HF 684

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 02/18/2013 01:41pm

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; appropriating money from the clean water fund to
protect water supplies and lakes in the northeast Twin Cities metropolitan area.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin PROTECTING WATER SUPPLIES AND LAKES IN THE
NORTHEAST TWIN CITIES METROPOLITAN AREA; APPROPRIATIONS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Northeast metropolitan area groundwater and surface water
interaction; data collection and analysis. new text end

new text begin $500,000 in fiscal year 2014 is appropriated
from the clean water fund to the Metropolitan Council for a fiscal agreement with the United
States Geological Survey to investigate groundwater and surface water interaction in and
around White Bear Lake and surrounding northeast metropolitan lakes, including seepage
rate determinations, water quality of groundwater and surface water, isotope analyses,
lake level analyses, water balance determination, and creation of a calibrated groundwater
flow model. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2016.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Engineering feasibility assessment and recommendation. new text end

new text begin $1,000,000 in
fiscal year 2014 is appropriated from the clean water fund to the Metropolitan Council
to identify potential solutions to the issue of declining lake levels in White Bear Lake
and surrounding northeast metropolitan lakes. The council shall contract with a private
engineering firm to conduct an engineering feasibility study to identify costs and benefits,
including capital and operations and maintenance costs, technical feasibility, and financial
feasibility of potential solutions. The United States Geological Survey shall conduct
groundwater optimization modeling as part of the engineering feasibility assessment. The
engineering feasibility assessment study final product must include recommendations
from the private engineering firm. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until
June 30, 2016.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Reports. new text end

new text begin By November 15, 2015, the Metropolitan Council shall report
on its progress to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees
with jurisdiction over environment and natural resources policy and finance and provide
a final report by July 15, 2016.
new text end