Water Plan Policy Team

In 2021, the Policy Team and Subcommittee started a visioning process to restructure the Policy Team framework, as the Policy Team no longer entirely meets the current Team Purpose and Mission within the new Lower St. Croix Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan (LSC CWMP) structure.  

On March 14, 2022, the Water Plan Policy Team accepted the revised Policy Team Purpose and Mission.  The Policy Team will continue to meet in 2022 to develop a framework for the future role of the Team.

Purpose

The purpose of the Chisago County Water Plan Policy Team is to identify, advise, and educate stakeholders of Chisago County’s water resources (lakes, rivers, wetlands, and groundwater) and the Lower St. Croix Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan (LSC CWMP) policies and priorities; and advocate for their implementation, protection, and improvement in Chisago County.  

Mission

The mission of the Water Plan Policy Team is to advocate and seek funding and support to protect, improve and conserve the watershed resources of Chisago County; to develop, update and oversee implementation of Appendix D: Chisago County Local Priorities of the Lower St. Croix Comprehensive Watershed Plan (LSC CWMP); and to serve as an informed county liaison and advisory group to the Chisago County Board of Commissioners and LSC CWMP Implementation Committee(s).

For more information on the Water Plan Policy Team, please view the 2022 Chisago County Water Plan Policy Team Fact Sheet (PDF). 

Meetings

The Water Plan Policy Team meetings are held:

• 3:00 p.m.
• 2nd Monday in the months of:
  • January
  • March
  • May
  • July
  • September
  • November
• Chisago County Government Center - Room 150B
• 313 N Main St, Center City, MN 55012

Special meetings are also called if the need arises.

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available before the meetings. Minutes are available for review following approval.
Most Recent Agenda | All Agendas

Members

The Water Plan Policy Team has 9 members representing various groups and departments as follows:

• Citizens
• Chisago County Board of Commissioners
• Chisago County Department of Environmental Services/Zoning
• Chisago County Department of Public Health
• Chisago County Soil and Water Conservation District

The 5 Citizen At-Large members are appointed to 3 year terms by the County Board of Commissioners:

The agency positions on the Policy Team and Technical Team are filled by staff. The Policy Team also has a technical team represented as follows:

• Chisago County Soil and Water Conservation District
• Chisago Lakes Lake Improvement District
• Comfort Lake Forest Lake Watershed District
• Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources
• Minnesota Department of Health
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

The technical team advises the Policy Team on issues relating to their areas of expertise.

Natural Resources Block Grant

Each year, Chisago County receives funds from the Natural Resources Block Grant (NRBG) administered by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources. The NRBG is a composite of base grants available to counties that help implement programs designed to protect and improve water resources. Individual programs under this grant include:

• Comprehensive Local Water Management
• Shoreland Management
• Subsurface Sewage Treatment System (SSTS) Program
• Wetland Conservation Act.