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HF 4278

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/29/2018 04:24pm

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.

Current Version - as introduced

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A bill for an act
relating to waters; modifying appropriation for certain watershed restoration;
amending Laws 2016, chapter 189, article 3, section 4.

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

Section 1.

Laws 2016, chapter 189, article 3, section 4, is amended to read:


Sec. 4. BOARD OF WATER AND SOIL
RESOURCES

$
-0-
$
479,000

$479,000 the second year is for the
development of a detailed plan to implement
a working lands watershed restoration program
to incentivize the establishment and
maintenance of perennial crops that includes
the following:

(1) a process for selecting pilot watersheds
that are expected to result in the greatest water
quality improvements and exhibit readiness
to participate in the program;

(2) an assessment of the quantity of
agricultural land that is expected to be eligible
for the program in each watershed;

(3) an assessment of landowner interest in
participating in the program;

(4) an assessment of the contract terms and
any recommendations for changes to the terms,
including consideration of variable payment
rates for lands of different priority or type;

(5) an assessment of the opportunity to
leverage federal funds through the program
and recommendations on how to maximize
the use of federal funds for assistance to
establish perennial crops;

(6) an assessment of how other state programs
could complement the program;

(7) an estimate of water quality improvements
expected to result from implementation in pilot
watersheds;

(8) an assessment of how to best integrate
program implementation with existing
conservation requirements and develop
recommendations on harvest practices and
timing to benefit wildlife production;

(9) an assessment of the potential viability and
water quality benefit of cover crops used in
biomass processing facilities;

(10) a timeline for implementation,
coordinated to the extent possible with
proposed biomass processing facilities; deleted text begin and
deleted text end

(11) a projection of funding sources needed
to complete implementationdeleted text begin .deleted text end new text begin ;
new text end

new text begin (12) outreach to local governments, interest
groups, and individual farmers on the
economic and environmental benefits of
perennial and cover crops;
new text end

new text begin (13) establishment of detailed criteria to target
the location of perennial and cover crops on
a watershed basis to maximize the
environmental benefit at the lowest cost; and
new text end

new text begin (14) development of model contracts to
include payment rates, duration, type of crops,
harvest standards, and monitoring procedures
for use in future program implementation.
new text end

This is a onetime appropriation and is
available until June 30, deleted text begin 2018deleted text end new text begin 2019new text end .

The board shall coordinate development of
the working lands watershed restoration plan
with stakeholders and the commissioners of
natural resources, agriculture, and the
Pollution Control Agency. The board must
submit an interim report by October 15, deleted text begin 2017deleted text end new text begin
2018
new text end , and the feasibility study and program
plan by February 1, deleted text begin 2018deleted text end new text begin 2019new text end , to the chairs
and ranking minority members of the
legislative committees and divisions with
jurisdiction over agriculture, natural resources,
and environment policy and finance and to the
Clean Water Council.