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Wafer BilllBoard tation, including projects and programs identified in the plan. • Emergency projects: Creates a proce- dure in statute to order emergency projects similar to that found iri chapter 103D, and provides levy authority to pay the costs associated with the emergency work per- formed. Taxing districts ( .S. 1036.245 &.247) • Special tax districts: Changes are designed to differentiate between creation of watershed management tax districts by local units of govemment and creation of water- shed management tax districts by watershed management organizations. Although the current language allows watershed manage- ment organizations to create watershed management tax districts, the procedure and authorities are applicable only to local units of govemment, such as adoption of the tax district by ordinance, and issuance of obliga- tions (bonds) to pay the cost incurred in making the improvement. The proposed language establishes a separate section on creation of watershed management tax districts by watershed management organiza- tions. • Assessment based on contribution: Adds the authority for both watershed man- agement organizations and local govemment units to apportion costs of projects based on the principal of contribution. The current language only allows for costs of projects and capital improvements to be apportioned based on the amount of benefit a property receives from the project or improvement. Apportionment of costs based on contribution is a fairer method than benefit in that it rec- ognizes the amounts or proportions of water, nutrients or pollutants that are generated from a particular parcel, and recognizes the differences between the types of land uses and how they proportionally contribute both runoff and associated pollutants. This con- cept is extremely important to the success of water quality improvement projects in the region. For more information, contact Doug Thomas, BWSR (612) 297-5617. r l i t r u t r ..13.2 ) Groundwater plans ( . 103 .255) • Local and agency review of plans: Adopts a review process consistent with the proposed change to the Metropolitan Surface Water Management Act. • County review: Provides authority to counties to review and comment on local municipal plans. For more information, contact Doug Thomas, BWSR, (612) 297-5617. C I r I nin About two-thirds of Minnesota counties are updating local water plans in 1995. The revised plans are scheduled to come before the BWSR in December 1995. Many counties are already well along in the update process, having approved resolutions to update their plans and notified other ap- propriate local units of govemment. A num- ber of counties have already held or sched- uled their initial public information meetings. The biggest changes in the plans involve new requirements on wellhead protection and sensitive groundwater areas, stormwater management, and designation of high priority