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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: June 20, 2012

Contact
Julie MacSwain, State Public Affairs Specialist, (651) 602-7859

New Mississippi River Basin Project Selected in Minnesota

ST PAUL, MN,  June  20, 2012—Minnesota will receive funding for one new project to help landowners and producers within the Mississippi River Basin voluntarily implement conservation and management practices on their farm. These practices will help prevent, control and trap nutrient runoff from agricultural land.

“We are building on our Mississippi River actions from previous years by continuing to target priority conservation practices in priority watersheds to improve water quality in the basin,” said Don Baloun, Minnesota NRCS State Conservationist.

To improve the health of the Mississippi River Basin, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has established the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI). Through this Initiative, NRCS and its partners will help producers in selected watersheds.

Funding will be through the USDA’s Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI), which receives funding from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The following CCPI funded project in Minnesota:
• Accelerated Protection and Restoration of Grand Pearl Minor in the Sauk River Watershed-$197,700 to improve water quality, soil erosion and soil conditions. This watershed is located in Stearns county.
• July 27, 2012 is the application acceptance deadline.
• August 3, 2012 is the eligibility deadline.

The MRBI will help NRCS and its partners expand their capacity to improve water quality throughout the basin. CCPI will use a systems approach to manage nitrogen and phosphorus, which minimizes runoff and reduces downstream nutrient loading.

Contacts:
Dave Rose, NRCS District Conservationist, Waite Park Field Office, (320)-251-7800 ext. 3
Dennis Fuchs, Stearns County SWCD District Manager, Waite Park Field Office, (320)-251-7800 ext. 3.

 

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