Grants
The Shingle Creek and West Mississippi Commissions actively seek grant opportunities to help pay for projects and diagnostic studies. This table shows the over $2.4 million in grants and funding the Commissions and member cities have received since 1999 from various state and federal agencies. One of the largest sources of new grant funding for water quality projects is the Clean Water, Land, & Legacy Amendment.
On November 4, 2008, Minnesota voters approved the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment to the constitution to:
• protect drinking water sources; • protect, enhance, and restore wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish, game, and wildlife habitat; • preserve arts and cultural heritage; • support parks and trails; • and protect, enhance, and restore lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater.
The Amendment increases the sales and use tax rate by three-eighths of one percent on taxable sales, starting July 1, 2009, continuing through 2034. Those dollars are dedicated to four funds: Outdoor Heritage Fund, Clean Water Fund, Parks and Trails Fund, and Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. The Clean Water Fund is administered by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR).
In 2012 the Shingle Creek Watershed Management Commission received a $265,237 grant from the Clean Water Fund to complete two projects, one in New Hope and one in Brooklyn Center. These projects were constructed in 2011 and are part of the ongoing actions the Commissions and the member cities are taking to help improve our lakes and streams. You can read more about these projects here:
Brooklyn Center Shingle Creek Restoration I-694 to CR 10
For more Clean Water Fund Stories, visit http://www.bwsr.state.mn.us/cleanwaterfund/stories/