1999-07-22_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

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~1~15 lYl e~s~l~e ~~~~.(.~ (Continued from page 1} These are just a few of the legislators who supported and helped out this past session. Please don't forget to thank your legislator for working with us this past sessionl We very much appreciate their time and efforts spent on behalf of our member watershed districts. Outlined below is the final status of MAWD legislation and other legislation of interest to watershed districts. For ongoing information (bill text, status, etc) on these bills or other bills of interests, visit the MAWD Home Page at www.mnwatershed.org for mare details. SF 83/IIF 1443: Eliminates the cat- egory of wetland called "public waters wetlands" and transfers jurisdiction for the regulation of theses wetlands to the Wetland Conservation Act. Final Action: A meeting of stakeholders was held on Friday. Apri123 and it was agreed that only non controversial provisions would move forward in SF83. All present agreed to spend time over the interim working on the other "simplifreation issues ". Final legisla- tion passed Senate but was not passed in the House because of rush of legisla- tion in the final hours of the session. 7Be provision to fix the soil scientist licensure was, unfortunately included in this legislation. BWSR is presently looking at another approach to this issue for the interim. SF 134/IIF 138: Appropriates funds for Lazarus Creek/LQP-25 floodwater retention project -Area 2, Lac Qui Parle-Yellow Bank WD. Final Action: Lazarus Creek Project funded for $1.375 million in bonding bill. Vetoed by Governor. SF 205/IIF196: Drainage system transfer of access easements to storm sewer improvement districts. Final Action: bill returned to House author. SF 398/IIF 444: Sauk River Watershed District administrative fund property tax levy authority. Final Action: Inch~ded in final omnibus taxes bill. Reverse referendum langz~age dropped from final language. SF 774/IIF 795 Appropriating grant money for water management in the Red River Basin. Final Action: $100, 000 appropriated in Environment & Ag Finance Bill each year -but must be match with other participants. SF1430/I1:F1101: Landowner notifica- tion to owner when entering property. Passed House Environment Policy Committee to floor, not heard in Senate committee. Final Action: Bill did not meet policy committee deadline and did not pass off of the House joor. SF 1917/IIF 1476: North Fork Crow River Watershed District; Increase in percentage rate and cap for administra- tive levy. Final Action: Included in the final omnibus taxes bill. Reverse referendum language dropped_from final language. SF 1061/IIF 1221: Appropriating money for the construction of ring dikes. Final Action: $-168, 000 one time appropriation inch:ded in final Environ- ment ~ Ag bill. One time appropriation only- ~a~hich means we 'll hm~e to come back for another appropriation next session. SF 1730/lIF 1276: Modifying board membership on watershed management organizations to prohibit staff from other local uuuts of government from serving on WMO boards. Final Action: Passed as part of the Environment & Ag Finance bill (Sect. 126J. No local government staff appointments after December 31, 1999. SF 1309/IIF 1964: Appropriating money for flood water management in the Red River Basin. Final Action: $1.95 million the first year and $1.0 million appropriated the second year in the Environment & Ag Finance bill. SF 1629/IIF 1521: Appropriating money for sustainable lakes. Final Action: No fiords appropriated. SF 1731/I4F 1867: Establishing a stream protection and improvement loan program. Final Action: $1.1 million the first year and $1.2 million from LCMR finds for Trozd Stream protec- tion. This program ~ti~as initially funded for the Citt~ of Stillwater through Browns Creek WD for the protection of Browns Creek. $1.2 million vetoed by Governor. SF 2079/1=IF 1815: Beaver control program activities. Final Action: $1.5,000 added per year for beaver control activities for a total of $65,000 per year. SF1996/IIF2153; Includes Upper Middle Mississippi River WMO in definition of special taking districts. Final Action: Final langa~age not included in taxes conference committee report. SF468lIIF350_ Cannon River Valley watershed protection provided, trail and joint powers planning funded, and $1 million appropriated. Final Action: 5200.000 the fast year and ~ 1.50.000 the second year appropriated in Envi- ronment &: Ag Finance bill. SF 2226/IIF 2388: Omnibus Environ- ment & Ag Bills. Final Action: Final bill. SF 2226 reported out and passed both bodies on 5'atrcrdm~, Mcrv !~. 1999. SF22G9/1IF2455: restricts certain drainage projects that will increase flooding or decrease water qualit` in downstream waters, or is likely to result in pollution, impairment, or destruction of natural resources. Bills authored by Rep. Mulder and Sen. Hottinger. Final Action: Introduced in final week of the session - no action taken on this legislation. We need to watch closely next session. IVliscellaneous Items fn Environment Ag Finance Bill: A.) $118,000 appropriated as a grant to Thief River Falls to finish dredging projects on the Red River. B.) $116.000 appropriated in both }ears for grants to Beltrami, Marshall and Roseau for payment of unpaid ditch assessments on state lands. Vetoed br° Governor. C.) $189.000 appropriated in both years for grants to watershed districts and other local units of govemment in Area 2 for floodplain management