1 / 12

Subcommittee on Minnesota Water Policy

Discussing legislative priorities, water quality improvement, management efficiency, and coordination among agencies to protect Minnesota's waters. Presentations on clean water successes and challenges.

ldelatorre
Download Presentation

Subcommittee on Minnesota Water Policy

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Subcommittee on Minnesota Water Policy July 16, 2019 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Convener: Representative Peter Fischer Jim Stark, Director

  2. Introductions • Representative jeff brand dfl district 19A st. peter • Senator rich draheimgop district 20 Madison lake • Senator chriseatondfl district 40 Brooklyn center • Senator kentekendfl district 4 twin valley • Representative peter fischerdfl district 43a Maplewood • Senator Michael Goggin gop district 21 red wing • Representative josh Heintzeman gop district 10a Nisswa • Representative todd Lippert dfl district 20B northfield • Representative john postongop district 9a lake shore • Representative paul Torkelson gop district 16b hanska • Senator bill weber gop district 22 luverne • Senator chuck wigerdfl district 43 Maplewood

  3. Agenda • Introductions • Election of Chairs • Approval of Legislative Water Commission Meeting Minutes- June 10, 2019 • Committee – Legislative Priorities • Session Summary Water Legislation: 2019 • Presentation: Watershed Restoration, Chesapeake Bay – Dr. Paul Capel, UM, USGS • Presentation: Watershed Protection, Upper Mississippi – Rich Biske, TNC • Committee – Legislative Priorities (continued) • Summer Field Tour • Adjourn

  4. 2020 Legislative Priorities • Can we improve water quality standard revision process? • Is our water management structure efficient compared to other states? • One water agency? • Agency effectiveness changes, other than a major reorganization? • HF2902: Combining the CWC and the Subcommittee on Minnesota Water Policy (SMWP) • Have general fund expenditures for the environment eroded? • How can we better measure effectiveness of dedicated fund programs? • How do environmental and water programs compare to other states? • Benefits and consequences around 404 wetlands permit assumptions? • Can there be better coordination among SMWP, CWC, LSOHC, and LCCMR? • Are we effectively conducting water planning for future needs? • Minnesota’s most important water priorities? • Can we prioritize conservation for the greatest outcomes? • How do we balance the value of protection versus restoration efforts? • Other?

  5. Clean Water Outcomes • Can we prioritize conservation practices for the best outcomes?

  6. Presentations: • Clean Water process – Chesapeake Bay, Paul Chapel • Upper Mississippi, Rich Biske (TNC)

  7. Can we Prioritize conservation for the greatest benefits and outcomes? • Clean water outcomes may not meet expectations • Millions will have been spent • Amendment is at half-way point • Emphasis is needed on outcomes The questions are: • Will funds spent move the needle in improving our water? • Can we stress outcomes to ensure that the amendment can be re-approved?

  8. Can we Prioritize conservation for the greatest outcomes? • CW programs are evolving from assessment to implementation • From state to local emphasis through 1W/1Plan • Local emphasis has many positive aspects CW Programs stress: • Impaired waters • Removing TMDL impairments • Structural controls • Recently, on agricultural field scale changes

  9. Can we Prioritize conservation for the greatest outcomes? Part 2 • Place emphasis on protecting and preserving cleaner waters • Clean water act stresses: • Restoring water close to standards • Protecting high quality waters • Protecting waters for public use and health What might be an improvement? • Minor adjustments that produce more visible outcomes • More priority on watersheds with the greatest potential for positive outcomes • Stress results that highlight the value of CW process How do we do this? Discussion

  10. 2020 Legislative Priorities (2) • Can we improve water quality standard revision process? • Is our water management structure efficient compared to other states? • one water agency? • Agency effectiveness changes – other than a major reorganization? • HF2902: combining clean water council and Subcommittee on Minnesota Water Policy (SMWP)? • Have general fund expenditures for the environment eroded? • How can we better measure effectiveness of dedicated fund programs? • How do environmental and water programs compare to other states? • Benefits and consequences around 404 wetlands permit assumptions? • Can there be better coordination among SMWP, CWC, LSOHC, and LCCMR? • Are we effectively conducting water planning for future needs? • Minnesota’s most important water priorities? • Can we prioritize conservation practices for the greatest benefits? • How do we balance the value of protection versus restoration efforts? • Others?

  11. 2020 Legislative Process • Refine priorities with feedback from: • Stakeholders • Committee members • Agency staff • Position paper on each recommendation: September • Stakeholder Meetings – August and September • Committee Approval – October • Presentations to environmental and natural resources committees – Beginning of Session • Bill sponsors

  12. Closing thoughts Field trip: SE Minnesota with CWC and MGWA (September 15 and 16) • Subcommittee Meetings: • August 20 + stakeholder meeting • September 17, or during field trip? Thanks!

More Related