Second Generation Management Plan

In 2000 the Pioneer-Sarah Creek Watershed Management Commission and the Elm Creek Watershed Management Commission worked cooperatively with WSB & Associates to develop and write their second generation watershed management plans.  In October 2001 citizens from both watersheds came together to discuss water resource issues within their communities. Topics discussed included education, water quality, non-degradation, shoreline protection, erosion, flooding, groundwater, wetlands, fish and wildlife, livestock/feedlots, population density/development, administration/leadership, and capital funding.

In 2002, the Pioneer-Sarah Creek Commission’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and representatives from various state agencies met to review and develop policies, standards and rules. Input from TAC meetings and the public meeting was used to create a preliminary draft plan that was presented to Pioneer-Sarah Creek watershed residents at a second public meeting in June 2002. A public hearing was conducted on November 21, 2002, to receive comments. Written comments were also received from the City of Greenfield, the Lake Independence Citizens Association, and the Department of Natural Resources. Capital project funding was also discussed. At the end of 2002 the revised draft plan underwent its second 45-day agency comment period.

In August 2004 the City of Greenfield became the final signatory to the Commission’s amended and restated Joint Powers Agreement, signaling the onset of BWSR’s 60-day final review period.  BWSR approved the Pioneer-Sarah Creek Watershed Management Commission Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan on October 27, 2004, The Commission adopted the plan on December 16, 2004.

 

Local Plans

It is now the responsibility of member communities to develop their local water management plans or amend their existing plans to be in conformance with the Commission’s Plan.  Local plans must be approved by the Commission and adopted by the cities by December 2006.

 

Local plans must comply with MN Statutes, Sec. 103B.235 and MN Rules 8410.0160 and 8410.0170 regarding local plan content and the requirements of the Commission’s Watershed Management Plan. Member cities may include in their updated plans any information that is important to their water resources planning.  At a minimum, local plans must meet statutory and Commission second generation Plan requirements.  Updated local plans may incorporate by reference information from cities’ first generation plans, if unchanged, other subsequent plans or studies they have undertaken, or from NPDES Phase II permit applications or reports.

 

 

The Plan

The Second Generation Plan has been broken down into its various sections here for your convenience. Please note that Appendix H is a very large file, at 4.3 MB.

Title Page and Table of Contents

Section 1. Introduction

Section 2. Land and Water Resource Inventory

Section 3. Goals and Policies

Section 4. Issues/Concerns and Corrective Actions

Section 5. Implementation Program / Priorities

Section 6. Impact on Local Unit of Government

Section 7. Amendment Procedures

Section 8. References / Supplemental Documents

 

 

Appendices:

Appendix A. Water Resource Related Agreements

Appendix B. List of Commission Members

Appendix C. Glossary

Appendix D. Lake Report Cards

Appendix E. Flood Hazard Study Information

Appendix F. Standards of the Pioneer-Sarah Creek Watershed Management Commission

Appendix G. Education Plan

Appendix H. Sample Ordinances

Appendix I. Sample Stormwater Maintenance Plan

Appendix J. Water Quality Monitoring Program

Appendix K. General Information About Buffers

Appendix L. Status of Member Communities’ Regulatory Programs

Appendix M. Suggested Low Impact Development Practices

Appendix N. Stormwater Utility and Trunk Fee Information

Appendix O. Management of Small Livestock Operations to Protect Water Resources