2004-08-19_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts June 2-2, 2 Hosted by the Buffalo-Red River Watershed District MEDIATION: BUILDING CONSENSUS -ACHIEVING GOALS The Buffalo-Red River Watershed District (BRRWD) in northwestern Minnesota includes 1,385 square miles in parts of Clay, Becker, Otter Tail, and Wilkin Counties. Originally formed in 1960, as the South Branch of the Buffalo River Watershed District, its primary focus, since inception, has been flood damage reduction for the Red damage reduction and natural resource protection and enhancement in ways that benefit all Minnesota citizens. The keys to this new approach are comprehensive watershed planning, clearly identified goals, early consultation and collaboration on flood damage reduction projects among stakeholders, and a cooperative approach to project River Basin. Following the devastating 1975 summer flood, permitting. the District was enlarged to form the current BRRWD_ In the 1980s, the BRRWD developed four flood retention sites and was studying other potential projects. In the early 1990s, the Army Corps of Engineers (COE) issued a moratorium on permits for retention projects, and complet- ed ageneric Environmental Impact Statement on the effects of flood control projects for the Minnesota portion of the Red River Basin. Their findings were that large on-channel, gated structures were not environmentally acceptable. Watershed Districts and permitting agencies had reached an impasse regarding the development of flood control. Starting in 1993, the area entered a wet hydrologic cycle, causing many lakes and wetlands to rise above their normal ordinary high water elevation. Emergency projects, such as the Turtle Lake Outlet, which received the MAWD 2002 Project of the Year Award, were developed to address these problems. In 1997, the Legislature urged formation ofthe Red River Basin Flood Damage Reduction WorkGroup (RRBFDRWG) to resolve grid lock over state/federal permitting of flood damage reduction projects in the Red River Valley. The The purpose for the mediation is: "To reach consensus agreements on long term solutions for reducing flood damage and for protection and enhancement of natural resources. Such agreements should balance important economic, errvironmental, and social considerations, and must provide for fair and effective procedures to resolve future conflicts related to flood damage reduction." Since 1998, the BRRWD Mediation Project Team (PT) has met on a monthly basis. The result of their work has been several multipurpose projects, incorporating both flood damage reduction and natural resource enhancement. The BRRWD welcomes Watershed Managers and Staff from around the state to look at some of these new innovative approaches and to review several other proposed and completed projects. The new Moorhead Area Conference and Convention Center will provide highly rated accommodations. River Keepers has graciously agreed to give on-going tours on the Red River, which should provide an enjoyable and educational experience. The BRRWD hopes to provide an informative tour, and we would like to invite everyone to resulting agreement was intended as the frame work fora attend. new, collaborative approach to implement both flood - 11 -