RCWD Rule Revision Assistance

Background

The Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) is a water management organization covering 186 square miles of urban and rural land in Anoka, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Washington Counties. The RCWD administers a regulatory program that is critical tool in achieving the District’s mission of water quantity and quality management. Core to this program are a set of rules that align the design of projects with the preservation of the District’s resources and infrastructure.

As understanding of the science, technology, and policy related to water resources advance, stormwater rules must adapt. As such, the RCWD periodically undertakes an effort to revise its rules to achieve its mission in the most effective and efficient manner feasible.

The Project

RCWD staff have collaborated with the District’s legal counsel and Houston Engineering, Inc. (HEI) as District Engineer several times in the past 15 years to complete this rule revision process. HEI’s role in this process begins with identifying and cataloging issues and concerns that have been voiced by RCWD and HEI staff, District Board Managers, applicants, and communities. Then, we identify connections of these issues to specific rule language and identify potential modifications to the rules that address these concerns. Collaboration with District staff and legal counsel follows to refine the proposed rule changes and brainstorm potential pitfalls and unforeseen consequences. Finally, HEI develops technical evaluation documents to advise the public and the District’s Board of Managers of the likely consequences of the proposed changes. This helps inform decision-making and provides transparency in the process.