The Upper Rum River Watershed Management Organization (URRWMO) Board has released their  2017 – 2027 Watershed Management Plan that describes the goals of WMO to protect and conserve water resources within the watershed.

A public hearing to accept comments on the Watershed Plan will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 12, 2017 at Oak Grove City Hall. For more information contact Chuck Swartz (Oak Grove City Engineer) at 612-548-3141.

The Plan and supporting documents can be viewed and downloaded by clicking the attached links:

• URRWMO Watershed Management Plan – text only
• URRWMO Watershed Management Plan – figures only
• URRWMO Watershed Plan – appendices
• URRWMO Responses to Plan Comments (60-day draft plan comments)

The URWMO mission is to maintain the quality of area lakes, rivers, streams, groundwater, and other water resources across municipal boundaries. Resources of particular importance include the Rum River, Seelye Brook, Ford Brook, Cedar Creek, and numerous ditches that drain to the Rum River. This stretch of the Rum River is designated as a state Scenic and Recreational Waterway. Lake George and East Twin Lakes, the primary recreation lakes in the watershed, are also of high priority, in addition to many smaller lakes and wetlands.

THE UPPER RUM RIVER WATERSHED MANAGEMENT AREA

The URRWMO is a joint powers organization including the Cities of St. Francis, Oak Grove, Nowthen, Bethel, and portions of East Bethel. A small corner of Ham Lake also falls within the URRWMO. The WMO Board is made up of representatives from each of these cities.

The URRWMO generally meets at 7pm on the first Tuesday of designated months at the Sandhill Center for the Arts – 23820 Dewey Street NW, Bethel, in the Jim Perleberg Conference Room.