Base Funding Grant

Crow Wing County receives Natural Resources Block Grant (NRBG) from the State of Minnesota on an annual basis to help offset the costs to administer the Wetland Conservation Act, DNR Shoreland rules, MPCA septic rules, and local water management planning. The current  NRBG allotments are listed.

2020

• Administering the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) = $38,088 ($5,713 to Crow Wing SWCD)
• Local Water Management (Water Planning) = $8,094
• DNR Shoreland Rules Implementation = $19,128
• Subsurface Septic Treatment Systems (SSTS) Program = $18,600
• 2020 WCA Areas 

Grants Available to Landowners

Well Sealing

Crow Wing County Land Services recently received a BWSR Clean Water Fund grant for $20,000 to start a 50/50 cost-share program for sealing abandoned / unused wells, up to a maximum of $1000 per well. Priority will be given for larger diameter wells, wells near a public water supply well, or wells that are more likely to contribute to groundwater contamination. An application can be downloaded at this link, Crow Wing County Well Sealing Application (PDF) and should be returned to Crow Wing County Environmental Services by June 1 to get in on the initial round of funding. For more information, please contact our office at 218-824-1010.

2012 to 2014 Well Sealing Summary (PDF)

Septic System Improvement

Crow Wing County has received $32,746 in grant funding from Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources to provide funds to replace or protect septic systems for residents. Proper septic maintenance ensures that we are protecting our groundwater from human contaminants. If you are interested in learning more about this program  please review this informational sheet or contact Region Five Development Commission – Stephanie Barney at (218) 296-5201.

There is a $50 application fee and applications are available here Version OptionsGrantsHeadline. 

Forestry Grants

An opportunity is available for landowners in Crow Wing County with forested parcels greater than 20 acres in size to receive cost-share funds to write forest stewardship plans and implement forestry practices in order to protect lakes with populations of Tulibee, which is a type of whitefish also known as Cisco. Good forest management can protect these lakes and the quality of these important fisheries for generations to come.

Target lakesheds include: Bertha, Big Trout, Borden, Cedar, Clear, Crooked, Island/Loon, Kenney, Kimball, Long/Tame Fish, Lower Hay, Ossawinnamakee, Pelican, Pig, Portage, Round, Roosevelt, Star and Whitefish. Cost-share funding is available to cover up to 50% of the cost of forest management practices for each landowner who has a current forest stewardship plan for his or her property. Examples of eligible practices include tree planting, selected harvest, and wildlife openings. For landowners without forest stewardship plans, funds are available to receive a plan at a flat rate of $200. Interested landowners should contact Darren Mayers, District Technician with the Crow Wing Soil and Water Conversation District, at 218-828-6197.

Conservation Easement Grant: Wild Rice Lakes

Crow Wing Soil and Water Conservation District has funds available for private landowners who own land adjacent to Shallow Wild Rice Lakes. Funding is available to enroll private land into voluntary land preservation agreements called conservation easements. Conservation easements protect land from future development while keeping land in private ownership and on the local tax rolls. Landowners can be paid up to 60% of the estimated market value of the tract for enrolling into the program. The SWCD will be taking applications until October 22, 2013.

Wild Rice provides great habitat for ducks and birds and also is the Minnesota State Grain. The following Crow Wing County lakes are elligible: Arrowhead, Dahler, Dog, Garden, Goggle, Hole-in-the-Day, Little Pine, Lizzie, Lower Dean, Lows, Mud (18-137), Mud (18-326), Nelson, Rice (Blomberg’s), Rice (Clark Lake), Rice (Deerwood), Rice (Hesitation WMA), Rice (Pratt’s), Rice Bed, Terry, Twin Island, Unnamed (Lost Rice), and Unnamed (Nokasippi R.). To apply contact Crow Wing SWCD via email: or by phone at 218-828-6197.

Shoreline Restoration / Stabilization & Stormwater Management

Crow Wing Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), in partnership with the Department of Natural Resources, have grants available to help offset the cost of shoreline projects, which can include stormwater management. For more information, please contact Crow Wing SWCD at 218-828-6197.

Cedar Lake

The Crow Wing County Land Services Department and the Aitkin Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) were awarded a grant to provide technical services to implement stormwater and agricultural BMPs, establish shoreline vegetative buffers, and conduct forest management in the shoreland areas of Cedar Lake, which is located between Deerwood and Aitkin. The funding source for this grant is the Clean Water Fund, which is administered by the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) with funding from the Clean Water Amendment that was passed by voters in 2008. Interested landowners should contact our office at 218-824-1125.

Mille Lacs Lake

Aitkin, Crow Wing, and Mille Lacs Soil and Water Conservation District have been awarded a grant for shoreline buffers / stabilization projects, rain gardens, conservation easements and agricultural best management practices within the watershed of Mille Lacs Lake. Eligible projects typically require a 50% funding match from landowners. Lakes in Crow Wing County that are within the Mille Lacs Lake watershed include Borden, Partridge, Turtle, Round (north of Garrison), Smith, Holt, Camp, and Little Whitefish. Contact Melissa Barrick with Crow Wing SWCD at 218-828-6197.

Conservation Easements

The Minnesota State legislature recently approved a grant for Protecting Sensitive Shoreland in North Central Minnesota Using Conservation Easements. Crow Wing, Cass, and Aitkin Counties in partnership with the Minnesota Land Trust and Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation will receive approximately $1 million in funding to pay for the closing costs associated with establishing conservation easements on large parcels of sensitive shorelines. For more information on program eligibility, contact Paula West at 218-675-5773 or by email.