The RRWMB was created by an act of the Minnesota legislature in 1976 to provide an organization with a basin-wide perspective concerning flooding.  Historically, the activities of the RRWMB have centered on flood control.  Previous efforts in dealing with the flooding problem within the Red River Basin consisted of single projects within a localized area, planned with primary regard to local benefits.  The RRWMB actively promotes a basin-wide perspective for water management.

Member Watershed Districts

Each member watershed district and the counties included therein:

• Joe River -- Kittson County
• Two Rivers -- Kittson, Roseau and Marshall
• Roseau River -- Roseau, Kittson, Beltrami, Lake of the Woods  and Marshall
• Middle-Snake-Tamarac Rivers WD -- Marshall, Polk, Pennington, Kittson and Roseau
• Red Lake WD -- Red Lake, Pennington, Clearwater, Beltrami, Marshall, Koochiching, Itasca, Mahnomen, Roseau and Polk
• Sand Hill River WD -- Polk, Norman and Mahnomen
• Wild Rice WD -- Norman, Becker, Clay, Mahnomen, Clearwater, and Polk
• Bois de Sioux -- Traverse, Grant, Wilkin, Stevens, Big Stone and Ottertail

May Issue of "News & Views" Available Online -- Read the current issue online.

August Issue of the FDR Focus Newsletter Available Online.

Funding Commitments Worksheet -- A revised funding commitments worksheet has been developed.  Please refer to handout. 

Reminder  -- On December 20, 2005, the Board of Managers adopted the Project Schedule and Reporting Procedures document.  The draft timeline requires that a project schedule be developed and/or updated and submitted along with each step application to the board.
 
Governing Documents Review -- Following discussion at the November board meeting, Manager Finney Manager Finney inquired about the next update to the Governing Documents.  The last revision to the publication was authorized in March of 2004.  At that time, a revision to Section 1 - Policy Manual included that the Governing Documents should be revised every five years.  Therefore, the next revision should occur in 2009.

Agricultural Tile Drainage Study -- In April of 2005, Dan Thul reported that members of the TAC met with Dr. Gary Sands of the University of Minnesota to discuss the RRWMB utilizing a model for developing tile drainage systems and retaining the services of a graduate student from the university to develop various design criteria for tile drainage systems for the Red River Basin.

The board agreed to retain the services of a graduate student, not to exceed $20,000, to participate with the TAC in developing a model for tile drainage.  A cost estimate of $9,567 was received from Dr. Sands for the proposed budget for the study.  In June of 2005, the board disbursed $10,000 to the University of Minnesota.

At the previous monthly meeting, the board directed D. Thul and myself to develop a letter requesting the results of the study.  Please refer to handout.

Vacation Accrual -- The unused vacation days for Naomi Erickson, Wayne Goeken and Danni Halvorson have been calculated for calendar year 2008.  N. Erickson and D. Halvorson elected to be paid for their unused vacation days for 2008.  Wayne Goeken elected to carry over the maximum of unused vacation days (5) to 2009 and be paid for the remaining unused days.      

Upcoming Meetings/Conferences

1. The next meeting of the RRWMB will be on Tuesday, June 16, 2009, at 9:30 a.m. at the Red Lake Watershed District, 1000 Pennington Ave. S, Thief River Falls, MN. Following the board meeting, the Red River Basin Flood Damage Reduction Work Group will meet at 1:00 p.m.

2. The July board meeting of the RRWMB will be held in conjunction with the Red River Joint Water Resource Board     on Tuesday, July 21, 2009, at the Blue Moose, East Grand Forks, MN.  A bus tour will be conducted following the meeting.