Show All Event-based Sampling Grants
Tracking the health of streams in Minnesota is a big job, and one that the MPCA can’t do alone. The agency depends on local partners for help.
Event-based sampling grants are now available for local partners to assist with event-based monitoring (monitoring during snow melt or rain storms).
What is event-based monitoring?
Event-based monitoring is very different from monitoring a stream site for its ambient, or background, condition.
Event-based monitoring trips are deliberately planned to capture high-flow conditions when watershed runoff to the stream site, and often pollutant concentrations, are at their highest and to a lesser extent during low flow conditions.
During an event, a local partner monitors water chemistry at a specific stream location where stream flow data is also collected. The MPCA then combines the stream chemistry and flow information to determine the amount of contaminants (i.e., phosphorus, nitrate, sediment, etc.) passing through a stream monitoring point during a given time. This allows us to calculate pollutant loads, which is critical for determining sources of pollution, and to what extent the pollution must be reduced to return a stream to a state of health.
Committing to this type of monitoring means that the sampler must closely watch weather conditions, and coordinate with MPCA staff located in regional offices, to decide when best to monitor. Because storms may come up suddenly, samplers must be prepared to monitor with very little notice.
How to apply
Eligibility
Applicants for Event-based Sampling Grants can include local and regional units of government, tribes, nonprofits, educational institutions and watershed management organizations or districts in Minnesota. The next open grant round is expected to occur in late summer 2012 for projects to begin in late winter/spring 2013.
Event-based Sampling funds are used to monitor the physical and chemical water quality parameters of streams primarily during events (i.e., snowmelt or rain events) when watershed runoff is high to determine contaminant concentrations from the watershed, with a smaller percentage of sampling to measure base flow conditions.
Applying for Event-based Sampling Grant Funds
The Event-based Sampling grant is competitive. The RFP will typically be released each year in the late summer, at which time instructions for obtaining the RFP will be made available on this Web page. Monitoring will begin with snow melt in late winter or spring the year following contract execution. To request to be placed on the mailing list to receive notification of the next RFP, please send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . After many years of offering competitive grants, the MPCA has noticed several common problems on applications that resulted in lost points during evaluation. To ensure your application is its most competitive, the MPCA offers the following advice:
Request for Proposals (RFP):
- Obtain a copy of the latest RFP. Small eligibility changes are made each year, and the evaluation process may also change from time to time. Applications that fail usually do so because they propose ineligible projects (i.e., sites not in the RFP are suggested for monitoring or investigative or diagnostics studies are proposed).
Application:
- Read the application instructions. They provide guidance on how to create the most competitive application.
- Past grant awards are no guarantee for future awards. The application evaluation team may not be familiar with your organization or past projects, so answer each question fully to showcase your experience and project proposal.
- Make sure your site maps are readable. Ideally, include one map that shows your project area in relation to nearby cities and a second that shows each site location in relation to the nearest road crossing. Expand the map(s) to fit an entire page, if needed. There is no limit to the number of maps you can include.
We also are looking or local partners to help monitor surface waters for background, or ambient, conditions, and offer Surface Water Assessment Grants for that work. The 2013 Surface Water Assessment Grant round is expected to open in late autumn 2012. For any questions regarding the Event-based Sampling Grant RFP or application process or for any information regarding Surface Water Assessment Grants, please contact Ron Schwartz at 800-657-3864 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
For grantees
Under their grant agreement with the MPCA, recipients of Event-based Sampling Grants must submit data and project updates to the agency:
- Stream water quality data must be submitted annually to EQuIS (formerly STORET) by all recipients of Event-based Sampling Grants. Information on data reporting requirements and necessary forms can be found on the MPCA Surface Water Data Submittal, Review and Reports page.
- Event-based Sampling grantees must also submit an annual report by December 31, and a final report at the time the project is completed. Template report forms can be found under Project Management Documents listed below.
The MPCA provides funding on a reimbursement basis. Grantees shall submit invoices for reimbursement at least quarterly. The reimbursement spreadsheet template can be found under Project Management Documents.
Project Management Documents
Interim Report- Final Report
- Invoice Reimbursement Spreadsheet
- Reimbursement Request Log
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Field Meter Calibration Records Form (wq-swm7-01)
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
Staff Contact
For any additional questions regarding Event-based Sampling Grants, please contact Pat Baskfield at 507-344-5240 or 800-657-3864.
