Agenda - Council Work Session - 02/23/2021

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The Lower Rum River Watershed Management Organization (LRRWMO) Watershed Management Plan (Plan) provides guidance for managing the water and natural resources within the jurisdiction of the LRRWMO. This section summarizes the location and history of the LRRWMO, as well as its purposes, authorities, and management structure. Like all watershed management organizations (WMOs), the LRRWMO is a special purpose unit of local government that manages water resources on a watershed basis. Watershed management organization boundaries generally follow natural watershed divides, rather than political boundaries. Thus, they may include several municipalities and counties. Recognizing that water does not follow political boundaries, the State of Minnesota established the Watershed Act (Minnesota Statutes 103D) in 1955, which provided for the creation of watershed districts anywhere in the state. In 1982, the Minnesota Legislature enacted the Metropolitan Surface Water Management Act (Minnesota Statutes 1036.201 — 1036.255). This act required the formation of a WMO, and the development and implementation of a watershed management plan, for each of the watersheds in the seven county Twin Cities metropolitan area. WMOs can be organized as joint powers agreement organizations among municipalities (e.g., LRRWMO), as watershed districts (e.g., Coon Creek Watershed District — CCWD), or under county government. Per Minnesota Statutes 1036.201, the purposes of WMO water management programs are as follows: 1. Protect, preserve, and use natural surface and groundwater storage and retention systems; 2. Minimize public capital expenditures needed to correct flooding and water quality problems; 3. Identify and plan for means to effectively protect and improve surface and groundwater quality; 4. Establish more uniform local policies and official controls for surface and groundwater management; 5. Prevent erosion of soil into surface water systems; 6. Promote groundwater recharge; 7. Protect and enhance fish and wildlife habitat and water recreational facilities; and 8. Secure the other benefits associated with the proper management of surface and groundwater.