SF 4010

1st Engrossment - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 03/11/2020 04:36pm

A bill for an act
relating to environment; requiring development of water quality management plan
for Red River of the North; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin APPROPRIATION; RED RIVER OF THE NORTH; WATER QUALITY
MANAGEMENT PLAN.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Appropriation; plan contents. new text end

new text begin $500,000 in fiscal year 2021 is
appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of agriculture for a grant to the Red
River Basin Commission to facilitate developing a phosphorous water quality plan for the
Red River of the North. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until December 31,
2024. The commission may contract with outside experts or academic institutions in
developing the plan. The plan:
new text end

new text begin (1) must address applicable water quality targets for phosphorous loading;
new text end

new text begin (2) must include an allocation of phosphorus between point and nonpoint sources;
new text end

new text begin (3) must identify cost-effective implementation strategies to reduce nutrients; and
new text end

new text begin (4) may include other state water quality goals and objectives.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Advisory group. new text end

new text begin In developing the plan, the Red River Basin Commission
must work in cooperation with an advisory group consisting of representatives from the
Minnesota Agricultural Water Resource Center, the Red River Watershed Management
Board, other agricultural groups, watershed districts, soil and water conservation districts,
and cities located in the Red River basin. The Red River Basin Commission may also work
with representatives from similar organizations from North Dakota, South Dakota, and
Manitoba.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Reporting. new text end

new text begin By December 31, 2024, the Red River Basin Commission must
submit the final plan to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of
representatives and senate committees with jurisdiction over agriculture policy and finance.
By December 31 each year before the final plan is submitted, the commission must submit
a progress report on the plan's development to these same recipients.
new text end