of a variety of major clean up and restoration actions designed to be completed by This will lead to formal delisting of the Area of Concern by The appropriation requires at least a 65:35 non-state match for every CWF dollar. 1,500,000 Steady 47 MPCA Continue to implement the NPDES Wastewater program including permitting, grant and loan administration, effluent limit determination, compliance and enforcement, training and NPDES certification, EAW review, and data analysis activities. There is an Wastewater/Stormw expected increase in construction activities to assure that the new ater TMDL River Eutrophication standards are met. The Stormwater program Implementation anticipates continuing the current pace and scope of outreach and guidance development. As new TMDLs are completed and stormwater permits need to be reissued, additional permittees - including those new to regulation - will require outreach and guidance efforts. 1,800,000 Steady 50 MPCA Watershed Research and Database Development Development of MPCA data systems to support data management and access related to monitoring, assessment, WRAPS development, local water planning and reporting on implementation activities and progress toward water quality required protection and restoration. There is a need further develop the Scenario Application Manager (SAM) tool, and to provide training in its use to local water resource managers for use in local water planning and implementation efforts. 2,155,000 Steady or Decrease BOC needs to revisit this item. MPCA needs to explain and justify costs and program outcomes. 52 MPCA Accelerated Implementation of MS4 Permit Requirements The program would like to increase its focus on accelerating implementation activities by providing technical assistance and guidance development to permittees. MPCA staff have heard from permittees that templates, model ordinances, technical assistance and guidance documents would be very useful in helping them implement their stormwater programs. As a result, the program would like to move from research to accelerated permit implementation activities through technical assistance and guidance. 550,000 Steady MPCA would shift efforts for FY18-19 so this funding would be used to accelerate implementation versus research. 62 MPCA Clean Water Council Budget The MPCA expects to continue to support the administrative activities of the Clean Water Council according to M.S. 114D ,000 Steady 64 MPCA St. Croix River Monitoring and Phosphorus Reduction The St. Croix River Association intends to continue working towards increasing and leveraging funding for local partners to implement phosphorus reduction activities based on needs outlined in the Lake St. Croix TMDL. A $300,000 EPA 319 grant and local matching funds will help continue work through FY Undecided (defer decision) BOC is discussing the possibility of a grants program (see #301, Water Legacy Grants ) that allows non-governmental entities to apply for Clean Water Fund dollars. 92 MPCA National Park Water Quality Protection The comprehensive plan identified over $40 million in projects over the planned project area. The FY18-19 budget request is $2,200,000 and will be distributed by the Voyageur s National Park Clean Water Joint Powers Board for the planning, design, permitting, and construction of the Ash River, Island View, and Crane Lake projects. 2,000,000 Undecided (defer decision) BOC is discussing the possibility of a grants program (see #301, Water Legacy Grants ) that allows non-governmental entities to apply for Clean Water Fund dollars. Page 9

10 Name FY18-19 Description s 202 MPCA Riverwatch Activities in the Red River Watershed The Red River Basin River Watch monitoring and education program (River Watch) engages K-12 students and citizens throughout the Red River Basin and will expand to the Lake of the Woods, Mississippi, and Lake Superior River Basins to deliver field-based applied watershed science and research activities in their local watersheds. The Point Source Implementation Grant (PSIG) program provides grants to help cities upgrade water infrastructure treatment facilities to comply with TMDL wasteload requirements and more stringent water quality-based effluent limits for phosphorus, chloride, and other pollutants. The PFA administers the program in partnership with the MPCA. 200,000 Undecided (defer decision) BOC is discussing the possibility of a grants program (see #301, Water Legacy Grants ) that allows non-governmental entities to apply for Clean Water Fund dollars. 48 PFA Point Source Implementation Grants (WWTP and Stormwater) (PFA) 18,000,000 Steady 49 PFA Small Community Wastewater Treatment (PFA) The Small Community Wastewater Treatment provides grants and loans to assist small communities with technical assistance and construction funding to replace non-complying septic systems with community subsurface sewage treatment systems (SSTS). 500,000 No Funding Subject to change. 61 UMN County Geologic Atlases (UMN) The goal is to provide geologic atlases for every county in the state. Undecided (need more information) UMN funding request depends on other grant opportunities (more will be known in late summer/early fall). 82 UMN Stormwater BMP Performance Evaluation and Technology Transfer (UMN) Continued stormwater research funding is necessary to address a backlog of research needs. A continuing needs for approximately $1.5 million per biennium is estimated. The results of the research strategy/roadmap process will identify research priority needs and provide a process for continually updating the list of priority needs. For example, much of the activity is on how and when to schedule maintenance dredging on stormwater ponds, specifically with regard to phosphorus release and PAH contamination in pond sediments. A few stormwater ponds will have been sampled to assess the character of PAH contamination and phosphorus dynamics. However, sampling and assessment of more ponds is needed to develop tools and guidelines that can be used by public agencies to perform a relatively simple assessment on 30,000 ponds. Expanding the sampling and assessment and the eventual development of tools and guidelines is a strong need for the FY biennium. Other priority needs will also be funded. They will depend upon the priorities established in the research strategy/roadmap process. The dissemination activities for the results of the research will continue as in FY ,000 Increase Note this funding passed through MPCA in past years. 312 UMN Clean Water Return on Investment Pilot (UMN) To provide guidance documents and tools evaluating the Clean Water Fund s return on investment (ROI) in water quality improvements and human wellbeing, as well as to assist in future funding decisions. 0 Fund (New) This would be a new program. Page 10