DEPARTMENT: Environmental Resources
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Execute Agreement With Minnesota Department Of Agriculture For Monitoring Wells On County-Owned Property And Delegation Of Authority For Future Agreements
end
PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize to execute an agreement with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture for the installation of two groundwater monitoring wells located on County-owned property within the road right of way.
SUMMARY
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is responsible for implementing the Groundwater Protection rule (Minnesota Rules 1573) to minimize sources of nitrate pollution to the state’s groundwater and protect drinking water sources. Part 2 of the rule requires the MDA to respond to drinking water supply management areas (DWSMAs) with elevated nitrate and take action to reduce nitrate in groundwater before a public well exceeds the health standard of 10 milligrams per liter (mg/L).
The Hastings DWSMA has been designated as a mitigation level 2 DWSMA because nitrate in the public water supply wells has exceeded 8.0 mg/L at least once during the last 10 years. Therefore, the MDA is required to take action within the Hastings DWSMA to reduce nitrate in the groundwater. This includes developing a local groundwater monitoring well network to monitor nitrate in the shallow groundwater and working with local farmers to adopt practices that can reduce nitrate levels.
Installation of the shallow groundwater monitoring well network within the Hastings DWSMA is an important part of the implementation of the Groundwater Protection rule to determine if actions on the land are effectively reducing nitrate in the groundwater. It is also beneficial to Dakota County since the monitoring network within the Hastings DWSMA supports strategies identified in the recently adopted Dakota County Agricultural Chemical Reduction Effort (ACRE) Plan.
The MDA has currently identified two monitoring well locations on Dakota County-owned property (see Attachment: Proposed Monitoring Well Locations). The agreement grants permission to MDA to install the monitoring wells, take water samples and water levels, and conduct maintenance as needed. The MDA will be responsible for all associated costs of the well installation, monitoring, and sealing once no longer in use. The MDA will provide the County sampling results, which will assist with the implementation of ACRE.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends the County Board authorize the Environmental Resources Director to execute an agreement with the MDA for the installation of monitoring wells within the Hastings DWSMA on County-owned property, as well as any future MDA monitoring wells within the Hastings DWMSA that are required as part of the Groundwater Protection rule implementation and where there is no cost to the County.
end
EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
☒ None ☐ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
body
WHEREAS, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is responsible for implementing the Groundwater Protection rule (Minnesota Rules 1573) to minimize sources of nitrate pollution to the state’s groundwater and protect drinking water sources; and
WHEREAS, Part 2 of the rule requires the MDA to respond to drinking water supply management areas (DWSMAs) with elevated nitrate and take action to reduce nitrate in groundwater before a public well exceeds the health standard of 10 milligrams per liter (mg/L); and
WHEREAS, the Hastings DWSMA has been designated as a mitigation level 2 DWSMA because nitrate in the public water supply wells has exceeded 8.0 mg/L at least once during the last 10 years; and
WHEREAS, the MDA is required to take action within the Hastings DWSMA to reduce nitrate in the groundwater, which includes developing a local groundwater monitoring well network to monitor nitrate in the shallow groundwater and work with local farmers to adopt practices that can reduce nitrate levels; and
WHEREAS, installation of the shallow groundwater monitoring well network within the Hastings DWSMA is an important part of the implementation of the Groundwater Protection rule to determine if actions on the land are effectively reducing nitrate in the groundwater; and
WHEREAS, the monitoring network is also beneficial to Dakota County since it supports strategies identified in the recently adopted Dakota County Agricultural Chemical Reduction Effort (ACRE) Plan; and
WHEREAS, the MDA identified two monitoring well locations on Dakota County-owned property; and
WHEREAS, the agreement grants permission to the MDA to install the monitoring wells, take water samples and water levels, and conduct maintenance as needed; and
WHEREAS, the MDA will be responsible for all associated costs of the well installation, monitoring, and sealing once no longer in use and will provide the County sampling results, which will assist with the implementation of ACRE.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Environmental Resources Director to execute an agreement with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture for the installation of two monitoring wells on County-owned property; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Environmental Resources Director to execute future necessary agreements with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture for the installation of monitoring wells on County-owned property for the purpose of implementing the Groundwater Protection rule where there is no associated cost to the County.
end
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
None.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Proposed Monitoring Well Locations
BOARD GOALS
☒ A Great Place to Live ☒ A Healthy Environment
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT LEVEL
☐ Inform and Listen ☐ Discuss ☐ Involve ☒ N/A
CONTACT
Department Head: Nikki Stewart
Author: Valerie Neppl