The primary objective of this program is to determine the health of lakes and streams in Minnesota. Through funded projects, local partners collect data on surface water quality to identify lakes and streams that are in need of restoration or protection strategies. The MPCA focuses these strategies at the major watershed scale. 

Eligible partners include soil and water conservation districts, watershed districts, watershed management organizations, local governmental units (i.e., counties, cities, townships, lake associations, and lake improvement districts), American Indian tribal governments in Minnesota, Minnesota colleges and universities, and joint powers organizations. Nonprofit and for-profit organizations are eligible only as subcontractors.

SWAGs provide funding for staff hours, training, supplies and equipment, and lab analysis. Where possible, volunteers are recruited by local partners to assist with monitoring efforts.

Through Surface water assessment grants, local partners have provided water-quality data for lake and stream sites throughout the state. To date, the MPCA has awarded 208 grants and agreements totaling $10.9 million.

FY2022 partnerships

MPCA awarded 13 agreements totaling $410,000 for water quality monitoring over a two-year period (2022-2023)

Learn more about these and past SWAG projects on the Minnesota Legacy web site.

  • Cannon River Joint Powers Board - Partnered with Le Sueur Co., Le Sueur SWCD, Goodhue SWCD, Steele SWCD, Waseca Co., and Rice SWCD to monitor 18 stream sites and 15 lakes within the Cannon River Watershed.
  • Carlton Soil and Water Conservation District - Monitoring four stream sites and two lakes within the Nemadji River Watershed.
  • Douglas Soil and Water Conservation District - Monitoring three stream sites and nine lakes within the Long Prairie River Watershed.
  • East Polk Soil and Water Conservation District - Monitoring seven stream sites within the Sandhill River Watershed.
  • Lake Soil and Water Conservation District - Monitoring four stream sites and six lakes within the Lake Superior South Watershed.
  • Jackson Soil and Water Conservation District - Monitoring two stream sites within the Little Sioux River Watershed.
  • Nobles Soil and Water Conservation District - Monitoring five stream sites and three lakes within the Little Sioux River and Rock River Watersheds.
  • Pipestone Soil and Water Conservation District - Monitoring seven stream sites within the Lower & Upper Big Sioux and Rock River Watersheds.
  • Red Lake Watershed District - Monitoring 11 stream sites within the Thief River Watershed.
  • Rock Soil and Water Conservation District - Monitoring 11 stream sites within Rock and Lower Big Sioux River Watersheds.
  • South St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District - Monitoring four stream sites within the Lake Superior South Watershed.
  • Todd Soil and Water Conservation District - Monitoring eight stream sites within the Long Prairie River Watershed.
  • Wadena Soil and Water Conservation District - Monitoring eight stream sites within the Red Eye River Watershed.