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City agrees to partner letter allowing conservation trust to use prior local expenditures as match on a proposed $3 million NFWF/NACW grant
Summary
Faraway Conservation Trust asked the council to allow previously incurred local conservation expenditures (wetland project and recent land purchase) to be used as non‑federal match for a $3 million North American Wetland Conservation Act (NAWCA) proposal; council approved providing a partner letter.
Faraway Conservation Trust representatives asked the council to sign a partner letter permitting the trust to include city expenditures and recently acquired land as part of the non‑federal match for a proposed $3 million North American Wetland Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant application covering multiple wetland and grassland projects in South Dakota, including projects within the Lake Mitchell watershed.
Steve Donovan explained that NAWCA proposals require non‑federal match and that the trust’s application would propose about 26 projects statewide with a focus on wetland restoration, easements and grassland conservation. Donovan asked that the city allow use of previously spent local funds — including $570,000 toward a Ducks Unlimited wetland west of the lake and $200,000 for the Kiner property purchase cited in materials — as match for the new proposal. Donovan said at least $400,000 of grant money would be targeted to projects in the Lake Mitchell watershed if the grant is awarded and that about $1.7 million would be spent in the broader Mitchell area; final project selection would occur after grant award.
City staff said they were comfortable partnering for the application and noted that if match items were later disallowed after an award the grantee (Faraway) would be responsible for replacing match. Donovan said some project deed restrictions similar to existing restrictions on other conserved parcels would be required for funded parcels such as the Kiner property.
Council approved the partner letter and staff authorization to participate in the application; Donovan said the trust must submit the application by the grant deadline later that week.
Ending
The city authorized the partner letter and participation; staff and the trust will proceed with the NAWCA application on a tight deadline, and any funded projects and deed restrictions would be subject to later implementation and conservation easement terms.
