The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) is the state soil and water conservation agency, and it administers programs that prevent sediment and nutrients from entering our lakes, rivers, and streams; enhance fish and wildlife habitat; and protect wetlands. BWSR's mission is to improve and protect Minnesota's water and soil resources by working in partnership with local organizations and private landowners The 20-member board consists of representatives of local and state government agencies and citizens.
BWSR staff works in close contact with local governments on a daily basis. The majority of the staff people are housed in the board's nine field offices, located in Bemidji, Brainerd, Duluth, Fergus Falls, Marshall, Mankato, New Ulm, Rochester and St. Paul. The central office is also in St. Paul.
Each BWSR office has at least two Board Conservationists (BCs) who assist local units of government within designated work areas. BWSR also has a number of specialists including: engineers, planners, education coordinators, wetlands specialists, a groundwater specialist, a forester, a communications specialist, and others.
The BWSR's clientele includes counties, soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs), watershed districts (WDs), watershed management organizations (WMOs), and other local units of government.
BWSR offers training, funding, and technical support to its clientele through a variety of programs and staff. BWSR sponsors training sessions on subjects ranging from wetland delineation to effective leadership. Funding for local governments comes from a number of competitive and non-competitive BWSR grants. Technical assistance is available for projects such as wetland restorations, windbreak maintenance, feedlots, and conservation tillage.
BWSR serves as an advocate of local government concerns and needs at the state level, and provides the link necessary for coordination of state and local resource management activities. BWSR also facilitates communication and coordination between state agencies.
Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources
Posted: September 11, 2019 by MAEE Administration
Category: Sharing Environmental Education Knowledge (SEEK)
The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) is the state soil and water conservation agency, and it administers programs that prevent sediment and nutrients from entering our lakes, rivers, and streams; enhance fish and wildlife habitat; and protect wetlands. BWSR's mission is to improve and protect Minnesota's water and soil resources by working in partnership with local organizations and private landowners The 20-member board consists of representatives of local and state government agencies and citizens.
BWSR staff works in close contact with local governments on a daily basis. The majority of the staff people are housed in the board's nine field offices, located in Bemidji, Brainerd, Duluth, Fergus Falls, Marshall, Mankato, New Ulm, Rochester and St. Paul. The central office is also in St. Paul.
Each BWSR office has at least two Board Conservationists (BCs) who assist local units of government within designated work areas. BWSR also has a number of specialists including: engineers, planners, education coordinators, wetlands specialists, a groundwater specialist, a forester, a communications specialist, and others.
The BWSR's clientele includes counties, soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs), watershed districts (WDs), watershed management organizations (WMOs), and other local units of government.
BWSR offers training, funding, and technical support to its clientele through a variety of programs and staff. BWSR sponsors training sessions on subjects ranging from wetland delineation to effective leadership. Funding for local governments comes from a number of competitive and non-competitive BWSR grants. Technical assistance is available for projects such as wetland restorations, windbreak maintenance, feedlots, and conservation tillage.
BWSR serves as an advocate of local government concerns and needs at the state level, and provides the link necessary for coordination of state and local resource management activities. BWSR also facilitates communication and coordination between state agencies.