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State Representative Rick Hansen
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-6828
For more information contact: Chris Shields 651-296-8873
NEWS COLUMN
LET'S ACT ON WATER STUDY WHEN THE LEGISLATURE RETURNS
In the "Land of 10,000 Lakes", Minnesotans take their water seriously. Having clean water isn't just vital to our physical health, but key to enjoying fishing and hunting, along with the tourism dollars they bring in. Most people, however, don't know how our waters are managed.
Every major body of water has a watershed, a land area that drains water to one outlet such as a major lake, river, or stream. In an effort to manage Minnesota's watersheds, the Legislature created special local government bodies called watershed districts, a good idea, as a watershed doesn't recognize city or county borders. Minnesota has 46 different watershed districts that cover roughly thirty percent of the state. Cities, counties, and state agencies manage the remaining waters. The Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Minnesota Department of Health, and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency all deal with water quality issues.
The state Board of Water and Soil Resources works with soil and water conservation districts to deliver conservation technical assistance and funding to soil and water conservation districts. Minnesotans will elect supervisors for the 91 soil and water conservation districts on November 7.
Despite the extensive oversight of our waters, Minnesota is still not in compliance with the Federal Clean Water Act. While there are a number of factors contributing to the non-compliance, watershed management may be a significant issue. It's important to make sure our waters are managed both effectively and efficiently. To that end, the Legislative Audit Commission asked the Legislative Auditor to evaluate watershed management in Minnesota. The study will determine whether our water government systems are well managed; find out if watershed management is coordinated or if efforts are overlapping; and determine whether the state is exercising proper oversight and coordinating with local bodies.
The study will be released in January, around the time that the new Legislature will convene. The report's recommendations should receive a serious response from the newly elected Legislature. Clean water is an issue that should transcend partisan lines. It's vital to Minnesotans' economy and quality of life.
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