Changes to drainage law provisions passed by House

Recommendations from the state Drainage Work Group were passed Monday by the House.

Sponsored by Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL-South St. Paul), HF1244 would allow drainage authorities — counties or watershed districts — to order permanent perennial buffer strips, side inlet controls, or both, adjacent to a public drainage ditch, and implement the use of new technology for accurately apportioning repair costs on any property contributing runoff.

Rep. Rick Hansen

Following the 100-24 vote, the bill goes to the Senate where Sen. Bill Weber (R-Luverne) is the sponsor.

The bill would also remove the $200,000 cap on loans made for projects under the agricultural best management practices loan program.

“Drainage systems are critical to the success of agriculture,” said Rep. Paul Torkelson (R-Hanska).

Rep. Steve Green (R-Fosston) raised concerns that the bill could lead to state control over local decision making, as well as create a scenario in which private landowners potentially end up paying more for buffer strip costs than state-owned lands.

Hansen assured Green the bill would not change statutory authority and would preserve local control currently in law.

Among provisions that would impact costs is the implementation of new technology likely to benefit private landowners, Hansen explained. That technology would ensure benefit assessments are more accurately made at less expense.

“It should reduce the cost for the viewing and redetermination of benefits,” Hansen said.

The bill would also allow drainage authorities to spread out conservation costs to all lands contributing to runoff, not just those currently deemed to benefit from buffer strips.