Agenda - Council Work Session - 02/23/2021

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The LRRWMO administration work includes ongoing activities that recur annually to satisfy Minnesota Rules for watershed management organizations and those that pertain to the organization, administration, and operation of the LRRWMO. This includes time and expenses for an administrator, recording secretary, and legal counsel. This category also includes activities related to annual work planning, reporting, and progress assessment, as well as activities performed in pursuit of external funding (e.g., grant) opportunities. Engineering, permitting, and planning implementation activities include the implementation of the LRRWMO permit program. These activities also include review of local water management plans (see Section 5.7.1), periodic review and update to LRRWMO standards, coordination with partner planning efforts (e.g., Rum River 1 W1 P), and updates and amendments to the LRRWMO Plan (this document). Since its inception, the LRRWMO permitting program has been the primary focal point of the LRRWMO's activities and the primary means of pollution prevention within the watershed. The LRRWMO requires project proposers to apply for and obtain a LRRMWO permit (see Appendix B and Appendix C) prior to performing activities that disturb one or more acre of land or have potential wetland impacts, regardless of size, that meet the requirements of the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA). Prior to submitting an LRRWMO permit application, project proposers should coordinate with applicable City staff and confirm that all local requirements (i.e., City controls) are satisfied. The project proposer must then submit a: 1. Grading, Stormwater Management, and Erosion/Sediment Control Permit Application and/or 2. Permit Application for Wetland Conservation Act Decision The LRRWMO engineer reviews permit applications for compliance with LRRWMO stormwater and wetland performance standards (see Appendix E and Appendix F) and makes a recommendation for approval, approval with conditions, or disapproval to the LRRWMO Board. The Board may issue a permit based on the recommendation of the engineer. The procedures for permit review, approval, and enforcement are described in greater detail in Appendix B and Appendix C. The LRRWMO tracks the estimated stormwater volume reduction and estimated pollutant reductions achieved by these projects. From 2019 through 2020, the LRRWMO reviewed over 40 projects which provide and estimated 175 Ibs/year total phosphorus reduction and 18 tons/year sediment reduction. The LRRWMO updated its permit application process concurrent with the development of this Plan. The LRRWMO will continue to periodically meet with City staff to evaluate the efficacy and efficiency of 5-3