The Confluence is a monthly electronic
newsletter for members of
In this
issue:
~
~Bush Foundation Supports
Citizen-Led Watershed Stewardship
~Welcome Courtney Kowalczak,
~Lakes At Risk DVD Featured on
~Upcoming
Hot Off the Press:
Resources for
Conferences, Confabs
and Conglomerations
The Bucks Start Here-
Funding Resources
~
Minnesota Waters seeks nominations
for our 2007 lake, river, monitoring, and volunteer awards. The Lake
Association of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding lake association for
their plans, actions and accomplishments to protect and improve the quality of
their lake. River Friendly Community of the Year Award honors
communities that recognize rivers for their beauty, economic, historic, cultural
and ecological value and that are taking creative and progressive steps to
restore and preserve rivers. Citizen Volunteer Monitoring Program of
the Year Award recognizes an outstanding water quality monitoring program
that directly involves citizens in the gathering, analysis and/or dissemination
of information on the condition of the health of our rivers and lakes.
Volunteer of the Year Award is new in 2007 to recognize an individual
volunteer that has demonstrated talent, time and commitment to fulfill the
mission of Minnesota Waters.
Award winners receive $1,000
cash in support of their program of choice, 2 tickets to attend RiverNight
(August 15th), an Award Plaque, a Photograph with RiverNight Guest of
Honor, Sponsor and Special Guests and Recognition in MW publications, website
& press releases. Contact Minnesota Waters for a nomination form and
criteria for entry. Completed forms must arrive at the Minnesota Waters office
(
Bush Foundation
Supports Citizen-Led Watershed Stewardship
Welcome Courtney
Kowalczak,
I would like to introduce myself to
the Minnesota Waters family. My name is Courtney Kowalczak and I have been
involved in stream ecology since 1991. As a native of
Join us in welcoming Courtney
to Minnesota Waters. She can be reached at courtneyk@minnesotawaters.org
Popular “Lakes At
Risk” DVD Featured on
Since its release, over 3000 copies
of Minnesota Waters “Lakes at Risk” DVD have been distributed and it has been
aired on several local cable access channels. Along with making shoreline
development the topic for Itasca Community Television’s (ICTV) April "Big
Interview," the “Lakes at Risk" DVD has been included as part of the
program. If you missed the live show, ICTV plans to air both programs
(back to back) several times after April 25 (channel 7, Mediacom and channel 37,
Paul Bunyan). Check their schedule posted each week at www.watchictv.org. Call (218)
327-5866 or email Carla Henning at ICTVINC@mchsi.com with any
questions.
Minnesota Waters
Upcoming Workshops: Water Quality and Aquatic Plant Monitoring
Friday, May 4, 2007;
Have lake data, but not sure how to
analyze and interpret it? If yes, this interactive workshop is for
you! You will be guided step-by-step through the process of gathering,
organizing, “crunching” and interpreting your Secchi disk, total phosphorus and
chlorophyll ‘a’ data in conjunction with data from other sources. A
step-by-step lake assessment guide and lunch will be provided. Space is
limited to two participants per lake. Acceptance is on a first come basis.
Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural
Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative Commission on Minnesota
Resources (LCMR). For information or registration contact: Sandra Holm, 218 765
3309, RNSholm@brainerd.net
Wednesday May 10, 2007;
Minnesota Waters is working with
the Crow Wing County Soil & Water Conservation Department to develop a
training workshop for citizen water quality monitors in
Ever wonder what all those plants
are growing in and around your shoreland and why they’re there? Then join
us for an exciting day of learning about aquatic and emergent plant
identification and monitoring basics for lake and lawn. Session is interactive
and informal. All materials, including a laminated field guide will be
provided. Lunch and refreshments are also included. Registration is
$15, although scholarships are available for citizens. Funding for this project
was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as
recommended by the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCMR).
For information or registration contact: Sandra Holm, 218 765 3309, RNSholm@brainerd.net
Want to Be Added to
If you would like to
be added to the citizen monitoring email list to receive notification of
trainings, please email your contact information (name, address, phone number
& email) to angieb@minnesotawaters.org or courtneyk@minnesotawaters.org
and put “Citizen Monitoring List” in the subject line.
Hot Off the
Press: Minnesota Waters Legislative Update & Alert #3
The 2007 legislative session is
approaching its final stretch, and days at the Capitol are filled with
confirmation hearings, conference committees, and lengthy floor debates.
Minnesota Waters (MW) 2007 legislative agenda focuses on three main
issues:
1) Funding and solid program
development for the Clean Water Legacy Initiative,
2) Effective shoreland management, and
3) Increased control and prevention of
aquatic invasive species.
