The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) announced on July 23, 2026, that eight organizations have been awarded a total of $1.16 million in Clean Water Funds through the Clean Water Legacy Partners Grant Program. The awards are intended to advance water-quality protection, enhancement, and restoration projects across the state.
BWSR reported that 24 organizations applied during the Request for Proposals period, which opened on February 18 and closed on May 19. This round of funding accepted applications from Tribal Governments, Intertribal Consortiums, and non-governmental organizations.
According to BWSR, the grants will support essential conservation work that includes suburban stormwater practices, agricultural best management practices, shoreline stabilization projects, drinking water protection, and public engagement efforts. The agency emphasized the role that Tribal Governments and nonprofit partners play in on-the-ground implementation of conservation projects throughout Minnesota.
Recipients named in this funding round are:
- All Saints Lutheran Church (Cottage Grove)
- Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
- Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
- Midtown Greenway Coalition (Minneapolis)
- Owámniyomni Okhódayapi (Minneapolis)
- Spark-Y: Youth Action Labs (Minneapolis)
- Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota (Mahnomen)
- White Earth Nation
BWSR noted that the Clean Water Fund is supported by the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment approved in 2008 to protect, enhance, and restore habitat, lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater. The Clean Water Fund receives 33% of the sales tax revenue generated by the Legacy Amendment. Additional details about the Clean Water Fund are available through the program’s public resources.
Contact information for this announcement is listed for Mary Juhl at mary.juhl@state.mn.us or 612-358-5733. BWSR is Minnesota’s state soil and water conservation agency, administering programs that prevent sediment and nutrients from entering lakes, rivers, and streams; enhance fish and wildlife habitat; and protect wetlands. The 20-member board includes representatives from local and state government agencies and citizens, and the agency’s mission is to work with partners to improve and protect Minnesota’s land and water resources.
