HF 2657

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 03/27/2019 01:33pm

A bill for an act
relating to water; appropriating money to keep water on the land.

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

Section 1. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS; KEEPING WATER ON THE LAND.
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new text begin (a) $....... in fiscal year 2020 is appropriated from the ....... fund to the Board of Water
and Soil Resources to develop, in cooperation with the commissioners of agriculture, natural
resources, and the Pollution Control Agency, a statewide action plan for keeping water on
the land to improve water retention, reduce erosion and loading of pollutants through excess
water runoff, and improve agricultural productivity. The plan must:
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new text begin (1) identify the most efficient best management practices for keeping water on the land
and identify incentives to implement the practices at priority locations;
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new text begin (2) identify methods for encouraging greater state and local government cooperation
with the agricultural industry;
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new text begin (3) include methods for promoting existing programs and incentives to leverage state
and federal funds to maximize landowner enrollment in conservation programs, including
adoption of best management practices, cover crops, and conservation easements; and
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new text begin (4) include methods and identify funding needs to promote, encourage, and enhance
watershed-scale pollutant trading and banking programs for storm water and wastewater
using existing authorities.
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new text begin The board must submit the plan to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house
of representatives and senate committees and divisions with jurisdiction over agriculture
and the environment and natural resources by January 15, 2020.
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new text begin (b) $....... in fiscal year 2020 is appropriated from the general fund to accelerate local
implementation of programs funded by the clean water fund by providing additional technical
assistance. Of this amount, $....... is to the Board of Water and Soil Resources and $....... is
to the commissioner of agriculture.
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new text begin (c) $....... in fiscal year 2020 is appropriated from the ....... fund to the commissioner of
the Pollution Control Agency to accelerate implementation of efficient water quality trading
options.
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new text begin (d) $....... in fiscal year 2020 is appropriated from the ....... fund to the commissioner of
natural resources to assess the amount of drainage in the state, including tile drainage and
drainage ditch use, and study the hydrological impacts.
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new text begin (e) The appropriations in the section are onetime and available until June 30, 2021.
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