Minnesota Session Laws - 2009, Regular Session

CHAPTER 49--S.F.No. 275

An act

relating to natural resources; renaming the Minnesota River Basin Joint Powers Board; clarifying the duties and membership of board;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 103F.378.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 103F.378, is amended to read:

103F.378 MINNESOTA RIVER deleted text begin BASIN JOINT POWERS deleted text end BOARD.

Subdivision 1.

Duties.

The Minnesota River deleted text begin Basin Joint Powers deleted text end Board, established under section 471.59 for the purpose of coordinating efforts to improve water quality in the Minnesota River new text begin Basin new text end and achieving the goal of making the Minnesota River suitable for fishing and swimming deleted text begin by the year 2005 deleted text end new text begin by providing leadership, building partnerships, and supporting watershed programs in collaboration with the Water Resources Center at Minnesota State University, Mankato new text end , has the following duties:

(1) deleted text begin coordination of deleted text end new text begin compiling and submitting to the governor, the legislature, the Board of Water and Soil Resources, and all watershed partners: new text end

new text begin (i) new text end comprehensive new text begin water quality improvement and watershed management new text end cleanup goals for the Minnesota River new text begin Basin, prepared new text end by deleted text begin coordinating deleted text end new text begin reviewing and summarizing new text end the work plans of the 12 major watersheds deleted text begin and the member deleted text end new text begin , basin new text end counties deleted text begin of the joint powers board deleted text end , state agencies, and deleted text begin the University of Minnesota in cleanup efforts deleted text end deleted text begin and submission of periodic river cleanup plans for submission to the governor and the legislature deleted text end new text begin other partners active in water quality programming; new text end

new text begin (ii) a biennial report highlighting the results and progress of projects in the 12 major watersheds of the Minnesota River Basin; and new text end

new text begin (iii) periodic basinwide water quality improvement plans new text end ;

(2) advising on deleted text begin the development and use of monitoring and evaluation systems in the Minnesota River and the incorporation of the data obtained from these systems into the planning process deleted text end new text begin water quality and watershed management projects, including implementation and coordination of TMDLs under the Clean Water Legacy Act as provided in chapter 114D, and promotion of data incorporation into the planning processes associated with county water plans, watershed plans, and, as appropriate, planning and zoning decisions in the Minnesota River Basin new text end ;

(3) conducting public meetings of the board on at least a quarterly basis at locations within the Minnesota River Basin;

(4) conducting an ongoing information and education program concerning the status of the Minnesota River deleted text begin , including an annual conference on the state of the Minnesota River deleted text end new text begin Basin and sponsoring and coordinating continuing education opportunities in cooperation with watershed partners in the basin new text end ;

(5) providing periodic reports and budget requests to the governor's office deleted text begin and the chairs of the agriculture and environment and natural resources committees of the senate and the house of representatives deleted text end new text begin , appropriate committees of the legislature, and the Board of Water and Soil Resources new text end regarding progress on meeting river water quality management goals deleted text begin and deleted text end new text begin , new text end future funding required for this effort new text begin , new text end new text begin and biennial legislative requests to provide funding for the effort new text end ;

(6) deleted text begin advising on the development of projects within the 12 major watersheds that are scientifically sound, have landowner support, and reduce inputs of pollutants into the Minnesota River basin deleted text end new text begin coordinating and promoting, in partnership with and on behalf of water quality and watershed management stakeholders, policy development and implementation of projects that affect multiple major watersheds and target reduction of pollutant inputs into the Minnesota River new text end ; deleted text begin and deleted text end

(7) deleted text begin administering the distribution of project implementation funds for the 12 major watersheds by approving projects, identifying matching components for each project, and tracking the results achieved for each project. deleted text end new text begin facilitating the identification of and application for water quality improvement implementation and research funding for projects that affect multiple major watersheds and benefit local watershed efforts and providing assistance to local project managers, partners, state agencies, the legislature, or the governor's office; new text end

new text begin (8) advocating to promote and advance basin issues identified by county and watershed partners at the legislature, among the state agencies, and with the governor; new text end

new text begin (9) promoting cooperation among the numerous water quality and watershed management units in the basin; new text end

new text begin (10) providing conflict resolution and meeting facilitation services as requested; and new text end

new text begin (11) striving to advance basinwide water quality improvements while promoting both local projects and managing regional initiatives. new text end

Subd. 2.

Membership new text begin ; advisory committee new text end .

new text begin (a) new text end Upon acceptance of the joint powers agreement new text begin and payment of annual dues new text end , each member county deleted text begin that agrees to join the board deleted text end shall deleted text begin have deleted text end new text begin appoint new text end one county commissioner as its delegate to the board and one county commissioner as an alternate. deleted text begin A technical and citizen deleted text end new text begin Delegates and alternates shall serve at the pleasure of the county board that appointed them. The delegates shall elect a chair and other officers as determined by the board. new text end

new text begin (b) An new text end advisory committee new text begin , appointed by the chair of the Minnesota River Board, new text end shall be established to deleted text begin advise the board consisting of a technical representative from each of the counties in the basin and citizens who are not county employees but who have an interest in agriculture, conservation, sporting activities, and other relevant areas as determined by the board deleted text end new text begin provide input on policy development, technical advances, continuing education programs, and other areas of concern identified by the delegates to the board or the advisory committee. Members of the advisory committee shall serve three-year terms. Members shall serve until the end of their terms or until a successor has been appointed, whichever is later. The advisory committee may consist of representatives from county water planning entities, county planning and zoning, county environmental services, drainage authorities, soil and water conservation districts, watershed districts, watershed projects, watershed management organizations, municipalities, special interest groups, citizens, agricultural organizations, state agencies, sporting organizations, and other entities as identified by the advisory committee or the delegates. The advisory committee serves as a forum to raise concerns that the Minnesota River Board should address new text end .

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin ESTABLISHMENT OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE. new text end

new text begin By August 1, 2009, the chair of the Minnesota River Board shall designate a member of the Minnesota River Board Advisory Committee to convene the first meeting of the advisory committee that includes new members authorized under section 1. The first meeting shall be convened by December 31, 2009. The members of the advisory committee shall select a chair and other officers from their membership at the meeting of the advisory committee required by this section. The Minnesota River Board shall provide the advisory committee with staff support and meeting facilities for the first meeting of the advisory committee. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Presented to the governor May 5, 2009

Signed by the governor May 7, 2009, 3:43 p.m.