Within weeks, the Shell Rock River Watershed Advisory Board will complete its recommendation to the county board regarding lake cleanup and water quality issues.

Friday, May 11, 2001

Within weeks, the Shell Rock River Watershed Advisory Board will complete its recommendation to the county board regarding lake cleanup and water quality issues.

Working as long as three hours at every meeting, the committee is reviewing subcommittees’ recommendations on key cleanup issues. The group has reviewed and passed about half the subcommittees’ recommendations so far, but has only given itself until May 23 to finish the work, said watershed field technician Andy Henschel.

&uot;We will get through it if we have to stay until midnight,&uot; Henschel said.

Completed portions of the rural subcommittee’s recommendation address farm and highway runoff solutions, including restoration of water retention basins, establishment of sediment traps, and conservation incentives for farmers, according to the committee’s minutes.

When the committee completes its recommendation, the plan will be reviewed by the county water planning board and Environmental Services staff. Board members hope to present the plan with county comments on July 3, Henschel said.

According to county procedure, commissioners will be able to amend the plan, he said. But they will have to be careful to avoid violating their agreement with the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR).

&uot;I think if they do that, they will be tempting fate, because according to the agreement with (BWSR), it has to be a plan developed by a citizen committee.&uot;

If the county doesn’t follow BWSR’s guidelines, it leaves itself open to establishment of a state-appointed watershed board, which many local residents have opposed.

In the meantime, Henschel is looking for volunteers to help in water cleanup efforts by monitoring rainfall throughout the county. Interested persons should call Henschel or stop by the Environmental Services department in the main Courthouse building.