January 5, 2006 at 5:34 a.m.
LID Board member to attend water plan meetings
LID Board member to attend water plan meetings
John Guse, from the Green Lake Association, presented a summary of association efforts in treating eurasian milfoil on Green Lake over the past year. The LID board had previously approved $3,000 towards the Green Lake Association's efforts in treating Eurasian Milfoil. The Green Lake Association also received grant monies from the Department of Natural Resources to eradicate eurasian milfoil.
John Eret attended the annual Minnesota Watershed Conference in Alexandria December 2. He wanted to gain information to address the issue of what powers or authorities the LID has with what occurs within the watershed; mostly regarding erosion and run-off into area lakes in relation to development. While there, Eret spoke with Doug Thomas from the Minnesota Board of Soil and Water Resources (BWSR).
Thomas directed the LID members to BWSR's Local Water Management Plan Guidance document, especially the Appendix pages 17-19. Based on the guidance document, the county can adopt standards/rules within the County Water Plan; then advise cities and townships to abide by them. If the cities and townships choose not to abide by the standards/rules, then the county may exercise a land use authority.
Thomas also suggests that the LID write a section regarding the Chisago Lakes watershed area to be included within the County Water Plan. The 'Chisago Lakes Watershed section' would need to be approved by the County Board in order to be included in the plan. The new section could contain suggested rules and regulations, with the proper authority to enforce them.
Paul Nelson, HDR Engineering, Inc., recommends the LID utilize Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) standards as a starting point for creating the rules and regulations. The LID could possibly use the Chisago County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) staff for inspection purposes.
Bud Kapell agreed to attend the County Water Plan Task Force meetings, with the goal of becoming part of the Policy Team.
The LID is searching for a means to enforce rules and regulations within the watershed district without going the route of creating a watershed district. Thomas stated that Chisago County could be the first county to utilize a County Water Plan as a vehicle for enforcing rules and regulations within a watershed.
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