Laserfiche WebLink
there is no state grant program <br />specifically targeted at maintaining <br />or improving lake water quality. <br />Because most conservation <br />practices cost less than. $10,000 to <br />install, a relatively modest <br />investment in lakeshed cost-share <br />can have a significant impact on <br />sediment and nutrient loading <br />throughout the state. Through this <br />interagency proposal, BWSR is <br />requesting $225,000 annually to <br />provide cost-share grants to apply <br />land treatment practices in priority <br />lakesheds. <br />As with the current Cost-Share <br />Program, this funding could be <br />used to pay up to 75 percent of <br />the cost of a practice. Eligible <br />practices include riparian buffer <br />strips, animal waste management <br />systems, stormwater basins, <br />shoreland stabilization and grass <br />waterways. BWSR has proposed <br />that up to 20 percent of the <br />allocation be used for the <br />technical assistance necessary to <br />survey and design the projects. <br />Board of Water and Soil Resources <br />CO nlCatlOn an Info atlOn <br />ae et <br />For more information on <br />BWSR initiatives, contact <br />Doug Thomas at 612/297- <br />5617. <br />Over the past decade, the Legisla- <br />turehas given BWSR responsibil- <br />ity for several new programs, <br />including the Reinvest in Minne- <br />sota (RIM) Reserve Program, the <br />Local Water Planning Program, <br />and the Wetland Conservation <br />Act. BWSR's focus on developing <br />these new programs has led to <br />decreased resources to develop <br />and maintain our computer capa- <br />bilities.This initiative will improve <br />BWSR's computer capabilities to <br />meet industry standards. <br />This initiative will provide for <br />improved electronic communica- <br />tionlinks between BWSR and its <br />local government clientele; im- <br />proved capabilities to report and <br />manipulate BWSR program data; <br />development of a BWSR web site; <br />and integration of existing data- <br />bases. <br />Changes to SWCD <br />Election Law <br />This initiative changes the term <br />of a soil and water conservation <br />district (SWCD) supervisor from <br />six to four years. BWSR hopes <br />that this change will result in <br />more candidates for SWCD <br />supervisor and in greater diver- <br />sity of those candidates. <br />Re-establishment of <br />agencies' voting <br />rights <br />Although the Pollution Control <br />Agency, the University of Minne- <br />sota, and the Departments of <br />10 <br />