Subd. 1. Membership.

The Board of Water and Soil Resources is composed of 12 members knowledgeable of water and soil problems and conditions within the state and five ex officio members.

Subd. 2. Voting members.

1. (a) The members are:

   1. (1) three county commissioners;
   2. (2) three soil and water conservation district supervisors;
   3. (3) three watershed district or watershed management organization representatives;
   4. (4) three citizens who are not employed by, or the appointed or elected officials of, a governmental office, board, or agency;
   5. (5) the commissioner of agriculture;
   6. (6) the commissioner of health;
   7. (7) the commissioner of natural resources;
   8. (8) the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency; and
   9. (9) the director of the University of Minnesota Extension Service.
2. (b) Members in paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (4), must be distributed across the state with at least three members but not more than five members from the metropolitan area, as defined by section 473.121, subdivision 2; and one from each of the current soil and water conservation administrative regions.
3. (c) Members in paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (4), are appointed by the governor. In making the appointments, the governor may consider persons recommended by the Association of Minnesota Counties, the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and the Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts. The list submitted by an association must contain at least three nominees for each position to be filled.
4. (d) The membership terms, compensation, removal of members and filling of vacancies on the board for members in paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (4), are as provided in section 15.0575.

Subd. 3.

Repealed, 1997 c 28 s 4

Subd. 4. Employees.

The board may employ an executive director in the unclassified service and other permanent and temporary employees in accordance with chapter 43A. The board may prescribe the powers and duties of its officers and employees and may authorize its employees and members of the board to act on behalf of the board.

Subd. 5. Officers.

The governor shall appoint a chair from among the members of the board in subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (4), with the advice and consent of the senate. The board shall elect a vice-chair and any other officers that it considers necessary from its membership.

Subd. 6. Quorum.

A majority of the board is a quorum.

Subd. 7. Hearings and rulemaking.

The board may hold public hearings and adopt rules necessary to execute its duties.

Subd. 8.

Repealed, 1997 c 28 s 4

Subd. 9. Powers and duties.

In addition to the powers and duties prescribed elsewhere, the board shall:

1. (1) coordinate the water and soil resources planning activities of counties, soil and water conservation districts, watershed districts, watershed management organizations, and any other local units of government through its various authorities for approval of local plans, administration of state grants, and by other means as may be appropriate;
2. (2) facilitate communication and coordination among state agencies in cooperation with the Environmental Quality Board, and between state and local units of government, in order to make the expertise and resources of state agencies involved in water and soil resources management available to the local units of government to the greatest extent possible;
3. (3) coordinate state and local interests with respect to the study in southwestern Minnesota under United States Code, title 16, section 1009;
4. (4) develop information and education programs designed to increase awareness of local water and soil resources problems and awareness of opportunities for local government involvement in preventing or solving them;
5. (5) provide a forum for the discussion of local issues and opportunities relating to water and soil resources management;
6. (6) adopt an annual budget and work program that integrate the various functions and responsibilities assigned to it by law; and

7. (7) report to the governor and the legislature by October 15 of each even-numbered year with an assessment of board programs and recommendations for any program changes and board membership changes necessary to improve state and local efforts in water and soil resources management.

   The board may accept grants, gifts, donations, or contributions in money, services, materials, or otherwise from the United States, a state agency, or other source to achieve an authorized purpose. The board may enter into a contract or agreement necessary or appropriate to accomplish the transfer.

   Any money received is hereby appropriated and dedicated for the purpose for which it is granted.

Subd. 10. Committee for dispute resolution.

A committee of the board is established to hear and resolve disputes, appeals, and interventions under sections 103A.301 to 103A.341; 103B.231, subdivision 9; 103B.345; and 103D.535. The committee consists of two of the three citizen members; one county commissioner member; one soil and water conservation district supervisor member; and one watershed district or watershed management organization representative member. The committee is appointed by the board chair.

Subd. 11. Engineering work and appearances at hearings by director.

The director of the Division of Waters of the Department of Natural Resources shall perform engineering work requested by the Board of Water and Soil Resources and shall appear in all hearings and proceedings before the Board of Water and Soil Resources affecting waters within the state.