Subdivision 1.Contents.

(a) The managers must adopt a watershed management plan for any or all of the purposes for which a watershed district may be established. The watershed management plan must give a narrative description of existing water and water-related problems within the watershed district, possible solutions to the problems, and the general objectives of the watershed district. The watershed management plan must also conform closely with watershed management plan guidelines as adopted and amended from time to time by the Board of Water and Soil Resources.

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(b) The watershed management plan may include a separate section on proposed projects. If the watershed district is within the metropolitan area, the separate section of proposed projects or petitions for projects to be undertaken according to the watershed management plan is a comprehensive plan of the watershed district for purposes of review by the Metropolitan Council under section 473.165.

Subd. 2.Review.

The managers must send a copy of the proposed watershed management plan to the county auditor of each county affected by the watershed district, the board, the commissioner, the director, the governing body of each municipality affected by the watershed district, and soil and water conservation districts affected by the watershed district. For a watershed district within the metropolitan area, a copy of the proposed watershed management plan must also be submitted to the Metropolitan Council.

Subd. 3.Director’s and Metropolitan Council’s recommendations.

After receiving the watershed management plan, the director and the Metropolitan Council must review and make recommendations on the watershed management plan. By 60 days after receiving the plan, the director and the Metropolitan Council must send their recommendations on the watershed management plan to the board and a copy to the managers of the watershed district, the county auditor of each county affected by the watershed district, the governing bodies of all municipalities affected by the watershed district, and soil and water conservation districts affected by the watershed district. The board may extend the period for review and transmittal of the recommendations.

Subd. 4.Hearing notice.

(a) The board must give notice and hold a watershed management plan hearing on the proposed watershed management plan by 45 days after receiving the director’s and Metropolitan Council’s recommendations.

(b) The board must give notice of the watershed management plan hearing by publication in a legal newspaper that is published in counties affected by the watershed district. The last publication must occur at least ten days before the watershed management plan hearing.

(c) The board must give notice of the watershed management plan hearing by mail to the auditors of counties and to the chief executive officials of municipalities affected by the watershed district.

(d) The notice must include:

(1) a statement that a copy of the proposed watershed management plan has been filed with the board, the Metropolitan Council, where applicable, the auditors of counties affected by the proposed watershed district, the commissioner, the director, the governing body of each municipality affected by the watershed district, and the soil and water conservation districts affected by the watershed district;

(2) a general description of the purpose of the watershed district;

(3) a general description of the property included in the watershed district;

(4) a general description of the proposed watershed management plan;

(5) the date, time, and location of the hearing; and

(6) a statement that all persons affected or interested in the watershed district may attend and give statements at the watershed management plan hearing.

Subd. 5.Board approval.

After the watershed management plan hearing, the board must, by order, prescribe and approve a watershed management plan for the watershed district. The board must send a copy of the order and approved watershed management plan to the managers, the county board of each county affected by the watershed district, the commissioner, the director, the Metropolitan Council, where applicable, the governing body of each municipality affected by the watershed district, and soil and water conservation districts affected by the watershed district. The watershed management plan approved by the board is the watershed management plan for the watershed district.