1. Legislative Water Commission
February 11, 2019
Co-Chairs: Representative Paul Torkelson
Senator Chuck Wiger (Presiding)
Jim Stark, Director

2. Agenda Approval of Minutes – November 13 & December 10, 2018
Welcome to new appointees:
Senator Chris Eaton, Representative Jeff Brand, Representative Josh Heintzeman, and Representative Todd Lippert
Update: Section 404, Clean Water Act: Les, Lemm, David Weirens (BWSR)
Drainage Working Group Consensus Recommendations – Al Kean (BWSR)
Summary of Commission Recommendations (Jim Stark, Director, LWC)
Status of Meetings with Legislative Leaders
Discussion: Next steps for draft bills
Status of other introduced “water” legislation, as time allows
Scheduling meetings during session
Adjourn

3. LWC – Statutory Duties
Reviews agency water policy reports and recommendations
Gathers data and comments
Recommendations to assist with legislation
Shares data and information with lccmr, cwc, and legislative standing committees
coordinates

4. 12 appointed members Sen. Paul Anderson (R) District 44 from Plymouth
Rep. jeff brand (dfl) District 19A from St. peter
Sen. Rich draheim (r) from Madison lake
Sen. Chris eaton (dfl) district 40 from Brooklyn center
Sen. Kent eken (dfl) district 4 from twin valley
Rep. peter fischer (dfl) district 43a from Maplewood
Rep. Josh Heintzeman (r) district 10A from nisswa
Rep. todd Lippert (dfl) district 20B from northfield
Rep. john poston (r) district 9a from lake shore
Rep. paul Torkelson (r) district 16B from hanska
Sen. Bill weber (r) district 22 from luverne
Sen. Chuck wiger (dfl) district 43 from maplewood

5. 13 recommendations Inflow and infiltration – wastewater
Healthy soil/healthy water
Water infrastructure
Peer review of wastewater standards
Reducing excess chloride
Continuation of the legislative water commission
Keeping water on the land
Data, information, education, and public awareness
Preserving and protecting our lakes
Expanded source water program
Increase drinking water protection fee
Statewide water policy
Educational curriculum – water – k-12

6. Pathway to recommendations
Step 1. review of reports and existing commendations Step 2. five stakeholder meetings 6 issues/100 recommendations Step 3. survey follow-up 188/450 responses Step 4. ranking recommendations

7. (not in priority order)
13 recommendations (2)
(not in priority order)
1. Expanded source water programs
2. Reducing excess chloride
3. Data, information, education, and public awareness
4. Increase drinking water protection fee
5. Keeping water on the land
Inflow and infiltration – wastewater
Continuation of the LWC
8. Healthy soil/healthy water
K-12 water education
Preserving and protecting our lakes
Peer review of wastewater standards
12. Water infrastructure
13. Statewide water policy

8. Recommendations based on:
Review of reports and previous recommendations
Lwc member discussions
Discussions with agencies
Stakeholders workshops
Broad survey pf stakeholder community
Consensus recommendations by legislative water commission

9. Recommendations focus on these goals:
Clean and sustainable drinking water
Protecting and improving water
Preparing for the future

10. Recommendations: Represent statewide water priorities
Are bi-partisan in nature
Focus on incentives rather than regulations
Build on minor changes to agency programs
Present minor budgetary impact
Focus on first-steps and pilot programs
May lead to agency program enhancements
Some require emphasis on long-term issues

11. Recommendations may be used for:
Legislative funding recommendations
Support for proposed stakeholder bills
Funding recommendations for agencies
Support for agency programs

12. Recommendation summary
Inflow and infiltration – wastewater
Healthy soil/healthy water
Water infrastructure
Peer review of wastewater standards
Reducing excess chloride
Continuation of the legislative water commission
Keeping water on the land
Data, information, education, and public awareness
Preserving and protecting our lakes
Expanded source water program
Increase drinking water protection fee
Statewide water policy
Educational curriculum – water – k-12

13. 1) Expand source water protection
Why? Private wells and rivers that provide drinking water need to be protected
What’s needed? Legislation for monitoring and protection measures

14. 2) Reducing excess chloride in our waters
Why? we overuse de-icers/impair our waters
What’s needed? Bill for training and for limits on liability for trained applicators

15. 3) Water sustainability
Goal: provide clean and sustainable groundwater
Why? Adequate water is needed for drinking and to support lakes and streams
What’s needed: funds for monitoring, assessment, and planning

16. 4) Increase drinking water protection fee
Outcome: update Minnesota department of health drinking connection fee
Why? Fees protect safe drinking water
What’s needed: bill to increase fee

17. 5) Water retention – keeping water on the land
Outcome: keep more water on the land
Why? Water retention improves agriculture and water
What’s needed: bill to support the important agricultural practices

18. 6) Inflow and infiltration
Outcome: fix our leaking sewers
Why? Leaks increase treatment costs and impair water
What’s needed: bill allowing resources to be used by sanitary districts

19. 7) Continuation of the legislative water commission
Outcome: continuation of the commission
Why? Water is vital – the legislature needs to be informed
What’s needed: bill to continue the commission

20. 8) Healthy soil/healthy water
Outcome: promote healthy soil/healthy water
Why? Healthy soil provides benefits for agriculture and water
What’s needed: bill to provide planning, outreach, and research

21. 9) k-12 water education Outcome: increase water education
Why? It is currently not adequate
What’s needed: bill to connect teachers with experts

22. 10) Preserving and protecting Minnesota’s lakes
Outcome: protect and preserve our lakes
Why? Lakes are important and threatened resources
What’s needed: funds for a preservation plan, as a first step

23. 11. Peer review of wastewater standards
Outcome: Peer review of water quality standards
Why? Ensures scientific and public comment
What’s needed: Bill to memorialize current mpca practice into statute

24. 12) Water infrastructure (waste, storm, and drinking water)
Outcome: address aging and failing water infrastructure
Why? Our water infrastructure is old and is failing
What’s needed: funding and support for facilities upgrades and management

25. 13. State water policy: Plan for an uncertain future
Outcome: plan for an uncertain future
Why? As a state, we need to plan to mitigate and harden infrastructure
What’s needed: direction to prepare a plan, as a first step

26. Recommendations: progress and next steps
Meetings with committee leaders
Discussions with agency staff
Draft bills
Bill sponsors
discussion