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expertise and knowledge will be <br />made available to local officials <br />and citizens involved in water <br />quality and natural resource <br />projects and programs. Grant <br />money to encourage local <br />involvement is also requested. <br />The MPCA, DNR and BWSR <br />are requesting a total of $2.1 <br />million for the biennium for <br />community technical assistance. <br />This request will be used to fund <br />two distinct components-- <br />outreach and seed funding. <br />Outreach <br />The MPCA is requesting funds <br />for four positions for regional <br />staff in the MPCA's Brainerd, <br />Detroit Lakes, Marshall and <br />Duluth regional offices. These <br />staff will provide technical <br />assistance, information and <br />support to communities working <br />on local and basin-wide efforts <br />to protect and improve water <br />quality. They will serve as the <br />main point of contact for MPCA <br />water quality issues and will help <br />focus the community <br />involvement that is critical to the <br />success of river basin <br />management. <br />BWSR is requesting funds for <br />two education specialists and an <br />intern to work with local <br />governments and the public on <br />education and communication <br />efforts. The education specialists <br />will focus on different regions of <br />the state: one in southern <br />Minnesota and one in the <br />metropolitan area. (BWSR <br />already has an education <br />specialist position in northern <br />Mirulesota.) <br />DNR is'requesting funds for 5.4 <br />positions for the biennium. Some <br />of these positions will go to the <br />Twin. Cities area to focus on <br />protecting the remaining 14 trout <br />streams in the metro through <br />community-based management. <br />Other positions for watershed <br />technical assistance will <br />contribute to knowledge and <br />resolution of the complex water <br />management use issues in the Red <br />River watershed. A third group of <br />positions will be devoted to <br />improving communications and <br />coordination of efforts in the <br />southern and northeastern regions <br />of the state. <br />Seed funding <br />Initiating community-based <br />environmental projects at the local <br />level often requires an investment <br />by cooperating partners. MPCA is <br />requesting $400,000 and DNR is <br />requesting $250,000 for the <br />biennium to fund grants that will <br />be used as seed money for local <br />watershed alliances and <br />community initiatives. <br />Lakeshed Cost-Share <br />Although lakes are an integral <br />part of Minnesota's economy, <br />water quality in many lakes <br />throughout the state is <br />deteriorating. Seventy-two of <br />Minnesota's 87 counties identify <br />lake water quality as an important <br />issue in their water plans; yet <br />For more information on the <br />Community Technical <br />Assistance and Education <br />initiative, please contact: <br />Brad Moore (DNR): <br />612/296-4944 <br />Gaylen Reetz (MPCA): <br />612/296-8856 <br />Doug Thomas (BWSR): <br />612/297-5617. <br />For more information on <br />Lakeshed Cost-Share, contact <br />Doug Thomas at 612/297- <br />5617. <br />9 <br />