Need financial help to implement a water quality or erosion control project?

 It may be available.  The State Cost-Share Program is administered locally by the Goodhue County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD).  The State Cost-Share Program assists landowners financially with the installation of soil and water conservation practices that are designed to meet required technical standards and have an effective life of not less than ten years and meet one of the following objectives:

 

*    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 stormwater runoff

*    Protect surface water and groundwater quality

 

Practices eligible for cost-share may be approved up to:

 

*    75% of the total cost for projects approved by the SWCD Board of Supervisors

 

The SWCD provides technical assistance to the agricultural landowner by:

 

*    Conducting a site investigation with the landowner

*    Working with the farmer to determine the best management practice (BMP) for the given situation

*    Surveying and designing the project

*    Producing a rough cost estimate

*   Providing the landowner with a designed plan for submission of bids

*   Performing a pre-construction conference with the contractor and landowner

*   Supervising construction

*   Certifying completion of the project

 

ALL PRACTICES MUST BE APPROVED PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION.  LANDOWNERS ARE REIMBURSED UPON COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT.

 FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE STATE COST-SHARE PROGRAM, CONTACT THE GOODHUE COUNTY SWCD AT 651-923-5286.