SF 2058

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 04/14/2015 08:27am

A bill for an act
relating to water; establishing a watershed plan implementation program;
appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 103B.

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

Section 1.

[103B.103] WATERSHED PLAN IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM.

Subdivision 1.

Program established.

The Board of Water and Soil Resources, in
consultation with the University of Minnesota and the commissioner of agriculture, shall
establish a watershed plan implementation program to coordinate watershed-based efforts
to establish water quality goals, identify practices to address water quality, and quantify
results. The program shall:

(1) build local watershed management capacity by developing leadership among
landowners and others in watersheds;

(2) strengthen partnerships among technical providers, educators, and landowners
through working groups at the watershed level; and

(3) build local capacity to assess water quality, establish watershed goals, target and
implement practices to address water quality issues, and measure the results.

Subd. 2.

Coordinator.

The board shall assign a coordinator to watersheds that have
established measurable watershed water quality goals. The coordinator shall support
interested parties as they organize, assess water quality issues in the watershed, establish
goals, identify financial resources, implement best management practices, and measure
results. The board shall ensure that the process is open and public.

Subd. 3.

Goals.

The board shall establish guidance to be used by watersheds in
establishing three-year goals and methods for evaluating progress in meeting the goals.

Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.

$....... in fiscal year 2016 is appropriated from the ..... fund to the Board of Water and
Soil Resources to establish the watershed plan implementation program under section 1.