On April 25, 2007 the Board of Water and Soil Resources established the Cedar River Watershed District. An organizational meeting was held on May 3, 2007 at the Mower County Courthouse. The meeting was for administrative matters, swearing in of 7 managers, the election of officers. It also provided training and information to the managers to assist them in performing their new duties.
The managers have since attended several workshops and technical meetings to obtain a better understanding of the operation and functions of a watershed district, in addition to gaining knowledge of the responsibilities of a manager.The first business of the board was to set a monthly meeting schedule and a location. Meetings are held the 3rd Wednesday of each month at the JC Hormel Nature Center in Austin at 7:00 pm. All meetings are open to the public and time is allotted for public input.
Since being sworn into office, the CRWD Managers have contracted with SWCD for administrative services, appointed an Advisory Committee, appointed the Austin Daily Herald as the legal paper for the district, contracted with JHS Inc. (Steve Penkava) as the Engineer for the watershed, and have selected Attorney Matt Benda of Peterson, Savelkoul & Benda LTD for legal council.The board has also appointed Barr Engineering of Minneapolis, MN to prepare the districts 10 year water management plan.The first of many meetings for the CRWD ten-year comprehensive management plan took place January 23, 2008 at the Austin Public Library. Attendees included the district managers; a committee of individuals selected by the board from various agencies (Planning Advisory Group, PAG), and government entities with Barr Engineer acting as facilitator.
The plan will assist the board to focus on common goals and objectives of the watershed and what will be needed to accomplish them in the future.