Southeast regional groundwater protection and soil health initiative funding provided from the clean water fund, and money appropriated.

HF 452 appropriates funds from Minnesota's Clean Water Fund for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to support a southeast regional groundwater protection and soil health initiative. The funding targets soil and water conservation districts in Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona counties. It enables these districts to provide grants for projects reducing nutrient leaching into groundwater, immobilizing nitrogen, and preventing erosion, including cover crop programs, alternative crops, and pasture enhancements. The initiative specifically aligns with existing requirements from the Olmsted County groundwater protection program.