Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR)

What Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) does

The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) is a Minnesota state government agency headquartered in Saint Paul that administers water and soil conservation, wetland protection, and drainage management programs statewide. BWSR operates as the statutorily designated lead agency for the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA), enforces the Minnesota Buffer Law, and manages a portfolio of competitive Clean Water Fund and Legacy Amendment grant programs that fund local conservation implementation. The agency delivers programs through a network of 87 Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs), 8 Technical Service Areas (TSAs) organized as joint powers boards, watershed districts, counties, and cities, with private landowners as the end beneficiaries of easement, buffer establishment, and best-management-practice cost-share funding.

BWSR's technology layer consists of proprietary operational platforms rather than consumer-facing software. The eLINK system handles grant management, work plan development, expense tracking, and outcomes reporting. BuffCAT is the buffer compliance tracking tool used to enforce Minnesota Buffer Law requirements. PTMApp (Prioritize, Target, and Measure Application) is a water quality tool for prioritizing and measuring conservation practice implementation. The BWSR Maps and Apps Gallery, built on ArcGIS, exposes geospatial data including wetland specialist work areas, conservation lands by county, and easement information. In 2024, these systems supported the establishment of 503.1 miles of buffer strips and 2,098 drainage system inspections yielding 121 identified violations. Training is delivered through BWSR Academy, the MN Wetland Professional Certification Program, and an online learning library.

BWSR's funding model is non-commercial: the agency is financed through Minnesota legislative appropriations (General Fund), the Clean Water Fund, and the voter-approved Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment, with supplementary federal pass-throughs. BWSR is not a revenue-generating entity — it distributes grants downward and charges no fees for its services. Grant programs carry varying match requirements (typically 10% in recent fiscal years), and pass-through funding is allocated through competitive solicitations. The agency is wholly owned and controlled by the State of Minnesota, with no independent ownership, equity, or commercial revenue stream.

Name

Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR)

Legal name

Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources

Website

https://bwsr.state.mn.us

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) is a Minnesota state agency administering the Wetland Conservation Act, Minnesota Buffer Law, and Clean Water Fund grant programs, delivering conservation services through 87 Soil and Water Conservation Districts and 8 Technical Service Areas to LGUs and private landowners statewide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

State Conservation Administration

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wetland, Riparian & Buffer Services (within forest landscapes) (AFAMAMAI), Erosion Control & Stormwater BMP Maintenance (IMAIAIAG)

Keywords

• Conservation grant administration
• Wetland regulation services
• Watershed management programs
• Soil conservation funding
• Water quality monitoring

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Appropriations: BWSR is a state government agency funded through legislative appropriations including General Fund, Clean Water Fund, and other state funds.
2. Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment: BWSR programs are supported by Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment funding as indicated on the website footer.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

BWSR is a Minnesota state government agency that administers conservation grant programs, enforces wetland and buffer regulations, and provides technical assistance to local government units and private landowners. Its portfolio includes the Wetland Conservation Act, Minnesota Buffer Law enforcement, competitive Clean Water Fund grants (Multipurpose Drainage Management, Living Landscapes, Pollinator Pathways, Conservation Reserve Program incentives), the eLINK grant management platform, and the BWSR Maps and Apps geospatial gallery.

