Board forwards Blue Earth River Watershed plan to state review, adopts contingent resolution

Blue Earth County commissioners voted Dec. 2 to forward the county portion of the 10‑year Blue Earth River Watershed Plan to state review and to adopt the plan contingent on that review. Scott Salisbury of the county Property, Environmental Resources division told the board the planning process began in 2023, included public input and agency review, and that the policy committee closed a Nov. 17 public hearing with no public comments.

Salisbury said the plan identifies priority resources including erosion and sedimentation, nutrient loading, soil health, altered hydrology and flood damage reduction, wetlands, maintenance of drainage systems and protection of surface‑water drinking supplies for the cities of Mankato and Fairmont. He told commissioners the policy committee recommended approval contingent on one wording change in the climate section referring to precipitation and temperature impacts on crop yields.

Commissioners discussed the multi‑jurisdictional nature of the plan and thanked staff for extensive outreach and agency coordination. Commissioner Kevin noted multiple meetings and agency reviews and urged approval of the resolution that would both forward the plan for state review and adopt it contingent upon that review. The board approved the resolution by voice vote.

The county will forward the adopted resolution and plan to the state review authority noted in the staff presentation and adopt the plan formally if the state review does not require substantive changes. Next procedural steps identified by staff were submission to the state reviewer and any follow‑up resolutions if the state requests modifications.