Thirty-three percent of the sales tax revenue from the Legacy amendment is allocated to the Clean Water Fund. Those funds may only be spent to protect, enhance, and restore water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams and to protect groundwater from degradation. At least five percent of the clean water fund must be spent to protect drinking water sources.
Protecting Minnesota’s waters is a joint effort between seven state partner agencies, who collaborate and partner on Minnesota’s water resource management activities under the Clean Water Fund.
Pope SWCD applies annually for funding for conservation projects to be implemented in the County. This past couple of years Pope SWCD partnered with the NRCS staff to work on promotions and to gain landowner interest for projects to help with these erosion concerns on the South Side of Lake Minnewaska.
This past fall Pope SWCD staff applied for a Clean Water Fund Grant to implement projects in three targeted subwatershed’s which have been identified to help reduce the amount of sediment and phosphorus entering Pelican Lake, Lake Minnewaska, and Lake Emily. The SWCD has attained about $300,000 in funding to address the nutrient impairments on Pelican Lake, Lake Minnewaska, and Lake Emily. Funding received will be able to complete around 20+ projects in these areas which will help achieve goals in the County Water Plan.
If you are located in one of these target watersheds contact the SWCD office for more information.