How to establish a Watershed District
The authority to create a watershed district is provided in M.S. Chapter 103D.205. To create a watershed district, an establishment petition needs to be filed with BWSR and signed by one or more of the groups designated under M.S. Chapter 103D.205, Subd. 3., which could be counties, cities, or residents. Specific information must be provided, and the number of managers proposed cannot be less than three or more than nine. The manager cannot be a public officer of the county, state, or federal government, except that a soil and water conservation supervisor may be a manager.
The director of the DNR, Division of Waters, must prepare a preliminary map and report and submit it to BWSR within thirty days after receipt of the petition (M.S. Chapter 103D.215). BWSR determines if there are the required number of petitioner signatures and provides a legal notice that a public hearing will be conducted (M.S. Chapter 103D.221). After considering public input, BWSR will approve or deny the petition. If BWSR approves the establishment of a watershed district, it will designate the watershed district’s boundaries, name, place of business, and first board of managers.
How to establish a Watershed Management Organization (WMO)
The authority to create a watershed management organization is provided in the Metropolitan Area Surface Water Management Act (M.S. Chapter 103B). Watershed management organizations are required in the seven-county metro area to develop and implement watershed management plans. Watershed management organizations are based on watershed boundaries. They can be organized in three ways:
· As a joint power agreement between the cities and townships within the watershed;
· As a watershed district operating concurrently under M.S. 103B and 103D; or
· As a function of county government, usually administered by the county planning department.
Watershed management organizations are governed by a board appointed by the member municipalities and townships.
Fundamentals of Minnesota Watershed Law
Click this link to read more about the Fundamentals of Minnesota Watershed Law, which explains the legal framework, responsibilities, and processes that shape watershed management in Minnesota.
Explore Watershed Management
Click here to learn about watershed management in this video series created by the MN Board of Water and Soil Resources
Click here to learn about Who’s Who in Minnesota Water video series created by the MN Board of Water and Soil Resources