North Mankato will consider a resolution to adopt the Minnesota River–Mankato Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan at the upcoming City Council meeting. This plan, developed under the One Watershed, One Plan program, encompasses over 370,000 acres in south-central Minnesota and aims to replace the city’s local water management plan from 2026 to 2036. It involves collaboration among Blue Earth, Le Sueur, and Nicollet counties, and cities like North Mankato and Mankato.
Public input was gathered from community meetings and an online survey, identifying 16 key issues related to watershed resources, categorized into surface water quality, drinking water, flood damage, and land use. The estimated cost for implementing the plan is about $22 million over ten years, with anticipated funding of approximately $2.09 million annually, leaving a funding gap of about $111,000 per year.
Key focuses include urban stormwater management and concerns about excess nutrients, erosion, and groundwater contamination. Adoption of the plan would recognize it as the governing water management document without requiring immediate funding or changes to existing ordinances. Future actions would be presented to the City Council for consideration. The draft plan is accessible through the council’s agenda or the Nicollet County website.
