Health/environmental services departments enforce public health regulations and assist in areas that affect water resources and shoreland property owners. Many functions deal with individual septic systems. The county health department:

• issues permits and inspects the installation of septic systems
  
  
• inspects septic systems for observable failure during point-of-sale inspections
  
  
• licenses and monitors septic system contractors
  
  
• licenses and inspects septic tank pumpers and on-land septic disposal sites
  
  
• tests water from private wells for safety and at the time of property transactions
  
  
• tests surface water at public beaches for fecal contamination
  
  

The zoning department regulates landuse to encourage the most appropriate use of land, while preserving economic and environmental values. It also administers and enforces the zoning ordinances, except in incorporated cities and townships that have their own zoning administration.

County governments carry out solid waste programs including management of landfills and transfer stations, collection of household hazardous waste, and coordination of recycling activities. Access: Look in your phone book under county office listings for health, zoning, planning, or solid waste departments.

Lake property owner associations have been formed for many lakes in Minnesota. The purpose of a lake association can vary. They may be organized mainly for social and security reasons, around a specific issue such as weed control, for political purposes, or to encourage activities such as water quality testing or placement of navigational buoys. Individual lake associations may join together to form county Coalitions of Lake Associations (COLAs).

Access: Contact your county water plan coordinator to find out about lake associations in your area. For assistance in organizing a lake association, contact your county water plan coordinator, county office of the University of Minnesota Extension Service, or the Minnesota Lakes Association at:

State Resources

The BWSR works with local units of government to help them develop local resource management capabilities. Some of the areas it is involved in are wetlands, shoreland erosion, water quality education, feedlots, nonpoint source pollution and local water planning. Publications, slide presentations, and technical assistance are available. BWSR has regional offices in Bemidji, Brainerd, Duluth, Marshall, New Ulm, Rochester, and St. Paul.

Within the MDH, the Division of Environmental Health has these responsibilities related to water resources and shoreland property owners:

• regulating the construction, repair, and sealing of wells and borings
  
  
• licensing well contractors and well pump installers
  
  
• requiring well disclosure prior to property transfer
  
  
• licensing and regulating plumbers
  
  
• establishing health risk limits for contaminants in water
  
  
• establishing fish consumption advisories based on health risk limits
  
  

MDH issues permits for well construction and well sealing notification; a well may not be constructed or sealed until after it has received the appropriate notification. Publications and videos are available on well construction and abandonment, well disinfection, water quality, ground water contamination, water treatment devices, and well disclosure.

Within the DNR, three divisions deal most directly with water resourcesÑWaters, Fish and Wildlife, and Forestry. The DNR has regional offices in Bemidji, Brainerd, Grand Rapids, New Ulm, Rochester, and St. Paul. The DNR has a Minnesota toll-free number to provide you with information on materials available and DNR facilities, services, and regulations: 1-800-766-6000 (TTD 1-800-657-3929).

The Division of Waters is a regulatory division that provides technical and educational assistance to local government units and citizens. It has regulatory jurisdiction over the alteration of protected lakes, rivers, and wetlands, and water use. Shoreland property owners need to contact the division prior to altering lakes, rivers, or wetlands below the ordinary high water level to obtain information and to determine if a permit is needed. Programs include:

• alteration of lakes, rivers, and wetlands
  
  
• water use, withdrawal of surface and ground water
  
  
• dam safety, water level control structures
  
  
• landuse management programs such as shoreland, floodplain, and wild and scenic rivers
  
  
• information on streamflow, lake levels, precipitation, and ground water levels
  
  
• publications, slide presentations, and displays
  
  
• advice on local landuse ordinances
  
  
• hydrologic data to provide information for decision making
  
  
• grant programs
  
  

Access: Contact Area Hydrologists in regional or area offices.

The Section of Fisheries works in the area of fish management and water quality as it relates to fish and other aquatic life. It issues permits on aquatic plant management and fish stocking and transportation. Publications are also available.

Access: Contact the nearest regional office.

