Financial Incentives: State Cost-Share Program

Well Sealing Project
Need financial help to implement a water quality or erosion control project? It may be available. The State Cost-Share Program was established in 1977 and is administered locally by the Dakota 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 for 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 for funding up to 75% of the total project cost:

State Cost Share funding shall be awarded on a first come, first serve basis
If there are more applications than funding available, the SWCD Board of Supervisors reserves the right to rank applications based on anticipated water quality benefits
The SWCD Board of Supervisors will determine the number of projects funded and the level of funding

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.)

Example Projects:

Native Shoreline Stabilization
Soil Loss Reduction Program

Links:

State Cost Share Program (Minnesota Board of Soil and Water Resources)
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (Natural Resources Conservation Service)