Clean Water
Legacy
Background: The 2006 Legislature passed
the Clean Water Legacy Act, which appropriated $25 million for one year to jump
start the clean up of impaired waters in Minnesota and the development of
protection strategies to keep “clean waters clean.” It also created the
Clean Water Council to oversee distribution and funding priorities for
appropriated funds. MW supported the Clean Water Legacy Act in 2006 and is a
supporting partner again this year in efforts to secure 1) general fund and
bonding money in the next biennium of $100 million per year; and 2) a long term
funding strategy for Clean Water Legacy.
Louis Smith, former Vice-President
of Minnesota Waters Board of Directors, was appointed to the Clean Water Council
to fill the position for a group representing protection of lakes and rivers.
Louis will keep us informed of the Council’s action and represent Minnesota
Waters interests, which include:
Ø Assuring that the
Clean Water Initiative embraces a local watershed approach wherever
possible;
Ø Assuring that citizen
monitoring has a significant and appropriate role in the impaired waters
assessment process; and
Ø Seeking to include
protection for clean waters from future threats, in addition to restoring
impaired waters.
Recently, Minnesota Waters received
$375,000 of the 2006 Clean Water Legacy appropriations to enhance and expand
citizen monitoring, specifically working towards assessing more waters to
determine if they meet water quality standards.
In his biennium budget proposal,
Governor Pawlenty proposed $20 million a year for the Clean Water Legacy--$40
for the biennium—an amount woefully below the $80-100 million annual estimate to
clean up and test our lakes and rivers within the next 10 years. The $20
million/year focuses mostly on testing and planning, but little on the cleanup.
Status:
Funding for
Clean Water Legacy is working through the Legislature in a variety of
forms. The Senate passed funding for CWL in a one-time appropriations
bill. The House passed their funding for CWL in the Omnibus environment,
natural resources, and energy appropriations bill. The House and Senate
Omnibus environment appropriations bill (SF 2096 Wagenius/Anderson) is currently
being discussed in Conference Committee. Going into the conference
committee, both the Senate and House positions for funding Clean Water Legacy
were approximately one quarter of the yearly appropriations necessary for
cleaning up and protecting Minnesota’s waters.
Effective Shoreland Management
Background: Minnesota’s shoreland
management rules are very outdated, last updated in 1989, and do not adequately
protect Minnesota’s lakes and rivers from the increasing development along their
shores. One step toward more effective shoreland management is to
establish stronger shoreland standards statewide. After participating in
the North Central Lakes Project to develop alternative shoreland standards*, MW
joined with the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA) in
petitioning the DNR to use the voluntary alternative shoreland standards as a
basis for statewide rulemaking. Ten county coalitions of lake associations
(COLAs) and 40 lake associations, representing thousands of Minnesotans, sent
letters of support for statewide rulemaking to the DNR and the Governor upon
Minnesota Waters request.
In January, the DNR denied the MCEA
petition saying that while they agreed there was a need to revise the rules
statewide, but they told the North Central counties the standards were voluntary
and they would stick to their word. Instead, the DNR said it would start a
new statewide rulemaking process for updating the shoreland standards engaging
all counties, cities, and stakeholder groups in the process by the first of
April—a process that could take up to two years.
Status: A plan for statewide rulemaking has
yet to be announced by DNR. Legislative attempts for an amendment that
would take the alternative shoreland standards to statewide rulemaking failed in
the House; it was opposed by the Association of Minnesota Counties, the DNR, and
the Minnesota Association of Townships. Efforts to do the same in the
Senate were unsuccessful. Another effort is underway to pass legislation
requiring DNR to launch statewide shoreland rulemaking. Sec. 15 of
SF 1312 (Omnibus Environment And Natural Resource Policy) says “The commissioner
of natural resources may initiate rulemaking … to update
the minimum shoreland standards….,” which seems to fall short of requiring that
step.
*The Alternative Standards are
available, and approved by the DNR, for local government adoption. Talk
with your local planning and zoning commission and county commissioners about
adopting these in your county or city.
Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS)
Control & Management
Background: A very active Minnesota
Waters Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force of staff, board, and volunteer
members has spent many hours at the Capitol this year lobbying for additional
funding for the prevention and management of aquatic invasive species. The DNR,
in the Governor’s budget, proposes to raise approximately $2 million per year in
additional funds for the management of aquatic invasive species through an
increase in the watercraft license surcharge already going to aquatic invasive
species, a new $2 surcharge on non-resident fishing licenses, and a one time
surcharge on utility trailers and towed recreational vehicles--part of which
would be used for management of terrestrial invasive species. The additional
funds would be used for local grants to control Eurasian watermilfoil and
Curleyleaf pondweed as well as increased inspections and enforcement. While
Minnesota Waters supports the Governors DNR budget proposal, the funding goal is
short of the actual need to adequately manage and prevent the spread of aquatic
invasive species. There are critical prevention programs missing in the DNR
proposal that without funding will result in continued spread of AIS.
