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BWSR Meeting Minutes May 24, 2000 Page Six ** 00-43 Committee will be meeting and we will bring their recommendation to the Board in June. Wetland road replacement was another big issue this session and was finally fully funded. Ron reported that the supplemental appropriation included a new program, the "Finseth Bill", with significant application to northwest Minnesota. This program is a short-term three year contract, similar to CRP but for recovery of floods, crop disease, and to promote alternative crop establishment, some of which can be acost-shared grant to SWCDs, based on criteria approved by the BWSR. Another legislative issue pertained to drainage authorities to accept outside money for the purpose of wetland restoration, enhancement, and flood control. Ron commended watershed districts and counties for their support in this endeavor. Ron stated that the BWSR Cost-Share Committee will develop criteria for feedlot changes. BWSR will be working with agencies on feedlot issues for next year. Ron reported that the Governor signed the WCA amendments. The wetland rules and guiding principles will be brought before the board in July. Ron will meet this afternoon with Finance and the Governor's office staff regarding additional implementation dollars for CREP. Chair Roer thanked Ron Harnack for his long hours and hard work during the . legislative session. Ron thanked Ray Bohn, LeAnn Buck, Sally Westby, Marilyn Berhardson, Judy Erickson, Dave Weirens, and Dick Nelson for their efforts and the broad coalition of support. CREP Agreement -Ron Harnack reported. that USDA recently announced changes to the continuous enrollment provisions of the CRP program. To maintain consistency between the CRP program and CREP (of which CRP is a part), it is necessary to amend the CREP agreement. The Farm Services Agency State Committee has approved the changes. The BWSR needs to approve it also before USDA officials in Washington, D.C. and Governor Ventura can proceed with final processing of the amendments. Ron encouraged the board to act on this.. Moved by Jim Dahlvang, seconded by Paul Krabbenhoft, to approve the amendments to the CREP agreement regarding the changes made at the federal level. Discussion followed. Ron stated that the federal commitment is not a financial amount, it's a commitment to acreage which has a financial allocation, all from the CCC. Motion passed on a voice vote.