Scott and Carver staff recommend joint petition and letter to BWSR to seek boundary change for Lower Minnesota River Watershed District
Summary
County staff recommended a joint petition under state statute to realign the Lower Minnesota River Watershed District boundaries to hydrologic realities and counties directed staff to pursue the filing and draft a letter to the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR). Commissioners highlighted governance, levy and mission-creep concerns.
Scott and Carver county staff presented a detailed review of the Lower Minnesota River Watershed District and recommended pursuing a statutory boundary-change petition and a coordinated letter to the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR).
Brad Davis (director of physical development) outlined the district’s history and primary original purpose — a commercial navigation dredge channel — and noted that the District’s political boundaries do not match hydrologic boundaries. He said the counties have noticed mission expansion, governance questions and a preliminary levy proposal that initially showed a large increase before being reduced.
"We first heard about this preliminary levy increase that was proposed for the 2025 budget up to 60%," Davis said, adding that the final levy later dropped to about 8–8.5 percent. Staff described projects the counties view as outside the District’s core mission (bonding, bluff acquisitions and a headquarters build) and raised concerns about governance changes including a proposal to add another manager and transfer representation among appointees.
County staff recommended filing a joint petition—initiated by the Carver WMO and Scott WMO or jointly—under state statute to align watershed boundaries with hydrologic realities, and to pursue a parallel letter to BWSR requesting renewed basin-wide state engagement and consideration of governance options.
"I think what we've heard is direction to pursue a joint filing and put a letter together for the chairs to sign to Bowser," Commissioner Leslie Vermillion said near the conclusion of the discussion. Staff noted statutory steps include city and WMO concurrence letters and that the Lower Minnesota River Watershed District board would need to concur; staff cautioned the District’s current board may oppose the petition.
What happens next: counties directed staff to prepare a joint petition and draft a letter to BWSR; affected cities and landowners will receive notices per statute and staff will return to the board with next steps.
