For more information contact Kris Larson, Water Resource Specialist,
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Anoka County residents will benefit from a new $70,000 clean water grant that will provide assistance to seal unused wells to protect groundwater resources from contamination. This grant is an extension of ACD's current well-sealing program which has made great progress over the past four years. The proposed grant will enable ACD to seal up to an additional 30 unused wells, targeting those within DWSMAs and deep wells intersecting multiple aquifers.
If you have an old well that you no longer use, you may be eligible for cost-share funding to seal it! Unused wells could be direct conduits for pollution to reach our drinking water supply, so it is important to have unused wells sealed by a professional. Learn more about the program and see if you qualify here: www.anokaswcd.org/well-sealing.html. For more information contact Kris Larson, Water Resource Specialist, at
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ACD delivered on a MPCA administered Environment and Natural Resource Trust Fund SSTS fix-up grant. ACD has an ongoing low-income SSTS fix-up program and was able to leverage these funds to help replace 10 failing septic systems in Anoka County. Photo: Map of Anoka County showing locations of SSTS fix-up projects.
ACD established a well sealing cost-share program, using a FY20 Clean Water Fund (CWF) grant. ACD worked with hundreds of landowners, promoting and educating on well sealing, resulting in the sealing of 64 high-priority unused wells. Photo: Map of Anoka County showing locations of well sealing projects.
ACD completed a county wide buffer inventory using new 2024 ariel images. ACD staff will continue to work with Anoka County residents in 2025, to ensure the buffer law is implemented. Photo: Example profile of a river and the vegetative buffers in the riparian zone that treat stormwater runoff before it enters the waterbody.
ACD, Conservation Corps MN & Iowa (CCMI), and Anoka County Parks, delivered on a Clean Partners Legacy grant to install 2,933 feet of cedar tree revetments on the Rum River. Photo: ACD staff and CCMI crew installing a cedar revetment.
While 2024 was a fruitful year for project installation, it was also filled with behind-the-scenes planning setting the stage for exciting future work. Amongst these efforts was the identification of priority sites for holistic fish and wildlife habitat restoration projects throughout the Rum River Corridor; part of collaborative effort with a multi-phase Outdoor Heritage Fund grant, this will benefit several acres of wetland and riparian habitat and hundreds of linear feet of riverbank and in-stream habitat. Keep an eye out for projects resulting from these and many other exciting planning efforts that occurred in 2024! Photo: 6 acres of ditched wetland dominated by invasive species to be restored in 2025.
2024 also brought the completion of three Subwatershed/ Stormwater Retrofit Analyses covering both urban and rural priority watersheds in the county. Through these, we have new ‘playbooks’ to reference while pursuing the most cost-effective water quality improvement projects benefiting the Rum and Mississippi Rivers.
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In Anoka County, 330,000 residents (94%) depend on groundwater for drinking water, using about 12 billion gallons annually. Wells (residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial) that are unused and unsealed pose a significant health and safety hazard by creating a direct conduit to introduce contaminants (e.g. pesticides, nutrients, pathogens) into groundwater supplies. The highly permeable sands of the Anoka Sand Plain are likely a significant source of groundwater recharge for several of the major aquifers that supply water needs throughout the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. Visit the Minnesota Department of Health webpage for more information on well sealing in MN.
Photo: Drinking Water Supply Management Area Vulnerability in Anoka County
Photo: Pollution Sensitivity in Anoka County
Anoka County was one of the few counties in Minnesota that lacked a program to assist landowners with paying to seal unused wells. In response, ACD established a well sealing cost-share program, using a FY20 Clean Water Fund (CWF) grant. As awareness of the program grew, demand increased, highlighting the need for such financial assistance. Since 2020, ACD's well sealing program has made significant progress. ACD staff has worked with hundreds of landowners, promoting and educating on well sealing, resulting in the sealing of 67 high-priority unused wells.
Photo: Unused wells sealed with ACD's well sealing cost-share program, 2020-2024
Unused wells remain to be an issue that threatens Anoka County's groundwater resources. ACD's current CWF grant expires at the end of this year but the district has applied for another round of funding to continue the well sealing cost-share program. Through administering the last grant, ACD developed working relationships with licensed well sealers and partnerships with neighboring cities to advertise the program. ACD's goal is to build on previous successes, ensuring ongoing protection of Anoka County's groundwater resources. By focusing on high-priority wells, providing financial incentives, and leveraging existing outreach efforts, the well sealing program will mitigate groundwater contamination risks and enhance public health and safety in Anoka County in a cost effective way. For more information contact Kris Larson,Water Resource Specialist, at
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Project Features:
- A coconut fiber biolog was installed on top of the previously installed coir-log to raise the elevation.
- The void space was filled with brush bundles and topsoil.
- Topsoil was graded by hand.
- Erosion control fabric was installed over the other project features to hold in place.
- Live staked above coir logs with Red osier dogwood.
- Native plants were planted along the top of bank to provide aesthetics, wildlife habitat and additional stabilization.
Photo: Lakeshore stabilization site on Martin Lake, planted with native sedges and wildflowers.
Pollution Reduction:
- Phosphorus reduction: 0.616 lbs/yr
- Sediment reduction: 1,450 lbs/yr
Cost-share funding was provided from BWSR SWCD Aid and a contribution from the landowner. ACD provided project administration, design, and project installation.For more information contact Kris Larson, Water Resource Specialist, at
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