WATERSHEDS
KOOCHICHING COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
In January 2017, Koochiching County Environmental Services and Koochiching Soil & Water Conservation District began updating the Koochiching County Comprehensive Local Water Management Plan (KCCLWMP) which expired on 12/31/2017. State agency review of the DRAFT 2018-2028 updated plan was recently completed and, pending review and comment by the Board of Water and Soil Resources, is expected to be approved by the end of April 2018.
WHAT IS A WATER PLAN?
In 1977 Minnesota was stricken by drought conditions that nearly rivaled the infamous drought of the 1930s. That prompted the Legislature to seek ways to better manage the state’s water supplies, which led to the enactment of the Comprehensive Local Water Management Act (Minnesota Statutes sections 103B.301 to 103B.355) in 1985.
The act encourages counties outside the metropolitan area to develop and implement comprehensive water management plans. While the plans are voluntary, various state and federal grants require recipients to have an adopted local water management plan that is updated periodically (between 5 and 10 years). These local plans focus on priority concerns, defined goals and objectives, and measurable outcomes.
PURPOSE OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (KCCLWMP)
The purpose of the Koochiching County Comprehensive Local Water Management Plan is to:
- Identify and address existing and potential issues for the protection, management, and development of water resources and related resources in Koochiching County
- Identify priority concerns to be addressed during the effective time frame of the plan
- Develop goals and implement actions that improve water quality and quantity and related resource management and planning in Koochiching County
WATER PLAN DOCUMENTS
