1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to water; appropriating money to advance and 
  1.3             develop water supply systems. 
  1.4   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.5      Section 1.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  1.6      $100,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
  1.7   commissioner of natural resources for the following purposes: 
  1.8      (1) $25,000 in fiscal year 1998 and $25,000 in fiscal year 
  1.9   1999 is for a grant to the joint powers board established under 
  1.10  Minnesota Statutes, section 471.59, for the Lewis and Clark 
  1.11  rural water system.  The joint powers board must prepare an 
  1.12  annual work plan that identifies actions to be taken to advance 
  1.13  the Lewis and Clark project as a continuing source of water to 
  1.14  meet water supply needs in the southwest part of the state.  The 
  1.15  work plan must include a report on the ongoing efforts of member 
  1.16  cities and rural water systems to conserve water and protect 
  1.17  existing groundwater supplies.  The work plan is subject to 
  1.18  review and approval by the commissioner. 
  1.19     (2) $50,000 is for developing and administering contracts 
  1.20  with water well contractors for exploratory drilling and 
  1.21  installation of observation wells to characterize the geologic 
  1.22  and hydrologic conditions in the southwest region of the state 
  1.23  where water supplies are difficult to locate.  The appropriation 
  1.24  is available until June 30, 1999, and is contingent upon a 
  2.1   nonstate equal match.  A report on the results of this 
  2.2   expenditure must be given to the house and senate environment 
  2.3   and natural resources committees by February 15, 1998, and 
  2.4   February 15, 1999. 
  2.5      Any further state appropriation for the joint powers board 
  2.6   is contingent upon money received from the federal government.