Item Description:
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Neg two cost share agmts for water quality improvement projects in Dayton and Corcoran, various periods, total combined NTE $212,000
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that the County Administrator be authorized to negotiate Agreement PR00007870 with MPET Corporation for a cost sharing arrangement to install a manure storage bunker and erosion prevention and stabilization infrastructure that will reduce nutrient pollution and benefit Diamond Creek and Elm Creek, during the period November 18, 2025 through December 31, 2027, with an amount not to exceed $110,000; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Administrator be authorized to negotiate Agreement PR00006754 with the City of Corcoran for a cost sharing arrangement to convert former agricultural land to native prairie that will increase wildlife habitat, reduce pollution, and benefit South Fork of Rush Creek, during the period November 18, 2025 through December 31, 2030, with an amount not to exceed $102,000; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that following the review and approval of the County Attorney’s Office, the County Administrator be authorized to sign the agreements of behalf of Hennepin County; and that the Controller be authorized to disburse funds as directed.
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Background:
Hennepin County is the soil and water conservation district (SWCD) for the county and performs all duties and authorities of an SWCD. In this role, the county provides financial and technical assistance to landowners for projects that improve water quality and protect natural resources, assisting them in working with contractors to implement conservation practices.
Projects that reduce stormwater runoff, stabilize eroding areas, protect shorelines from erosion, and reduce wind erosion are eligible for financial assistance through the Cost Share for Conservation Program. To develop projects, county staff work with landowners to understand their conservation need and describe the project, estimate the cost, and estimate a water quality benefit. This approach of prioritizing projects and water bodies for improvement projects is known as the priority subwatershed approach and is consistent with guidance from the State of Minnesota about how to spend grant funds to improve water quality.
Potential projects are reviewed no more than once per quarter, and county staff make decisions about proceeding with projects based on water quality benefits and funding availability. Funding amounts and sources vary by project but is typically 10% from the landowner, 10% from the county and 80% from state and watershed funds. The Elm Creek Watershed Management Commission reimburses Hennepin County for state and watershed portions of the project once it is completed.
Current Request: This request seeks authorization for the County Administrator to negotiate the following agreements:
• Agreement PR00007870 with MPET Corporation, during the period November 18, 2025 through December 31, 2027, with a total amount not to exceed $110,000 for a cost sharing arrangement to install a manure storage bunker and erosion prevention and stabilization infrastructure for a horse boarding facility in Dayton that will reduce nutrient pollution and benefit Diamond Creek and Elm Creek; and
• Agreement PR00006754 with the City of Corcoran, during the period November 18, 2025 through December 31, 2030, with a total amount not to exceed $102,000 to convert 28 acres of city-owned agricultural fields to restored prairie that will benefit water quality in nearby South Fork of Rush Creek and the greater Elm Creek watershed.
Impacts/Outcomes: Approval of this request will improve the water quality of Rush Creek, Diamond Creek, and downstream water resources including Elm Creek and the Mississippi River. The manure bunker in the city of Dayton will safely store 1,214 pounds of phosphorus that would otherwise be at risk of running off into nearby waterways.
Transitioning farmland owned by Corcoran to restored prairie will reduce sediment runoff by 9.07 tons per year, and phosphorus loading by 20.09 pounds per year. The project will also better capture and infiltrate stormwater for longer periods, making water resources more resilient to the impacts of climate change. Restored prairie provides food, water, and shelter to many wildlife and pollinator species; adds water storage, traps nutrient pollution; improves groundwater recharge; and sequesters carbon.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval