MN HF1569

Board of Water and Soil Resources must develop and implement a working lands pilot program in selected drinking water supply management areas using perennial crops and cover crops to improve water quality, soil health, carbon storage, and habitat.

Program must include criteria for selecting management areas and screening landowners, outreach to farmers and local governments, agronomic assistance through the Forever Green Initiative and University of Minnesota extension, and flexible contract terms for crop diversity and livestock enterprises.

Board must coordinate with soil and water conservation districts, watershed districts, public water suppliers, local governments, and state commissioners of health, natural resources, agriculture, and the Pollution Control Agency in developing and implementing the program.

Board must submit annual progress reports by January 1 and a final report assessing program results by June 30, 2024 to legislative committees with jurisdiction over agriculture, natural resources, environment policy and finance, and to the Clean Water Council.

$8,500,000 is appropriated from the general fund in fiscal year 2020 to the Board of Water and Soil Resources to establish the pilot program, available until June 30, 2024.