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WATERSHEDS

WHAT IS ONE WATERSHED ONE PLAN?

Local governments have worked hard over the years to protect and restore our water resources through planning efforts within each county. In recent years, the Minnesota Board of Soil and Water Resources encouraged local governments to partner with neighboring counties to work across jurisdictional boundaries and plan resources on a watershed wide scale. This process is called One Watershed One Plan (1W1P).

WHO IS INVOLVED?

The Rainy River-Rainy Lake 1W1P partners include Koochiching Soil & Water Conservationist District, Koochiching County, the City of International Falls, and the City of Ranier. The effort will be led by the Steering Team made up of staff from these offices. Our Policy Committee, made up of elected officials from the County and SWCD Boards will approve the content of the plan, serve as a liaison to their representative governing entities and act on behalf of their constituents. An Advisory Committee will also be formed, to provide input to the Policy Committee.

ABOUT THE LOWER RAINY AND RAINY RIVER-RAINY LAKE WATERSHEDS

Situated along Minnesota’s northern border, the Rainy River-Rainy Lake/Lower Rainy River (RR-RL) Watershed is a unique watershed compared to its neighbors. The RR-RL is known for its unique shape as well as its wetland and peatland covered landscape. The RR-RL also
contains much of Minnesota’s only National Park, Voyageurs National Park. Although the RR-RL is a sparsely populated watershed outside of International Falls, the rivers, lakes, and forests of the watershed draw residents from across the state to its pristine environment. For the purposes of the One Watershed, One Plan program (1W1P) these two watersheds are joined into one watershed, the RR-RL. These two watersheds have similar land types and deal with similar issues that can be adequately addressed as one watershed.

POLICY COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

Name Committee Role Organization/Role
Pete Kalar Chair City of International Falls, City Councilor
Destry Hell Vice-Chair Koochiching County, Commissioner
Jenn Lahmayer Secretary City of Ranier, Councilor
Eldon Voigt Member Koochiching SWCD, Board Supervisor

ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

Name Organization/Role
Jeff Hrubes Board of Water and Soil Resources, Clean Water Specialist
Margaret Wagner Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Clean Water Technical Assistance Unit Supervisor
Chris Parthun Minnesota Department of Health, Principal Planner
Rian Reed Minnesota Department Natural Resources, Area Hydrologist
Mike Kennedy Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Watershed Project Manager
Jody Peek Natural Resources Conservation Services - USDA, District Conservationist - CST Leader
Shane Bowe Red Lake Department of Natural Resources - Tribal, Water Resources Program Director
Whitney Sims Koochiching Environmental Services - Environmental Services Specialist
Trent Nicholson Koochiching County Highway Department - Engineer
Nathan Heibel and/or Danae Schafer Koochiching County Land & Forests - Land Commissioner and Assistant Land Commissioner
Sam Soderman Koochiching Soil and Water Conservation District - Water Resource Specialist
James Aasen Koochiching Soil and Water Conservation District - Forest Resource Specialist
Jolen Simon Koochiching Soil and Water Conservation District - Program Coordinator
Marcie Peeters Koochiching Soil and Water Conservation District - Resource Conservationist
Phil Norvitch North St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District - Resource Conservationist
Ted Brokaw City of International Falls - Director of Public Works
Kayla Bowe Red Lake DNR - Biologist
Phil Talmage MN DNR Fisheries - Area Supervisor
Ben West MN DNR Forestry - Area Supervisor
Ryan Maki Voyageurs National Park - Aquatic Ecologist
Mike Hanson Rainy River Resident
Mike Heibel Rainy Lake Resident

STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

Name Organization/Role
Pam Tomevi Koochiching SWCD, District Administrator
Matt Gouin Koochiching County, Environmental Services Director
Sherril Gautreaux City of Ranier, City Administrator
Jason Fisher City of International Falls, Engineer (Bolton & Menk)
Chad Severts Board of Water and Soil Resources, Board Conservationist

PUBLIC MEETINGS

SEPTEMBER 7,2023

POLICY COMMITTEE MEETINGS

MARCH 27,2023
APRIL 10, 2023
MAY 8, 2023
JUNE 12, 2023
MAY 1
JULY 17,

PAM TOMEVI

District Administrator
218-283-1174
pam.tomevi@co.koochiching.mn.us

MATT GOUIN

Environmental Services Director
218-283-1156
matt.gouin@co.koochiching.mn.us

SHERRIL GAUTREAUX

City Administrator
218-286-3311
cityofranier@frontiernet.net

JASON FISHER

Engineer (Bolton & Menk)
218-729-5939 ext. 3683
Jason.Fisher@bolton-menk.com

CHAD SEVERTS

Board Conservationist
218-770-9620
chad.severts@state.mn.us