The Section of Wildlife can provide information on how to improve your wetlands for wildlife and the value of wetlands for wildlife. It can also give alternatives on the control of beavers and exotic species.

Access: Contact the nearest regional office.

The Division of Forestry provides service to landowners on tree planting and care. Although it usually deals with large stands of trees on an ecosystem basis, staff can give advice about shade tree management on smaller land parcels. This division issues burning and timber harvest permits.

Access: Contact the nearest regional office.

The PCA regulates what goes into our water and conducts water quality studies through its three divisions of Air Quality, Water Quality, and Ground Water/Solid Waste. PCA issues permits that deal with the discharge of pollutants into the air, water, or land. It also carries out the enforcement of local, state, and federal regulations that deal with pollution control.

The PCA has regional offices in Brainerd, Detroit Lakes, Duluth, Marshall, Rochester, and St. Paul.

Printed materials are available, as well as speakers on specific topics.

Access: Contact the nearest regional office or the PCA state information office at (612) 296-6300.

Federal Resources

The NRCS is a conservation-oriented natural resource federal agency. NRCS offices are often co-located with SWCD offices and the two work together closely. They can:

• help property owners prepare conservation plans to manage soils, water, plant, and animal resources
  
  
• conduct soil surveys
  
  
• assist local groups in planning and installing small watershed projects, such as watershed protection, erosion and sediment control, agricultural water management
  
  
• collect data to be used by organizations and individuals to make landuse decisions
  
  
• provide technical assistance to implement the Conservation Reserve Program, Sodbuster, Swampbuster, and conservation compliance provisions
  
  

Access: Contact the field office in most counties, listed in the phone book under U.S. Govern-ment, USDA.

Minnesota is home to EPAÕs only Federal Freshwater Research Laboratory, located on Lake Superior in Duluth. This laboratory is the nationwide resource center of expertise on freshwater (lakes and streams) aquatic ecology and toxicology. Scientific publications on water pollution are available.

Part of a series. . .

This fact sheet is one of a series designed to assist shoreland property owners in protecting and preserving water quality. The series includes:

1. Understanding Shoreland BMPs
2. Maintaining Your Shoreland Septic System
3. Installing a Shoreland Septic System
4. Ensuring a Safe Water Supply
5. Limiting Impact of Recreation on Water Quality
6. Developing Shoreland Landscapes and Construction Activities
7. Stabilizing Your Shoreline to Prevent Erosion
8. Minimizing Runoff from Shoreland Property
9. Caring for Shoreland Lawns and Gardens
10. Managing Your Shoreland Woodlot
11. Valuing Your Shoreland Trees
12. Preserving Wetlands
13. Managing Crops and Animals Near Shorelands
14. Reducing the Use of Hazardous Household Products
15. Preventing the Introduction of Exotic Species
16. Accessing Information to Protect Water Quality
17. Shoreland Stewardship Scorecard
18. Conserving Water
19. Property Management System form
20. Septic System Information form

This series of fact sheets is a cooperative effort of the following agencies:

University of Minnesota Extension Service, University of Minnesota
College of Natural Resources, University of Minnesota
Water Plan Coordinators of the Arrowhead counties
Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources
Minnesota Department of Health
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife,
 Division of Waters, Division of Forestry
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Minnesota Sea Grant Extension Program
Mississippi Headwaters Board
St. Louis County Health Department, Environmental Services Division
Soil and Water Conservation Districts of the Arrowhead counties
Natural Resources Conservation Services
Environmental Protection Agency
Western Lake Superior Sanitary Districtbr

These publications may be photocopied for local distribution. The addition of commercial names, products, or identifiers is not permitted. please do not add or delete any text material without contacting:

You may add information about contact persons or regulations specific to your county, region, or lake association.

University of Minnesota Extension Store St Paul, MN 55108-6069 612-625-8173

Produced by the Arrowhead Water Quality Team, a cooperative effort of Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis counties and state and federal agencies. All publicly funded agencies involved are committed to equal opportunity education, service, and employment.

Next Section: #17 Shoreland Stewardship Scorecard
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