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1 ~ ~ ~ °®# <br />,.~ ,~a <br />~F w11Iv~E~C7T.~'~ `~'<~~T~R~I-~I/D ORG~:tiIZ,~TIO:'v <br />atershed organizations are widely distributed across most of the <br />state (see map on page 17). The distribution of these groups is fairly <br />uniform, except in northeast Minnesota, where formal watershed organi- <br />zations have had less occasion to form around typical driving factors such <br />as agriculture, drainage, flooding and water-quality issues. <br /> WATERSHED DISTRICTS <br />~r+.° ~ ` ~~~~ _ ~ L ~ At~~'~ r ~.-~~"' ~ ~''= Watershed Districts (WD), created by legislation in <br />~9~~n,a~5a~f~r :~~'u1~T 1955, are Minnesota's only form of local government to <br /> be based on watershed boundaries. <br />Watershed organizations are local <br />groups, including units of govern- Originally, Watershed Districts dealt primarily with <br />ment, that protect and manage issues pertaining to water quantity (i.e., drainage and <br />water resources based on hydro- flood control). In 1981, their mandate was expanded to <br />logic (as opposed to politicafi include water quality. While many Watershed District <br />boundaries. projects still focus on flood control, the survey complet- <br /> ed by watershed decision-makers indicates that water <br /> quality has now surpassed flood control as the primary <br /> issue of concern. At present, there are 44 Watershed <br /> Districts across the state, and the numbers have contin- <br /> ued to increase. <br /> The authorities granted to Watershed Districts are quite <br /> extensive and include both taxation and permitting. <br /> Districts can levy an ad valorem tax to cover administra- <br /> tive expenses. This is a tax that is levied on all proper- <br /> ties (except official tax-exempt properties) within par- <br /> ticipating counties, up to a cap set by the Legislature. <br /> Capital expenses (projects) are paid for by a special <br /> assessment based on the estimated value of the benefit <br /> to the landowner. <br />JOINT POWERS BOARDS <br />Joint Powers Boards (JPBs} are multiple government <br />units that voluntarily sign an agreement to work togeth- <br />er to address (amongst other issues) local water-quantity <br />r ~, <br />v~ f <br />