This program was established in 1994 in conjunction with the Agricultural Best Management Practices (Ag BMP) and Clean Water Partnership (CWP) Loan Programs, which receive funding from the State Revolving Fund (SRF).

• The State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan program is a state-wide initiative set up to provide low interest loans and engineering assistance for non-point source pollution projects in Minnesota. The loan part of the program is handled by counties, soil and water conservation districts, and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. The SRF Joint Powers Areas through contractual arrangements provide the engineering part of the program.

• State Revolving Fund loan program provides 3% interest loans to farmers and rural landowners in Scott County to bring their livestock holding facilities, and septic systems into conformance with water quality standards and also to help implement other stormwater control practices such as those needed to protect streambank, lakeshore, roadside and agricultural land from erosion. Individuals wanting to apply for loans should contact the Scott Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) for a loan application packet. Applicants will need to provide information about the proposed project to be funded and the desired loan amount.

Eleven joint powers groups of SWCD's were created statewide in early 1995 to provide professional engineering and technician assistance to each member SWCD. The associated joint powers boards (JPB's) are composed of a supervisor from each of the member SWCD's. One member SWCD's serves as the host district and manager for the JPB. The same, or another member SWCD, serves as the fiscal agent for the JPB. These eleven SRF area offices are located throughout Minnesota; each office is responsible for providing engineering assistance to the counties in their area.

The Scott SWCD is located in SRF Joint Powers Area 8. The SRF Joint Powers Area 8 consists of the seven metro counties: Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington. The Scott Soil and Water Conservation District is the host district and fiscal agent for the SRF Joint Powers Area 8.

The SRF Joint Powers Area 8 members are eligible to apply for engineering assistance for non-point source pollution practices. The JPB reviews, prioritizes and either approves or denies the application depending on priority and available funding. Once approved the member district contracts for the engineering assistance with the selected consultative engineer. Reimbursement to the engineer is made by the host district once the engineering service has been satisfactorily completed and certified by the member district as meeting the contractual agreement. The Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) provide policy, training, administrative and technical consultation to the JPBs and their staff.

Base grants for engineering and technician assistance are allocated and reconciled annually. Challenge grants to obtain additional engineering or technical assistance in high workload areas are provided subject to availability of funding. SRF Joint Powers Areas utilize current electronic surveying, design and drafting technology to provide efficient and effective technical assistance.

Total amount of money available for a fiscal year is about $100,000.00