Dunn County receives $200,000 Lake Protection Grant

By LeAnn R. Ralph

MENOMONIE  — Dunn County has received a $200,000 Lake Protection Grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for the Red Cedar soil health education and outreach initiative.

The Dunn County Board approved a resolution making an adjustment to the 2018 budget to accommodate the grant at the county board’s May 16 meeting.

At the January 17 meeting, the Dunn County Board authorized applying for the grant.

The Dunn County Land and Water Conservation Division received notice of receiving the grant on April 2.

The grant money will be used to hire a soil health specialist to work with farmers to establish demonstration farms and on-site farm field trials in the Red Cedar Watershed.

Approximately $175,000 of the grant will be used for salaries and benefits, while $6,350 will go for grounds and improvements; $730 will be used for printing and duplication; $1,900 will be used for travel, lodging, meals, conferences and seminars; $1,270 will be used for computer supplies and expenses, and $6,000 will be used for educational materials.

The Lake Protection Grant period is from June of 2018 to June of 2021.

Tainter Lake and Lake Menomin have been declared impaired waters by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and a variety of initiatives are underway to help reduce runoff into the lakes that fuel the toxic algae blooms during the summer.