See Minnesota Waters
Aquatic Invasive Species webpage,
including Public Policy Chair Dick Osgood’s editorial “Aquatic Invasive
Species Can Be Beat” http://www.minnesotawaters.org/documents/AISCanBeBeat.pdf
for
additional background.
MN Waters worked with key
legislators to introduce two bills, SF 1994
(Chaudhary) and HF2216 (Scalze), calling for a larger boat license surcharge
increase than proposed by the DNR—from $5 to $25— to increase funding for
AIS control and management by approximately $5 million per year. In addition to
the priorities proposed by the DNR, these bills would provide additional monies
for a new prevention grant program, functional containment of new AIS, an
increase in the local control grants and a rapid response and treatment
program. A fact sheet on the DNR’s budget proposal can be viewed at:
http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/aboutdnr/legislativeinfo/eco_invasive_species_mgmt2007.pdf.
A summary of Minnesota Waters bills can be viewed at:
http://www.minnesotawaters.org/documents/Amendment%20Summary%202-29-07.pdf
Status:
MN Waters’ proposed amendments
failed. The Omnibus Environment and Natural Resources appropriation bill
(SF2096) is currently in conference committee. Both the Senate and House
versions of the bill did contain language creating a fund dedicated to aquatic
invasives through an increased boat license surcharge. There were some
slight differences in the details between the House and Senate version, which
will be worked out in conference committee.
Other
Initiatives
Dedicated Funding for
Clean Water and Conservation
In 2006, a constitutional amendment
dedicating a portion of the state’s sales tax was proposed as a way to fund
long-term support for Clean Water Legacy along with fish and wildlife habitat
protection; parks, trails and zoos; and arts and humanities. A number of
bills have been introduced in 2007 containing a variety of proposals on what
fraction and what causes the funding should be spent on. The broad
framework being proposed this year is getting a constitutional amendment on the
2008 ballot that would increase the sales tax by 3/8th and dedicate 1/8th to
conservation, 1/8th to Clean Water Legacy and 1/8th to culture and parks.
On April 25, Senate and House
committees held hearings on the dedicated funding bill. However, the bill
currently does not guarantee a full $100 million to fund Clean Water Legacy; it
does not contain a bonding provision or dedicate $100 million for wildlife and
habitat; and it does not contain $30 million for grants for local governments
and nonprofits to protect water, wildlife and parks in their communities. It
also lacks the appropriate citizen oversight for the allocation of funds.
The House version of the bill, authored by Majority Leader Sertich, was passed
out of committee. The Senate version, authored by Majority Leader
Pogemiller, was voted down in the tax committee. Although being voted down
in a Senate committee, Sen. Pogemiller has said that he is still strongly
committed to passing the bill this session.
North & South Fork Crow River
Canoe Route Designation
The Conference Committee on the
Omnibus Environment and Natural Resources appropriation bill (SF2096) is
considering allocating money for designating the North and South Forks of the
Crow River as State Canoe Routes. These funds will be used by the
Commissioner or Natural Resources to designate river access points and
campsites. Minnesota Waters has submitted a letter in support of this
legislation, authored by Senator Steve Dille of Dassel and Representative Ron
Shimanski of Silver Lake.
S.F. 1312: Omnibus Environment And
Natural Resource Policy
Article 1, section 13 on Aquatic
Plant Management directs the MN DNR to initiate
rule-making for aquatic plant management permits and to consult with the
Department of Administration regarding the feasibility of using mediation
services as part of the rule-making process. Further, this bill directs
the DNR to report to legislative committees by January 2008. In an April
20 e-mail to Senators Chaudhary, Anderson & Olson and Representatives Berns,
Eken & Wagenius, MN Waters Public Policy Committee Co-Chair Dick Osgood
indicated Minnesota Waters does not support this section of the bill. Work
has already begun with MN DNR staff on the rule-making and MN Waters is
convinced this process, while frustratingly slow, is productive and will be best
for the management and protection of Minnesota’s Waters. Section 13 would
further delay the rule-making process and it is unclear whether or how the
legislative reporting requirement would better address unstated concerns.
