1996-07-25_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

The Water SiilBoard i~~ostly minor odifications: Reserve a ended -This year's changes to the Reinvest in Minnesota (RIiUQ Reserve program will enable the program to more effectively treat RLLI Reserve injor- water quality, soli erosion, and wildlife oration: Tim Fredbo habitat in Minnesota. Such changes include: 51Z-296-0880 Elimination of the minimum eligible land parcel size for riparian and wetland restoration conservation easements. Previously limited to ~ acres or a whole field as defined by USDA, the change wiIi promote whole basin wetland restoration and support local priority conservation easements. Watershed districts gel "powerful ne~v tool"- stormlwater utility fees The 1996 Legislature adopted legislation amending the Watershed District Act. Effective on August I, 1996, the amend- ments authorize watershed districts to establish stormwater utility fees. Districts will. now have a powerful new tool to finance stormwater quantity and quality activities such as ditch management in urbanizing areas and water quality improve- ments. J[Ormwater utility gees, district per- nizting or WMO :njormation: your area "s board con- servationist or :~oug Thomas o ~ '-29 i-5617 A stormwater utility fee is a service charge based on a property's contribution ofwater or pollutanu to the drainage system. or receiving body ofwater. The fee is based on the premise that the '`users pay" charges based on the actual characteristics of stormwater, this type offinancing system is more equitable than ad valorem levies. and is also administratively less expensive than st~ecial assessments. Water management districts/ watershed district permitting Other amendments to the Watershed District Act allow watershed districts to establish sub-areas within their boundaries called "`Mater Management Districts," which are necessary to define the taxing area for projects within sub-watersheds. The act was also amended so that the rules and regula- tions of awatershed district apply to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Elimination of the acreage cap on the amount of land that can now be enrolled by an individual landowner into the RIM Reserve. Previously enrollmentwas limited to 20 percent of the average farm size in the county. In many counties this is a very small acreage and presented a problem on high priority wetland restoration or riparian easement applications. The RIM Reserve is now a61e to acquire flowage easements. Such easements are important forwetland restorarions involving adjacent landotivne:-s who may be affected by the restored wetland basin to a minor extent but may not be interested in a perpetual~conservation easement. By acquiring a ilowaQe easement the project can stiII be completed. BWSR can now accept conservation and/or flowage easements by ;ift or donation to the State ofMinnesota. Conservation practice payments to landowners can. now be increased from the previous 5144 per acre limit to S244 per acre, when establishing native prairie cover on an easement area. BWSR is now authorized to exceed. conservation practice payment limits with non-state funds. Especially important on lame, costly wetland restoration projects with high engineering and construction costs, this change promotes partnerships with local clubs and o ~Qanizations, and helps local governments address priority areas. BWSR bodi>mg Ri1YI For the 199?-98 biennium, the RIM Reserve together with the Permanent Wetlands Preserve (PVUP} received SI 1.~ million in state bonding funds, ~~+hich will fund continued acquisition of conservation easements and help to protect and restore Minnesota's natural resources.