Agenda - Council - 02/13/1990 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Metro Loca! Water Managernen! T~sk Force Repo"t December '/5, 1989 !, Executive Summary The Metropolitan Local Water Management Task Force was established by Article 9 of the 1989 Groundwater Protection Act. The mission of the 22 member Task Force was to evaluate the status and effectiveness of local water planning and management efforts in the seven county metro area. Emphasis was placed on the as- sessment of the Metropolitan Water Management Act or "509" (Minnesota Statutes Sections 473.875 to 473.883). Also assessed was the management of public ditches in urbanized watersheds. A total of 10 meetings were held from July 20 to December 15, 1989. Testimony was heard from the State Planning Agency, the Department of Natural Resources, the Pollution Control Agent% the Association of Metropolitan Municipalities, the Board of Water and Soil Resources, the Metropolitan Council, two joint powers watershed management organizations, two metro watershed districts and the Associa- tion of Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Two surveys were conducted to gather data from local governments. One was a written survey conducted by the Association of Metro Municipalities of their 67 mem- bers. The second was a phone survey of the 46 metropolitan ,,watershed management organizations (WMOs") conducted by BWSR staff. * "WblO meansjoint powers watershed management organizations and watershed districts. The deliberations of the Task Force centered around this testimony, results of the two surveys, and written input from the League of Women Voters and the Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts. The following major conclusions and recommen- dations resulted from the process. I;.:':' :'i'! The'Metrop01itan Surfa'~:'e waierMan:~ige~:ACi.h~"~nlY iS~i~li'Y:~:'~'ii~'~':':e~'~'~;~ii~'~s :--i':-': i!;i,.'. :;:~' of what the Act was intended to accom,.p, lis.h,;. ;Many.communities involved .in the ';.: ..' ..:.' ': ::.:' ': ": ' process feel that a major benefit of the 509 process has been that.it forced them t0,.;;:. :....:.: - 5:': : meet on common ground for the first time to begin tO Work ot~t'somelong-standing...:: '-:::'.:.- :i :.:.: ' ",::':,.. :.' problems.,.: ,.-' : . .:i":.,,:.:: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::-::'.:(-.- ........ :::;':;:¥..?ii?:: :i.:.' :'""'"':'~':'-:' :?:'::"~:~'::¥:.:--¢":."::':"'":'"'?'.-:'"':~:i' ~' '. :':'::' ~:. 2 The majority (41 out of 46) of the established watershed management organizations have : ':-:: ;,.":.'.developed.plans pursuant to the law.-.:.: ..- -.'::.:- .:'-.:'-':::-.: .":.-.:. --::,' :-,:.'.: : ...... :--'- ..' .'-.':-':' ..:'. '- :-:!' .3' There is concern over impiement~ti°~ due to ~/ariati~ns in'plan content;" Ui~iform min'i, . ' !?'i- '":" mum standards for plan content would make implementation of local plans easier and better define."509" expectations for all who are involved In the process.-.. , , -...-.:'... .... 4 The present law provides for little, if any, oversight of the implementation process at the local level. Further. the law is silent as to whether the WMOs should be long-term - -::. management entities. The taw must be revised to provide better oversight and account- ability .... · :. 5 Public ditch management and financing m urbanizing watersheds has been a problem. ":.':... There is a need to clarify how ditches can be managed under the ad valorem levy con- .:...:: cept allowed under "509." Page