BE IT RESOLVED, that the following agreements be approved to provide funding for the selected organizations in the 2019 grant cycle during the period of February 5, 2019 through December 31, 2020, for the Natural Resources Good Steward projects that will improve water quality; and during the period of February 5, 2019 through December 31, 2021 for the Natural Resources Opportunity projects that will improve water quality and stream habitat:

Good Steward grants

• PR00000843 with Fairway Woods Condominium Association, Inc., or affiliated entity, with the amount not to exceed $24,750

• PR00000844 with Heidi and Dan Niziolek, or affiliated entity, with the amount not to exceed $9,000

• PR00000845 with Nokomis East Neighborhood Association, or affiliated entity, with the amount not to exceed $12,000

• PR00000846 with Schmidt Lake Improvement Association, Incorporated, or affiliated entity, with the amount not to exceed $12,225

Opportunity grants

• PR00000847 with Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, or affiliated entity, with the amount not to exceed $100,000

• PR00000848 with the City of Crystal, or affiliated entity, with the amount not to exceed $100,000

• PR00000849 with Elm Creek Watershed Management Commission with the amount not to exceed $20,000

• PR00000850 with Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, or affiliated entity, with the amount not to exceed $32,500

• PR00000853 with Bull’s Horn, or affiliated entity, with the amount not to exceed $32,500

• PR00000854 with Northgate Academy Inc., or affiliated entity, with the amount not to exceed $55,000

• PR00000855 with the City of Medina, or affiliated entity, with the amount not to exceed $60,000; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that following review and approval by the County Attorney’s Office, the County Administrator be authorized to sign the agreements on behalf of the county; that the County Administrator be authorized to approve one 12-month extension of the agreements; that costs incurred by the grantees after the board approval date be eligible for reimbursement upon execution of the agreements; and that the Controller be authorized to disburse funds as directed.

History: Natural Resources grants provide financial and technical assistance to landowners and local governments that will implement projects to preserve and restore the county’s natural resources and improve water quality. The Natural Resources grants have two options:

1. Good Steward grants are primarily for smaller projects that improve water quality, enhance natural areas and promote environmental stewardship to the community. This program requires a 25 percent funding match from the grant applicant.
2. Opportunity grants are ideal for larger projects seeking to leverage multiple funding sources. These grants are intended to help partners take advantage of opportunities to implement large projects that improve water quality or preserve, establish or restore natural areas.

The availability of the grants is promoted through city, watersheds and other natural resources partners, mailing lists, and the Environment and Energy Department’s e-newsletter, Green Notes.

The county received 11 Good Steward grant requests totaling $149,378.25 and 11 Opportunity grant requests totaling $817,443. The request for proposals for the Good Steward grants was open for six weeks in October and November 2018. Opportunity grants requests were received between August and December 2018.

A committee consisting of county staff and external reviewers reviewed and recommended the requests. Requests were evaluated on the project’s impact on reducing erosion, improving water quality, protecting groundwater resources, or protecting and/or restoring wildlife habitat; ability of the applicant to complete the project; and the applicant’s interest in educating others about conservation topics. Opportunity grants were also evaluated based on the applicant’s ability to leverage other funding from various sources, including Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment funds, watershed districts, cities, and neighborhood associations.

Since 2013, the county has provided $1,117,500 in Natural Resources grants for 47 projects that protect natural resources and improve water quality. Funding for these grants comes from the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund. Consistent with past practice this resolution delegates signature authority to the county administrator. 

Current Request: This request is to authorize the County Administrator to negotiate Natural Resources Good Steward and Opportunity grant agreements with the following organizations for projects that preserve, protect or improve natural resources and water quality in the county:

Good Steward grants:

• Fairway Woods Condominium, Inc., Runoff and Erosion Control Project (Eden Prairie) - $24,750. This project will divert the roof water from a condominium building into four rock swales which will flow into two rain gardens. In addition, four eroded areas will be regraded and restored with erosion control mats. Three of the areas will be reseeded to a lawn mix and one with be reseeded with a native prairie mix. This project will directly improve the water quality of Purgatory Creek, which is adjacent to the work.
• Dan and Heidi Niziolek, Winchester Pond Phase II Restoration Project (Bloomington) - $9,000. In this phase, two additional rain gardens will be constructed within the watershed draining to this pond/wetland, and two additional floating islands will be installed in Winchester Pond to help filter pollutants. Along the shoreline, invasive species will be removed and native vegetation will be planted. This project will improve water quality in Nine Mile Creek and the Minnesota River.
• Nokomis East Neighborhood Association, Rain Gardens Project (Minneapolis) - $12,000. This is a neighborhood-based effort to install up to 20 rain gardens on private property to filter stormwater and improve the water quality of Lake Nokomis and Minnehaha Creek.
• Schmidt Lake Improvement Association, Incorporated, Rain Gardens Project (Plymouth) - $12,225. This is a neighborhood-based effort to install up to 15 rain gardens and native plant buffers on private property to filter stormwater and improve water quality of Schmidt Lake.

