Dunn County committee approves $880,473 state grant for farm discharge fixes

The Dunn County Planning, Resources and Development Committee on June 4 approved a budget adjustment to accept an $880,473 Notice of Discharge grant to bring a farm into compliance with state and county agricultural performance standards.

The grant, awarded through the state Notice of Discharge program, was described by staff as intended to address a malfunctioning manure storage system and associated water-quality risks. Committee members voted to approve the budget adjustment after staff summarized the grant’s cost, timeline and expected outcomes.

"This notice of discharge grant is a form of assistance that we were able to provide, an offer to a landowner to come into compliance with some ag performance standards and manure storage prohibitions," Land and Water Conservation staff member Chase said. "This project...was started in 2022 and finished in 2024."

Chase told the committee the county had applied for and received the award and that the work qualifies under state administrative code NR 151 and a Dunn County ordinance the county adopted in July 2021 to implement the state performance standards locally.

Chase also described the environmental calculation used in the project, saying the county estimated roughly 2,300 pounds of phosphorus per year would be prevented from discharging as a result of the work. He said the county used a combination of state funds and partnership dollars, and that cost-share offers are typically 70% but can reach 90% for qualifying hardship cases.

Committee members discussed durability and the county’s due diligence before approving funds. "Certainly, we do. That's always a part of our conversation," Chase said when asked whether the county assessed the operation's viability before investing. He added that the county balances the livelihood of farm operators with the community benefit of water-quality improvements.

Supervisor Diane moved to approve the budget adjustment; Gary seconded. The committee voted to approve the resolution by voice vote.

Staff said the decision will allow the county to work with the landowner on construction and design plans and to move forward with contract and project implementation. Chase noted the county was also awarded other Notice of Discharge funds in 2024; he told the committee roughly $1,700,000 was available statewide for the program and Dunn County had been awarded $880,000 of that pool.

The committee’s action will appear on the full county board agenda for informational purposes; staff said they plan to present additional details and a brief report at the county board meeting later in June.

Ending: The grant funding shifts a multimillion-dollar cleanup conversation into active project work in Dunn County, with staff scheduling construction and design steps now that funds are in the county budget. The county will report on implementation and any required cost-share agreements as the project proceeds.