Waterfront Bulletin is a monthly electronic newsletter featuring timely updates on impaired waters, watershed project funding, and activities related to water restoration and protection throughout Minnesota.
Current issue
Current issue
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January 2013 
- Applications open for Clean Water Partnership funding
- Grant program aims to gather long-term data at chosen streams in southern Minnesota
- BWSR awards $18 million in Clean Water Fund grants
- MPCA examining state’s nutrient loads to water resources
- News you can use: Put Minnesota waters on low-salt diet
- Mankato Free Press looks back at massive oil spill into Minnesota River
- Mississippi forum: Ag BMP handbook the first of its kind
- Dakota SWCD seeking water resource specialist
Featured: Applications open for Clean Water Partnership funding
MPCA is accepting proposals for Clean Water Partnership (CWP) grants and loans. Proposals will be accepted from local governmental units interested in leading a nonpoint source pollution control project to protect or improve water bodies.
Priority for funding will be given to projects preventing degradation of unimpaired waters. For a project to be considered a protection/prevention project, proposers will need to document that the water body(ies) being addressed is currently meeting state water quality standards for a particular pollutant of concern, or has not been assessed but is known to be supporting beneficial uses.
The MPCA anticipates allocating about $1.1 million for grants and about $5 million for loans this year. Proposals are due March 8, 2013.
Full details are available on the Clean Water Partnership webpage.
Previous issue
- December 2012
- Applications due Dec. 15 for Conservation Corps assistance
- Updates to construction stormwater permit in the works
- Path to progress: State manages nutrients for clean water
- Report: Nutrient, bacteria levels a concern for Mississippi
- EPA approves TMDL reports for Shaokatan Lake, Mill Creek and Pearl Lake, and Carver-Bevens Creeks
Featured: Updates to construction stormwater permit in the works
Informational meeting in December, with public notice scheduled for January 2013
MPCA stormwater staff are preparing to re-issue the General Construction Stormwater permit. Updates to the permit, which expires Aug. 1, 2013, will reflect changes at the federal level as part of the Clean Water Act.
While the primary changes address federal rules, the MPCA is also revising the permit to clarify existing language, better align with the municipal stormwater program, address defects, and incorporate changes needed to enhance compliance with the permit.
In addition, the agency will require that permit applications be submitted electronically to achieve greater efficiency.
The MPCA will provide equitable access for all stakeholders to comment on the draft permit. The MPCA will hold a preliminary information meeting on Monday, Dec. 17 (9 a.m.) at the Minnesota Dept. of Revenue building. Public notice is scheduled to start in January 2013.
Publication details
Editor: Cathy Rofshus, 507-206-2608.
Submit article ideas. WaterFront is a monthly publication. The publication date is on or around the first of each month; items submitted by 4:00 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month are considered for inclusion in the following month's edition. If no suitable submittals are received by the third Wednesday, there will be no publication the following month.