Even though Minnesota Waters sometimes takes issue with the MN DNR’s rules and
their application, we would rather keep the agency responsible and hold them
accountable as agents of the administration as opposed to submitting this
important function to a political process. Minnesota Waters recommended
the existing rule-making process be allowed to continue unencumbered by the
provisions of this section of the bill.
Keeping up to
date.
(Excerpted from an e-newsletter
prepared by the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, www.mcn.org)
The constitutional deadline for the
legislature to adjourn this year is May 21st. Now that the
major omnibus funding bills have been passed off both the House and Senate
floors, conference committees have been formed to work out the
differences. The House and Senate leadership are expected to agree to the
“targets” for the conference committees by Friday (April 27). These
targets will determine how much each conference committee is allowed to spend in
their area of jurisdiction. Although the conference committees are already
meeting to discuss differences between the House and Senate versions of the
bills, they will not be able to complete their work on key fiscal issues until
the targets have been announced.
Now is the time to contact members
of a conference committee and your legislators to urge them to include the
issues that are important to you in the final bill.
Environment and Energy Finance
Conference Committee
·
Co-chaired by Rep. Wagenius and
Sen. Anderson
·
Additional House members:
Hilty, Hansen, Dill, Ozment
·
Additional Senate members:
Frederickson, Saxhaug, Chaudhary, Torres Ray
Once a conference committee
completes its bill, it will be sent back to the House and Senate floor for
approval – no amendments are allowed. If approved by both bodies, the
Governor will have three days (not including Sunday) to sign or veto the
bill. If he takes no action, the bill automatically becomes law. If
he vetoes the bill, a two-thirds vote of the House and Senate is required to
override the veto. The Governor may also line-item veto individual
appropriations within a bill, which also requires a two-thirds vote of the House
and Senate to override.
Resources for Contacting Your
Legislator and Tracking Legislative Activity:
The house and senate web sites
contain information on bill status and bill text, conference committee activity,
floor amendments, bill introductions, committee information and member contact
information, member email addresses, daily journals of activity and more.
Minnesota Legislature Home
Page: http://www.leg.state.mn.us/
Minnesota House of
Representatives:
http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us;
Constitution Ave, St. Paul, MN 55155
Minnesota Senate: http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/;
75 Constitution Ave, St. Paul, MN 55155
Who is Your Legislator? See
http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/Districtfinder.asp
Tips and Tactics for Contacting
Legislators: http://www.mncn.org/doc/tipstactics.pdf
Senate email: Sen.[first name].[last
name]@senate.mn; House email: Rep.[first name].[last
name]@house.mn
Legislation and Bill
Tracking: http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/legis.asp
View Senate Weekly
at: (A weekly report on
Senate legislative activity), http://www.senate.mn/briefly/2006/brief0331.pdf
View House Session
Weekly (A weekly
report on House legislative activity), http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hinfo/SWKLY/2005-06/sw506.pdf
~ Resources for
New Map Books
Highlight Minnesota Trout Fishing Opportunities
Finding opportunities to fish trout
will be easier than ever this year, thanks to two new map books produced by the
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
The books highlight trout streams,
lakes and public fishing opportunities in the northwestern and southeastern
areas of the state. The northeast map book is new. The southeast book has been
updated from a 2005 edition. “These books make it easy to navigate
Minnesota’s incredible public trout fishing resource,” said Ron Payer, DNR chief
of the Fisheries Section. “The southeast map book was so popular with anglers
that we decided to print a companion book that highlights opportunities in the
northeast.” Map books are available by calling toll free 1-888 - MINNDNR
(646-6367).
~ Conferences, Confabs
and Conglomerations ~
Living Green
Expo
May 5 - 6, 10 a.m. –
5 p.m., Minnesota State Fair Grounds, Grandstand Building, Saint
Paul
The Living Green Expo is a free,
annual event that provides information and products to help Minnesotans improve
the environmental and social impacts of their day-to-day living. The Expo
features over 200 exhibitors of products,
services, and information, along with over 60 workshops on a variety of
sustainability and green living topics. Expo attractions include music,
art, food, demonstrations, and activities for youth and children. For all
of the details, click here.
