Murray County backs Redwood River watershed plan and accepts $89,873 in BWSR block grants

The Murray County Board of Commissioners voted Nov. 18 to support submittal, adoption and implementation of the Redwood River Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan (One Watershed One Plan) and to accept FY2026–27 Natural Resources Block Grant (NRBG) funds totaling $89,873.

Commissioner Jackie Meier, Murray County’s representative on the watershed policy committee, said 12 governmental entities collaborated on the Redwood River One Watershed One Plan under guidelines from the Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources (BWSR). A public hearing was held Nov. 10 in Marshall; the policy committee forwarded the plan to BWSR for review and adoption. The county’s action was a resolution supporting the plan’s submission and future implementation.

Separately, staff presented a comparison of recent NRBG allocations. The approved FY2026–27 award of $89,873 includes funding lines for local water management, Wetland Conservation Act work, shoreland programming and septic assistance. The county has used the septic component in prior years to help low‑income residents with septic system upgrades.

Commissioner Mark Carlson moved to approve the NRBG agreement and to authorize County Board Chair Dennis Welgraven to sign digitally; Commissioner Roger Zins seconded the motion and the board approved the grant acceptance and the Redwood River plan support resolution. The board’s action authorizes staff to accept and manage the funds in accordance with the State of Minnesota agreement and to proceed with local program administration.