1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to appropriations; providing for watershed 
  1.3             protection in the Cannon river valley; appropriating 
  1.4             money for a trail and joint powers planning. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  1.7      $400,000 is appropriated for the biennium from the general 
  1.8   fund to the commissioner of natural resources for a grant to the 
  1.9   Cannon river watershed partnership.  The money must be used for 
  1.10  protection, conservation, and enhancement of the environmental 
  1.11  integrity of the Cannon river watershed, including: 
  1.12     (1) utilizing shoreland volunteers and training on best 
  1.13  management practices; 
  1.14     (2) improving water quality throughout the watershed; 
  1.15     (3) reducing soil erosion in the watershed; 
  1.16     (4) working with local units of government and citizens to 
  1.17  educate and implement watershed protection efforts; 
  1.18     (5) planning for sustainable recreational use within the 
  1.19  watershed; and 
  1.20     (6) assisting the coordination and implementation of county 
  1.21  comprehensive plans and water plans. 
  1.22     Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  1.23     $350,000 is appropriated for the biennium from the general 
  1.24  fund to the commissioner of natural resources for a grant to the 
  1.25  Cannon River Link Trail Board.  The money must be used for land 
  2.1   acquisition, planning, and administration for the future 
  2.2   construction of the Mill Towns trail, which will connect the 
  2.3   Cannon Valley trail to the Sakatah Singing Hills trail.  The 
  2.4   Cannon River Link Trail Board must seek available federal 
  2.5   funding, and funding or in-kind services from organizations and 
  2.6   local units of government along the trail route. 
  2.7      Sec. 3.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  2.8      $250,000 is appropriated from the general fund for the 
  2.9   biennium to a joint powers board established by the counties of 
  2.10  Steele, Rice, Goodhue, LeSueur, Waseca, and Dakota, and any 
  2.11  cities and towns within the counties, to prepare a land use 
  2.12  management and recreation plan for the Cannon river watershed; 
  2.13  and to provide grant programs for filter strips, side inlet 
  2.14  structures, and reconstruction of bridges over sensitive 
  2.15  environmental areas.  The goal of the plan is to protect the 
  2.16  river system's natural beauty, environment, and water quality.  
  2.17  The purpose of the plan is to assist local units of government 
  2.18  within the Cannon river watershed to adequately plan for the 
  2.19  protective management of the river within their jurisdiction.  
  2.20  The plan and programs must meet or exceed the requirements of 
  2.21  state shoreland, floodplain, and wild and scenic river laws. 
  2.22     The joint powers board must seek available federal funding, 
  2.23  and funding or in-kind services from organizations and local 
  2.24  units of government to complete the plan and implement the 
  2.25  program. 
  2.26     Sec. 4.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.27     This act is effective July 1, 1999.