Contact: Cathy Rofshus, 507-206-2608
St. Paul, Minn. — The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency today announced the availability of $1.5 million in grant money for lake and water monitoring projects. Grant proposals are due to the MPCA by 4 p.m. on Nov. 5, 2010.
Water monitoring is often the first step toward protecting or improving water resources. Volunteers across Minnesota have been measuring the health of lakes and streams to see if the waters meet standards set for fishing and other uses since 2007 as part of a state program called Surface Water Assessment Grants. To date, the program has awarded 113 grants totaling $5.84 million, leading to monitoring of 991 lake sites and 981 stream sites.
Eligible applicants may apply through a competitive application process. Eligible applicants include counties, soil and water conservation districts, watershed districts, water management organizations, nonprofits, Minnesota colleges and universities, and American Indian tribes. No matching or in-kind funds are required under this program.
The MPCA seeks applicants with experience in project administration, water quality monitoring and data management. The agency prefers projects that involve volunteers and that gather data for determining whether lakes and streams meet state water quality standards for aquatic life and/or aquatic recreation such as fishing. High-priority areas include the following watersheds:
• Cannon River
• Rock River
• Little Sioux River
• Thief River
• Sandhill River
• Redeye River
• Long Prairie River
• Nemadji River
• Lake Superior (South)
• Big Sioux River (Medary Creek near Pipestone)
For more information, potential applicants should contact Ron Schwartz of the MPCA at 651-757-2708 or CWLA.surfacewater@pca.state.mn.us. Details are also available at www.pca.state.mn.us/water/swagrant.html.
