Commission

 

A Board of Commissioners was established as the governing body of the Elm Creek Watershed Management Commission.  The Board is comprised of representatives appointed by the member communities. A listing of the Commissioners appointed to serve in 2008 can be found by clicking on the “Commissioners” tab to the left, while information about the Commission’s administrative, legal and technical support staff can be found under the Contact Us tab of this site.  The Commission has no employees.

 

The duties of the Commissioners include:

 

1.         Preparing and adopting a watershed management plan meeting the requirements of MN Rules Chapter 8410.

2.         Reviewing and approving local water management plans as defined in MN Rules Chapter 8410.

3.         Exercising the authority of a Watershed Management Organization under MN Statutes Chapter 103B to regulate the use and development of land when:

a.         A local water management plan has not been approved and adopted, or

b.         A local permit requires an amendment to or variance from the local water management plan, or

c.         The Commission has been authorized by the local government to require permits for land use.

4.         Exercising authority when the local government is not enforcing the policies of the Commission.

 

As noted above, a primary responsibility of the Commission is to prepare and adopt a watershed management plan that meets the requirements of MN Rules Chapter 8410. The purpose of the Elm Creek Watershed Management Plan is to:

 

1.         Protect, preserve, and manage surface water and groundwater resources;

2.         Minimize property damages and economic losses through water resource management;

3.         Manage public expenditures needed to study, control, and/or correct flooding and water quality problems;

4.         Educate and inform the public on pertinent water resource management issues and increase public participation in water management activities;

5.         Identify and plan for means to effectively protect and improve surface and groundwater quality;

6.         Establish more uniform local policies and official controls for surface and groundwater management;

7.         Reduce erosion of soil into surface water systems;

8.         Promote groundwater recharge;

9.         Protect and enhance fish and wildlife habitat and water recreational facilities;

10.        Reduce and control stream degradation through land protection measures, runoff restrictions, and pollutant restrictions.