Cost Share Program

SWCD Cost Share Programs

  • Local SWCD State Cost-Share Program: Through the state cost share programs landowners can request financial and technical assistance from their local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) for the implementation of conservation practices. This program provides up to 75% of the total eligible costs of a practices that protect and improve water quality by controlling soil erosion and reducing sedimentation. The SWCD Board of Supervisors approve or deny all state cost-share contracts.
  • Some examples of conservation practices that are eligible include:
    • Grassed Waterways
    • Terraces
    • Field Windbreaks
    • Water and Sediment Control Basins (WASCOBs)
  • Greater Blue Earth River Basin Alliance
    • Funding is available for rock tile intakes, erosion control projects, and cover crop implementation.
  • Watonwan County Comprehensive Water Plan: Funding is available for water quality projects for landowners and townships.
  • Watonwan County Well Sealing Program is available for landowners to seal abandoned wells on their property. The program pays 50% or up to $400.00to have an abandoned well sealed. 
    • In order to be eligible to receive cost-share, a contract is required to be signed & approved by the SWCD before the well can be sealed.
    • Wells already sealed before an approved contract is not eligible for cost-share.
    • Well Sealing Steps & Procedures

To find out more information about your well, please visit the MN Department of Health - Minnesota Well Index (MWI).

Here you can find a list of Licensed Contractors

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Programs

  • Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP): EQIP provides technical assistance, cost share payments, and incentive payments to assist crop, livestock, and other agricultural producers with environmental and conservation improvements to their operations.
    • EQIP is a voluntary conservation program. Incentive payments may be made to encourage landowners to adopt management practices, such as nutrient management, manure management, integrated pest management, and wildlife habitat management.
  • Conservation Reserve Program (CRP): USDA Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a voluntary program available to agricultural producers to help them safeguard environmentally sensitive land. Landowners receive rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource-conserving covers to improve the quality of water, control soil erosion, and enhance wildlife habitat. Contract duration is between 10 and 15 years. Sign up is during designated sign up periods.
    • For information on sign ups, contact your local FSA office.
  • Continuous CRP: Environmentally desirable land devoted to certain conservation practices may be enrolled at any time under CRP continuous sign up. If eligibility requirements are met offers are automatically accepted for a 10 to 15 year contract.
    • Continuous CRP is not subject to competitive bidding. Practices eligible for this program include riparian buffers, filter strips, grass waterways, and shelterbelts.

Note: To be eligible for cost share funding, the conservation practices must meet NRCS specifications.