Grants, loans flow in to protect Lake Osakis

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In an effort to continue improving the health of Lake Osakis, the state recently awarded nearly $200,000 in project funding to the Sauk River Watershed District (SRWD).

The SRWD will manage the grants and loans for the Lake Osakis Enhancement Continuation Project.

As part of that project, a total of $189,839 will be available to address stormwater runoff in urban and rural areas within the Sauk River watershed.

For example, some of the qualifying projects may include grants or low-interest loans for: closing unused manure basins, shoreland restoration projects, water quality monitoring, septic system upgrades and others.

“With grants in the past, we’ve had an abundance of people asking for funds for these projects, but the funding ran out, so we anticipate we’ll see a fair number of people inquiring,” said SRWD Administrator Holly Kovarik.

Educational outreach efforts in the community can also be funded.

The local allotment is part of a $4 million award from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency that will be distributed for water protection and improvement projects across the state.

The funding is generated by the Clean Water Partnership and Clean Water Fund.

The Clean Water Partnership was created by the Minnesota Legislature in 1987 to provide help in finding and stopping threats to water resources.

The Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment sales tax was approved by Minnesota voters in 2008 and created the Clean Water Fund, which dedicates money to protecting, enhancing and restoring water quality in lakes, rivers, streams and groundwater.

For more information on this funding and how to apply for project funds, call the SRWD at (320) 352-2231.

Tags: water quality, lake osakis, local news, sauk river watershed district, clean water partnership, clean water fund, news, grants, mpca, osakis