Subdivision 1.Requirements.

(a) The managers and the board must revise the watershed management plan for the watershed district at least once every ten years after the original watershed management plan is approved. The revised watershed management plan of the district must conform closely with adopted watershed management plan guidelines of the Board of Water and Soil Resources.

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

(b) The managers must include the following items in the revised watershed management plan:

(1) updates and supplements of the existing hydrological and other statistical data of the watershed district;

(2) specific projects and programs to be considered for implementation;

(3) a statement of the extent that the purposes for which the watershed district had been established have been accomplished;

(4) a description of problems requiring future action by the watershed district;

(5) a summary of completed studies on active or planned projects, including financial data; and

(6) an analysis of the effectiveness of the watershed district’s rules and permits in achieving its water management objectives in the watershed district.

(c) A revised watershed management plan must be transmitted, reviewed, recommended, and approved as provided in subdivisions 2 to 4 and 6.

Subd. 2.Required ten-year revision.

(a) After ten years and six months from the date that the board approved a watershed management plan or the last revised watershed management plan, the managers must consider the requirements under subdivision 1 and adopt a revised watershed management plan outline and send a copy of the outline to the board.

(b) By 60 days after receiving a revised watershed management plan outline, the board must review it, adopt recommendations regarding the revised watershed management plan outline, and send the recommendations to the managers.

(c) After receiving the board’s recommendations regarding the revised watershed management plan outline, the managers must complete the revised watershed management plan.

Subd. 3.Review.

The managers must send a copy of the revised watershed management plan to the board, the county board and county auditor of each county affected by the watershed district, the director, the governing body of each municipality affected by the watershed district, soil and water conservation districts affected by the watershed district, and the Metropolitan Council, if the watershed district is within the metropolitan area.

Subd. 4.Director’s and Metropolitan Council’s recommendations.

The director and the Metropolitan Council, if applicable, must review and make recommendations on the revised watershed management plan. By 60 days after receiving the revised watershed management plan unless the time is extended by the board, the director and the council must send the recommendations on the revised watershed management plan to the board, and a copy of the recommendations to the managers, the county auditor of each county affected by the watershed district, the governing body of each municipality affected by the watershed district, and soil and water conservation districts affected by the watershed district.

Subd. 5.Notice.

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

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

(c) The board must give notice of the revised 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 revised 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 revised 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 revised watershed management plan hearing.

Subd. 6.Board order.

After the revised watershed management plan hearing, the board must prescribe a revised watershed management plan for the watershed district. The board must send a copy of the order and approved revised 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, and soil and water conservation districts affected by the watershed district. The revised watershed management plan approved by the board is the revised watershed management plan for the watershed district.