Minnesota Water Planning Board

The Water Planning Board was established in July 1977 [Laws 1977 c446]. Its duties included preparation of the Framework Water and Related Land Resources Plan as proposed by the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources [LCMR] in October 1976; direction of all state involvement in activities pursuant to the federal Water Resources Planning Act [P.L. 89-80]; assurance of participation of the public and all units of government in water resources planning activities; recommendation of improvements in state laws in order to reduce overlap, duplication, and conflicting jurisdictions in water resource management; and participation in the various federal-state river basin commissions. Directors included the state commissioners of agriculture, health, natural resources, energy, and pollution control, the Soil and Water Board chair, and a chair as appointed by the Governor. In August 1977, Governor Perpich appointed Thomas J. Kalitowski to the latter position. The board's final report was due to the governor and legislature before July 1, 1979 and the board was to cease to exist on June 30, 1979. Over the next four years the board was extended three times [Laws 1979 c333 sec31 subd5; Laws 1980 c548; Laws 1982 c524]. In 1983 [Laws 1983 c301], the Legislature finally created the permanent water resources coordinating body recommended in the board's 1979 framework water plan. The Water Planning Board and the Southern Minnesota Rivers Basin Board were merged with the state Environmental Quality Board. Governor Perpich also approved a reorganization order transferring the staff of the three merged boards to the new State Planning Agency and appointed Kalitowski head of the new Environmental Quality Board, effective July 1, 1983.