Agenda Packets - 1986/11/03 - Laserfiche WebLink

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LUEET-5. Ground and Surface Water Management (B) In order to safeguard the public health and the environment it is necessary to plan and manage our water resourceu as a valuable state resource. Many watershed districts, counties, cities, and towns have done a good job of dealing with surface and groundwater management issues and have the authority and ability to continue to do so in a cost-effective manner. These existing mechanisms should continue to be used to the greatest extent possible to address surface and groundwater management problems instead of establishing a new system or creating new organizations. Local units of government should retain the basic responsibility for surface water management as they are the level of government closest to the problem. In 1982, legislation required local governments in the metropolitan area to adopt surface water run-off controls and regulations; 1985 legislation encourages similar steps to be taken in the non:-metrupolitan area of the state. These statutes should be given sufficient time to work before additional programs or extensive changes to existing programs are enacted by the Legislature. The possibility of intergovernmental conflict should be studied and dispute resolution mechanisms should be reevaluated. The Legislature should provide funds to further encourage counties to undertake water planning activities, and these state funds should be made available to cities that are required to make substantial amendments to local - plans and controls, or that are employed to assist the county in preparation of the comprehensive water plan. Special levies should also be made available to fund water management projects. -31-