Product overview

The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) is a state government agency that does not offer a unified software product but rather administers a portfolio of regulatory programs, grant initiatives, and online tools. Key offerings include the eLINK platform for grant management and reporting, the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) regulatory program, Minnesota Buffer Law enforcement, Multipurpose Drainage Management grants, Living Landscapes programs (Pollinator Pathways, Habitat Enhancement), One Watershed One Plan watershed planning, and Technical Service Areas providing engineering support to conservation districts. The agency also operates the BWSR Maps and Apps Gallery using ArcGIS for geospatial data, and provides training through the Technical Training and Certification Program including the MN Wetland Professional Certification Program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• eLINK Online grant management and reporting platform used by BWSR and grant recipients to manage workplans, track expenses, and report on grant outcomes and accomplishments.
• Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) Program State regulatory program administered by local government units with BWSR oversight that governs wetland protection, delineation, and mitigation in Minnesota.
• Minnesota Buffer Law Program Program enforcing buffer strip requirements along public waters and drainage ditches under Minnesota statutes to protect water quality.
• Multipurpose Drainage Management (MDM) Grant Program Competitive Clean Water Fund grant program funding drainage management practices that reduce erosion, sedimentation, peak flows, and improve water quality while protecting drainage system efficiency.
• Living Landscapes Programs Suite of grant programs including CRP State Incentives, Habitat Enhancement Landscape Program (HELP), Pollinator Pathways, and Lawns to Legumes that promote native plantings and pollinator habitat.
• One Watershed, One Plan Watershed-scale planning initiative that consolidates local water planning efforts across Minnesota's major watersheds.
• Technical Training and Certification Program Technical training and certification program including BWSR Academy, the MN Wetland Professional Certification Program (MWPCP), and area-specific training delivered to conservation professionals.
• BWSR Maps and Apps Gallery ArcGIS-based mapping platform providing access to BWSR geographic data including wetland specialist work areas, conservation lands by county, and easement information.
• Performance Review and Assistance Program (PRAP) Program providing grants and support to Soil and Water Conservation Districts for project planning, inspections, invasive species control, and conservation practices.
• Technical Service Areas (TSAs) Eight regional joint powers boards providing engineering and technical services to member Soil and Water Conservation Districts across Minnesota.
• Conservation Easements Program (Reinvest in Minnesota / RIM) BWSR conservation easements program that compensates private landowners for perpetual land conservation easements, with the RIM Interactive Map and conservation lands by county providing public access to easement records.

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor87 SWCDs across Minnesota serve as the primary local delivery mechanism for BWSR conservation programs. They work directly with private landowners to implement best management practices, conservation easements, and water quality projects.
• Watershed DistrictscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecial purpose government units that manage water resources at the watershed scale. They work with BWSR to implement water quality projects, drainage management, and flood mitigation programs.
• Technical Service Areas (TSAs)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner8 TSAs organized as joint powers boards that provide engineering and technical assistance to member SWCDs. They utilize current surveying and design technology to deliver effective conservation engineering assistance.
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDNR provides enforcement for regulatory provisions of the Wetland Conservation Act and serves as representative on Technical Evaluation Panels (TEP) alongside BWSR wetland specialists.
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency that cooperates with BWSR and SWCDs to provide conservation technical assistance on private lands through federal programs that complement state conservation efforts.
• Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMnDOT personnel are responsible for Wetland Conservation Act compliance on MnDOT lands. BWSR provides guidance and oversight for WCA implementation on transportation projects.
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - St. Paul DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal regulatory partner for Clean Water Act Section 404 permit program. Coordinates with BWSR on wetland regulation to help determine applicable regulatory program jurisdiction.
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinates on Clean Water Act Section 401 water quality certification process and provides water quality tools and models that complement BWSR conservation programs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD): National nonprofit representing the 3,000+ conservation districts across the United States. Provides policy coordination, training, and funding support analogous to BWSR's working relationship with Minnesota SWCDs.

Direct peers

• Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board: Oregon state agency that awards grants and provides technical assistance for watershed restoration and conservation. Operates a similar LGU-delivery model with comparable grant programs and conservation focus.
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR): Minnesota's primary natural resource management agency, closely co-located with BWSR's mission. DNR co-enforces the Wetland Conservation Act and shares Technical Evaluation Panels, making it the most direct state-level peer for conservation program administration.
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA): State regulatory agency overseeing water quality, air quality, and solid waste. Coordinates with BWSR on Section 401 water quality certifications and shares water quality tools, making it a direct peer in environmental program administration.

Regional players

• Colorado Water Conservation Board: Colorado state agency that funds and oversees water conservation projects, watershed planning, and agricultural water use. Comparable in mission scope around water resource management but with different hydrology and governance.
• Iowa Department of Natural Resources: Adjacent state conservation agency with similar agricultural conservation and water quality programs. Comparable in mission scope but operates under Iowa's different regulatory and funding framework.
• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: Neighboring state agency with conservation, water quality, and wetland protection mandates parallel to BWSR's. Comparable in scope and program structure but operates in a different state regulatory environment.
• Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR): State agency administering conservation districts, grant programs, and natural resource planning. Comparable in mission and structure but operates in a different geographic and political context.

Broad incumbents

• California State Water Resources Control Board: Large state water regulatory body with grant and water quality programs comparable to BWSR's but at substantially larger scale. Useful benchmark for understanding how state-level water agencies scale with jurisdiction size.
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS): Federal conservation counterpart that partners with BWSR and SWCDs to deliver technical assistance on private lands. Comparable in mission (conservation on private lands) but operates at federal scale and across all states.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/minnesota-board-of-water-and-soil-resources

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR)