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Involvement from others <br />Many entities are involved with water resources, <br />including the county's 45 municipalities, 11 watershed <br />management entities, and two park districts. <br />Additionally, state -level governance regulates water <br />quality throughout Hennepin County. The Minnesota <br />Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) is <br />responsible for working with partners to improve and <br />protect local water quality. The Minnesota Pollution <br />Control Agency (MPCA) helps protect water resources <br />by monitoring water quality, setting standards, and <br />controlling what may go into water. <br />At the federal level, the Clean Water Act requires each <br />state to adopt water quality standards to protect waters <br />from pollution. Many partners and stakeholders create <br />a complex structure for the management and <br />regulation of water throughout Hennepin County. <br />Hennepin County's role <br />In 2016, Hennepin County adopted a Natural Resource <br />Strategic Plan. This plan is intended to guide the county <br />and its partners in responding to natural resource issues <br />and developing internal and external policies, <br />programs, and partnerships that improve, protect, and <br />preserve natural resources. <br />Internally, Hennepin County promotes the <br />implementation of low -impact development and green <br />infrastructure for newly developed and redeveloped <br />properties, agricultural best practices, wetland <br />restorations, and innovative stormwater management <br />practices where applicable. The county will also <br />continue to research and implement state-of-the-art <br />methods of applying chloride to reduce water pollution <br />while maintaining safe roads. These practices will help <br />the county adapt to changing future conditions, reduce <br />impacts from stormwater runoff and work toward the <br />remediation of impaired waters. <br />Additionally, as the only county in the state with the <br />duties and authorities of a soil and water conservation <br />district, Hennepin County takes the lead in delivering <br />critical assistance in soil and water conservation to land <br />managers. As the conservation district, the county is a <br />member of the Technical Evaluation Panel for <br />administering the Wetland Conservation Act, oversees <br />stewardship of 40 conservation easements, distributes <br />conservation cost -share funds to private landowners, <br />and provides assistance to landowners seeking to <br />comply with the state's buffer law. <br />Hennepin County and the Minnesota Land Trust established a <br />44-acre conservation easement at Camp Kingswood in <br />Minnetrista in 2011. <br />Hennepin County provides technical assistance to <br />watershed organizations and serves on technical <br />advisory committees for the Minnesota Pollution <br />Control Agency's Watershed Restoration and Protection <br />Strategies (WRAPS) and for total maximum daily load <br />(TMDL) studies for impaired waters. <br />Hennepin County also manages volunteer wetland and <br />stream monitoring programs dedicated to obtaining <br />quality data and promoting wetland and stream <br />stewardship. The county provides financial and technical <br />assistance to landowners and local governments to <br />implement best management practices that preserve <br />and restore critical habitats, reduce erosion, and protect <br />and improve water quality. <br />8 <br />