The Community Partners Conservation Program through the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources and Faribault County Soil and Water Conservation District is looking for community partners that want to complete projects that will restore, protect or enhance water quality in lakes, rivers and streams. Projects must be located in either Freeborn County, Faribault County and/or the LeSueur River Watershed and applicants must be a non-tax paying organization.

Similar projects in the area have included rain gardens at Viking Community Center and Hope United Methodist Church, a native planting area at Wood’s Lake County Park in Elmore and rain gardens and a permeable paver patio and no-mow turf at the Kiester Fire Hall.

Eligible community partners included nonprofit organizations, citizen groups, businesses, student groups, faith organizations and neighborhood lake or homeowner associations.

“This program reaches out to citizens for the opportunity to use legacy funds in their neighborhood,” said Michele Wigern. “It’s a great way to get involved, by making a difference in your community with a meaningful project that will clean up or protect our lakes and rivers.”

Projects must reduce stormwater runoff and retain water on the land. Projects will be designed and installed in accordance to the Minnesota Stormwater Manual. Other examples of past projects can be found on the BWSR website at www.bwsr.state.mn.us. Applications and detailed instructions on the program can be found at faribaultcountyswcd.com. For more information contact Michele Wigern at the Faribault County SWCD office at 507-526-2388 or Mark Schaetzke at the Freeborn County SWCD office at 507-373-5607.