Opportunity grants:

• Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, North Columbia Golf Course Regional Best Management Practices Project (Minneapolis) - $100,000. The project will modify the storm sewer and install regional water filtration and infiltration systems (likely including ponds, engineered soils, and native plantings) in the northern portion of Columbia Golf Course in Minneapolis. The practices will capture and treat stormwater from 600 acres that currently drains to the Mississippi River untreated. Ponds allow sediment to settle before the water is discharged, and allow some water to infiltrate instead of continuing on to the river. The project will remove 20 tons of total suspended sediments and 100 pounds of total phosphorus each year and infiltrate 6.7 million cubic feet of water per year. This project will improve the water quality of storm water entering the Mississippi River.
• City of Crystal, Crystal Becker Park Infiltration Project (Crystal) - $100,000. This project will install a 72,000-square feet underground infiltration system in Becker Park. The project is designed to infiltrate the first half inch of stormwater runoff from 147 acres. The project will reduce total phosphorus to Upper Twin Lake, an impaired water, by 161 pounds annually and infiltrate 14.3 million cubic feet of water per year.
• Elm Creek Watershed Management Commission, Fish Lake Alum Treatment Project (Maple Grove) - $20,000. This is the second year of a two-year treatment of Fish Lake with alum to reduce the internal phosphorus load in the lake by at least 310 pounds per year. This project is projected to result in Fish Lake meeting water quality standards for phosphorus for at least the next 20 years. It will also improve water quality in Elm Creek.
• Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, Arden Park Restoration Project (Edina) - $32,500. This project includes a restoration of 2,150 feet of Minnehaha Creek that includes adding 230 feet of new stream and the removal of a 4-foot high dam. Additionally, stormwater from an 84-acre area will be treated in filtration structures and swales to remove 33 pounds of phosphorus and 1,800 pounds of sediment each year. The project will improve 6 acres of wetland to better filter and store stormwater, as well as improve habitat for wildlife. The project also restores 10 acres of woodlands by planting trees and managing invasive species. This project will directly improve water quality in Minnehaha Creek.
• Bull’s Horn LLC (Minneapolis) - $32,500. This project will install a rain garden, two 500-gallon cisterns and two permeable paver parking stalls to treat parking lot and roof runoff before it flows into the city storm sewer system. This project will improve water quality in Minnehaha Creek.
• Northgate Academy, Minneapolis Apprenticeship and Training Center, Stormwater Best Management Practices Project (Minneapolis) - $55,000. During reconstruction of the building and parking lot, the owner will install a series of rain gardens that will be designed to treat stormwater before it reaches the city storm sewer system. The rain gardens have been designed for a 2.25 inch rainfall event and will reduce runoff water volume, phosphorus and sediments by 96 percent compared to current amounts. The stormwater practices at this site will be used as part of training program for careers in hydrology, civil engineering, soil science, horticulture and related topics. This project will improve water quality in the Mississippi River.
• City of Medina, Hickory Drive Stormwater Pond Project (Medina) - $60,000. The city will construct a new stormwater quality pond and stabilize and reduce runoff to an existing gully during a street and utility improvement project. The project will remove 25 pounds of phosphorus per year. This project will improve water quality in Elm Creek.

The request is also for approval to reimburse costs incurred by the grantees after the board approval date and upon execution of the grant agreements.

Impact/Outcomes: The Natural Resources grants will provide funds to protect water quality and enhance natural resources in Hennepin County. These grants will help implement stormwater best management practices, which include installing rain gardens and other features that use native plants and slow water movement to naturally filter and retain water. Other projects will convert impervious pavement to permeable pavers to reduce stormwater runoff. Some projects will undertake stream and shoreline restorations that will improve wetland, woodland, and stream habitat.

Funding these projects will leverage an additional $12,557,319 from other funders for clean water work. Leveraged fund include grants from the Clean Water Fund (part of the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment), watershed capital spending, City contributions, and private contributions. The Natural Resources grants are a part of the county’s strategic approach to prioritizing, partnering and pursuing other funding sources to improve water quality and protect natural resources.