Purpose
The purpose of this program is to provide grants to Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) so they can help local landowners or land occupiers offset the costs of installing conservation practices that protect and improve water quality by controlling soil erosion and reducing sedimentation.

Background
Through the State Cost-Share Program, landowners or occupiers can request financial and technical assistance from their local SWCD to implement state-approved conservation practices. The program, which was originally approved by the Minnesota Legislature in 1977, provides up to 75 percent of the total eligible costs of a practice.

Grant funds are available annually to SWCDs at the beginning of the state's fiscal year. In order for SWCDs to receive these grants, they must have on file at BWSR an approved annual plan of work, an annual report, and a comprehensive plan or a resolution to adopt the county's comprehensive local water management plan.

The projects are selected by local SWCDs that identify high priority erosion and water quality problems.

Eligible projects
BWSR has approved 12 conservation practices that are eligible for this program. Those practices include:

• Critical Area Stabilization
• Diversions
• Field Windbreaks
• Shelterbelts
• Grassed Waterway
• Wastewater and Feedlot Runoff
  Control
• Filter Strips
• Sediment Basins
• Streambank, Shoreland, and
  Roadside Protection
• Stripcropping
• Terraces
• Unused Well Sealing

Approved construction practices include activities that control nutrient runoff; stabilize critical eroding areas; divert runoff to protect and improve water quality; reduce wind erosion; control gully, rill, or sheet erosion; protect shoreland from erosion; control storm water runoff; or protect surface water and ground water quality.

Other information
Under BWSR guidelines, conservation districts may cost share with land occupiers up to 75 percent of the eligible costs of a project or an SWCD board may set the rate lower than 75 percent. Primary practices must be designed to meet the purpose of the practice for an effective life of not less than 10 years from the date it is approved for final payment. For more information, landowners should contact their local SWCD office.