Green by Design
Conference
May 16 and 17,
2007; The Depot, in downtown Minneapolis
Co-Convened by the Greater
Minnesota Housing Fund and the Family Housing Fund and Enterprise, the Green by
Design Conference will present the most accessible formulas for accelerating the
rate of change toward sustainable development, healthier communities, and
environmental stewardship in our cities and towns. It offers a rich assortment
of workshops on urban and rural design, green building, and provocative
presentations on global warming, peak oil production, and our increasingly
unstable energy future. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. will be the keynote
speaker for this event. http://www.regonline.com/Checkin.asp?EventId=122404
Assessing Watershed
Phosphorus Sources
If phosphorus levels in a lake or
stream are elevated, can you identify the sources? How do you decide where to
invest time and money to reduce phosphorus loading? The Watershed Treatment
Model (WTM) can help you answer these questions, and assess the relative
contribution of the various sources of phosphorus. These workshops will train
local planners and concerned citizens to use the WTM. Presentations
are by the UM Department of Soil, Water, and Climate. Funding is by a state
LCCMR water quality grant. Support is provided by the UM Extension Service
Shoreland Education Program, and local conservation districts.
Workshops are free, but you must pre-register at least one week in
advance. To register, contact Ann Lewandowski (612-624-6765,
alewand@umn.edu). Provide your name, phone, email, preferred session, and
indicate whether you can bring a laptop computer.
St. Cloud, June 6th, 1PM
to 4PM, Marketplace of Waite Park, 114 2nd St. South
Alexandria, June 7th,
1PM to 4PM, Douglas Co. Public Works Bldg., 509 3rd Ave.
West
Park Rapids, June 21st,
1PM to 4PM, Northwoods Bank, 1200 East First Street
Brainerd, June 22nd, 1PM
to 4PM, Central Lakes Coll., Rm E203 Business and Industry Ctr.
Stream Health and
Restoration Workshops
As rivers become more widely
recognized and appreciated as valuable natural resources, the responsibility to
better understand these systems takes on greater
importance. The Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources offers workshops that teach the basic functions
and processes of rivers, the Rosgen method of
stream classification, assessing
and monitoring river health, and natural channel design river restoration. These
workshops are designed for natural resource
professionals whose work involves
rivers directly or indirectly as well as those who are engaged in watershed-wide
resource management issues. Workshops are
hands on experiences and each one
requires students to complete fieldwork, data analysis, and present their
findings. For more information, contact Brenda Johnson, MN DNR -
Ecological Services Stream Habitat Program; 218 -739 -7576 x260; brenda.johnson@dnr.state.mn.us.
Fluvial Geomorphology and Stream
Classification, 23-27 July, Duluth, MN
Stream Restoration, 20-24 August,
Fergus Falls, MN
Mississippi River
Challenge
August 4 &
5
Join Friends of the Mississippi
River for a two-day, 44-mile paddle to discover the Mississippi River and
support FMR's river protection efforts. Find out more at the Mississippi
River Challenge web site: http://www.mississippiriverchallenge.org.
RiverNight
August 15; Harriet
Island, St. Paul
Think warm thoughts of a sunset
evening dinner cruise on the Mississippi River in St. Paul for Minnesota Waters'
annual RiverNight event. All proceeds help support Minnesota Waters
continued efforts to help citizens protect and improve their lakes, rivers and
watersheds in Minnesota. Come celebrate those dedicated citizens and our
beautiful water resources in Minnesota. Contact Linda Hamilton at lindah@minnesotawaters.org for
ticket and sponsorship information and watch for more details in future issues
of Confluence.
2007 Land-Use
Planning Workshops
The Government Training Service
(GTS) announces its 2007 schedule for Land-Use Planning Workshops, including:
Your Role as a Planning Commission Member, Basics of Planning & Zoning,
Beyond the Basics of Planning & Zoning, Site Planning Basics for Non-Design
Professionals, Getting the Most Out of Your Comprehensive Plan, Spotlight on
Sub-Divisions, and How To Avoid Drowning in Lakeshore Development. Classes
will be held in
2008 Lakes and Rivers
Conference—Mark Your Calendar’s Now
The 2008 Lakes and
Rivers Conference will be held September 11-13, 2008, at the
~ The Bucks Start Here
~ Funding Resources
Conservation
Fund/Kodak American Greenways Awards Program
The Kodak American
Greenways Awards Program, administered by the Conservation Fund, provides small
grants to stimulate the planning and design of greenways in communities
throughout America. In general, grants can be used for all appropriate expenses
needed to complete a greenway project, including planning, technical assistance,
and implementation costs. Awards are primarily provided to local, regional, and
statewide nonprofit organizations. Applications must be submitted online by June
1, 2007. Visit http://www.conservationfund.org/node/245
for more information.
Minnesota Waters
promotes responsible
stewardship of our water resources by engaging citizens, state and local policy
makers and other like-minded partners in the protection and restoration of our
lakes and rivers. We achieve our mission through watershed education,
citizen monitoring, supporting conservation stewardship, influencing public
policy and empowering citizen groups to manage their local water
resources.
****JOIN MINNESOTA WATERS TODAY!
****