1. Home
  2. Clean Water Research Projects

The following table summarizes the projects funded by the Clean Water Fund. A more detailed description for each project is available using the project title links. Projects were selected after a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process and review by an evaluation committee.

Active Projects

Project Title Recipient Funds Awarded ($) MDA Project Manager RFP Year
Evaluate, develop, demonstrate, and promote regional and animal specific recommendations for manure crediting and to develop or revise best management practices through University of Minnesota Extension Melissa Wilson - University of Minnesota $1,388,165 Aicam Laacouri 2023

Completed Projects - Cover Crops, Perennials, or Vegetative Cover

Project Title Recipient Funds Awarded ($) RFP Year
The Minnesota Cover Crop Guide Anna Cates - University of Minnesota Extension 111,709 2018
Cover crop effectiveness in a series of farm BMPs, 2012-2019 Christian Lenhart - University of Minnesota 64,286 2018
The Cover Crops, Water, and Nitrogen Nexus: How do they impact corn and soybean production and the environment? Axel Garcia y Garcia and Jeff Strock - Southwest Research and Outreach Center 450,223 2016
Dual-purpose cover crops and onsite retention of water and nutrients Frank Forcella - University of Minnesota 266,156 2014
Improvement of field pennycress germplasm for use as a winter annual cover and oilseed crop James Anderson - University of Minnesota 215,930 2014
Water quality enhancements in corn cropping systems through optimization of cover crop establishment technologies M. Scott Wells - University of Minnesota 243,910 2014
Optimizing establishment of corn in cover crops and living mulches to maintain yield while reducing nitrate losses Julie Grossman - University of Minnesota 232,244 2014
Winter Rye Best Management Practices to Reduce Loads of Sediment and Nutrient to Minnesota Surface Waters Multiple Researchers - University of Minnesota 249,008 2009

Completed Projects - Phosphorus, Nitrogen, or Sediment

Project Title Recipient Funds Awarded ($) RFP Year
Recommendations for residual soil nitrogen testing and N rate adjustment Fabian Fernandez - University of Minnesota 100,000 2021
Development of the nitrogen BMP effectiveness tool for groundwater protection in Minnesota under varying soil types and climatic conditions David Mulla and William Lazarus - University of Minnesota 100,000  
Adjusting corn nitrogen rates using a preplant nitrate test to reduce potential for N loss in South-Central and Southeastern Minnesota Dan Kaiser and Fabian Fernandez - University of Minnesota 258,000 2019
Evaluation of four irrigation scheduling methods and their impact on corn production and nitrate leaching in the Central Sands region Vasudha Sharma - University of Minnesota Extension 124,005 2018
Real-time crop sensing and modeling for improved water quality David Mulla - University of Minnesota 100,000 2018
Measuring and modeling watershed phosphorus loss and transport for improved management of agricultural landscapes Jacques Finlay - University of Minnesota 297,419 2015
Assessment of rate and timing of phosphorus application in corn-soybean rotations on the potential for phosphorus loss to surface waters and tile Daniel Kaiser - University of Minnesota 224,773 2015
Comparison of real-time N stress sensors and remote sensing from unmanned aerial vehicles for precision management of N fertilizer and improvement of water quality David Mulla - University of Minnesota 448,953 2013
An Integrated Sediment Budget for the Root River, Southeastern Minnesota Patrick Belmont - Utah State University 227,658 2011/2012
Sediment Budget for Greater Blue Earth Basin and its Response to Changes in Drainage and River Discharge Karen Gran - University of Minnesota-Duluth 180,000 2011/2012
Tracing Sediment Sources with Meteoric 10Be: Linking Erosion and the Hydrograph Patrick Belmont - Utah State University 65,298 2008

Completed Projects - Conservation Practices

Project Title Recipient Funds Awarded ($) RFP Year
Integrated landscape management for agricultural production and water quality Jeffrey Strock - Southwest Research & Outreach Center 365,780 2017
Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMP) Handbook for Minnesota Update Chris Lenhart - University of Minnesota 65,600 2015
Nutrient Removal in Agricultural Drainage Ditches Jeff Strock - Southwest Research and Outreach Center University of Minnesota 404,112 2013
Controlled Drainage and Bioreactor- Research and Demonstration Site Kathy Smith - Martin County SWCD 119,396 2011/2012
Evaluation of Nutrient Retention Basins for Treating Drainage from Agricultural Landscapes Jeff Strock - Southwest Research and Outreach Center University of Minnesota 183,910 2008
Field Evaluation of Controlled Drainage and Woodchip Bioreactors in Reducing Contaminant Losses from Farmed Fields John Moncrief - University of Minnesota 237,760 2009
On-Farm Evaluation of Treatment Methods for Excess Nutrients in Agricultural Subsurface Tile Drainage Dean Current - University of Minnesota (CINRAM) 312,248 2011/2012
The Agricultural BMP Handbook for Minnesota Joel Peterson and Tom Miller - Emmons & Oliver Resources, Inc. 94,500 2010

Completed Projects - Conservation Planning

Project Title Recipient Funds Awarded ($) RFP Year
Improved design, performance, and implementation of saturated buffers Gary R. Sands - University of Minnesota 190,923 2017
Ag BMP Assessment and Tracking Tool Stephanie Johnson - Houston Engineering Inc. 102,466 2010
Assessment and Selection of Sentinel Watersheds for Addressing Impaired Waters Bruce Wilson and John Neiber - University of Minnesota 106,125 2010
Evaluation of Best Management Practices in Impaired Watershed using the SWAT Model David Mulla - University of Minnesota 160,000 2007
Identifying Priority Management Zones for Best Management Practice Implementation in Impaired Watersheds Greg Wilson - Barr Engineering 571,719 2010
Priority Setting for Restoration in Sentinel Watersheds Chris Lenhart - University of Minnesota 288,650 2010
Targeting Best Management Practices to Critical Portions of the Landscape David Mulla - University of Minnesota 95,000 2007
Validation of the Minnesota Feedlot Assessment Runoff Model (MinnFARM) for use in Assessing TMDLs Bruce Wilson - University of Minnesota 67,700 2009

Completed Projects - Water Quality Sampling

Project Title Recipient Funds Awarded ($) RFP Year
Evaluation of Acetochlor Losses to Tile Drainage Gyles Randall - University of Minnesota 30,000 2008
Evaluation of Alternative Surface-Water Monitoring Protocols for Use in Agricultural TMDL Load Allocation and BMP Evaluation Dennis Busch - University of Wisconsin - Platteville 32,300 2009
Feasibility of an On-Farm Water Quality Program in Minnesota Jim Anderson - University of Minnesota Water Resources Center 48,500 2007

Completed Projects - Microbiology

Project Title Recipient Funds Awarded ($) RFP Year
Optimizing Woodchip Bioreactors to Reduce Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Subsurface Drainage Water Carl Rosen - University of Minnesota 200,000 2016
Analyzing and Optimizing Denitrification in Agricultural Surface Waters Jessica Kozarek - St. Anthony Falls Laboratory University of Minnesota 396,935 2013
Developing a DNA Marker for Bacteria from Cattle, Swine, and Poultry Manure Michael Sadowsky - University of Minnesota 240,000 2007
Growth, Survival and Genetic Structure of E. Coli found in Ditch Sediment and Water at the Seven Mile Creek Watershed Michael Sadowsky - University of Minnesota 192,804 2008

 

 

Learn More
Clean Water Research Program