Purpose
The Section 569 program authorizes aid from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the public entities in the 24-county northeastern Minnesota area for design and construction assistance for water related environmental infrastructure and resource protection and development projects. These projects can target wastewater treatment and related facilities, water supply and related facilities, environmental restoration, and surface water resource protection and development.
Location
The Section 569 program area includes the northeastern Minnesota counties of Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Carlton, Cass, Chisago, Clearwater, Cook, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, St. Louis, Wadena and Washington. Program responsibilities are shared between the St. Paul District and Omaha District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Status
The following projects are currently in a design or construction phase within the St. Paul District:
- Pease, Minnesota: water system improvement project, federal share of $2.3 million
- Isle, Minnesota: sanitary sewer and water improvement project, federal share of $2.95 million
- Ogilvie, Minnesota: wastewater treatment system improvement, federal share of $2.87 million
- Tower, Minnesota: water treatment plant improvement project, federal share of $3.375 million
- Wahkon, Minnesota: sanitary sewer improvement project, federal share of $1.738 million
- Baudette, Minnesota: sanitary sewer and water improvement project, federal share of $3.1 million
The cities of Baudette, Braham, Winton, Cuyuna and Shorewood have requested support for their water and wastewater supply repair and improvement needs, totaling approximately $44.5 million in federal funds.
Authority
Section 569 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1999 authorizes the program. Congress authorized $54 million for the program originally. Section 569 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 increased the authorization to $80 million.
Funding
The Section 569 program has received a total of $55,247,572.67 through fiscal year 2024. Thus, $24,752,427.33 remains on the authorization. Infrastructure assistance is provided on a 75% federal, 25% nonfederal sponsor basis.