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Rules & Permitting

The Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed District established a permit program in 2009

to protect the water and natural resources of the watershed.

 

Due to concerns regarding the spread of COVID-19, the Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed District office will be CLOSED to the public until further notice. For permitting matters, please contact staff via phone or email. Dropoffs can still be made utilizing the mail slot located to the left of our front door.

 

Contact Information

Mike Sandager, Permitting Coordinator

Mike.Sandager@clflwd.org

651-395-5859

 

Permit Application

 

Application Form^†

 

When is a CLFLWD permit needed?

• Permit Cheat Sheet
• Complete District Rules

 

District Rules

• Introduction & General Purpose

• Relation of Watershed District to Municipalities

• Relation to Groundwater

• Definitions

• 1.0 Procedural Requirements

• 2.0 Stormwater Management

  •  2.0 Application Checklist
  • Stormwater Standards Flowchart
  • Maintenance Declaration Template (Private Entities)^†
  • Maintenance Agreement Template (Public Entities)^†
  • Stormwater Management Facility Maintenance Schedule Template^†
  • Schedule D - Stormwater Impact Fund Contribution Schedule

  • Post-Construction Stormwater BMP Inspection and Maintenance

    All stormwater maintenance declarations and agreements require that an annual report be submitted to the District. Use the Inspection Report Templates to records inspections and maintenance activities throughout the year. Then by January 31st of each year, submit to the District a completed Annual Report Form with attached Inspection Reports from the prior year.

    • Annual Report Form
    • Inspection Report Templates
      • Bioretention and Infiltration
      • Permeable Pavement
      • Retention and Detention
      • Underground Treatment and Storage

• 3.0 Erosion Control

  • 3.0 Application Checklist
  • Steps for Creating a Basic Erosion and Sediment Control Plan
  • Example Erosion and Sediment Control Plan

• 4.0 Lake, Stream, and Wetland Buffer Requirements

  • 4.0 Application Checklist
  • Maintenance Declaration Template (Private Entities)^†
  • Maintenance Agreement Template (Public Entities)^†
  • Vegetated Buffer Requirements Template^†

• 5.0 Shoreline & Streambank Alterations

• 6.0 Watercourse and Basin Crossings

  • 6.0 Application Checklist
  • Maintenance Declaration Template (Private Entities)^†
  • Maintenance Agreement Template (Public Entities)^†

• 7.0 Floodplain and Drainage Alterations

  • 7.0 Application Checklist

• 8.0 Wetland Management

Permit required from Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) Local Government Unit (LGU), not from CLFLWD.

• 9.0 Fees

• Schedule A - Field Inspection Fee Deposit
• Schedule B - District Costs

• 10.0 Financial Assurances

  Some permits will require a financial assurance in addition to the deposits and application fees. District staff will let you know if your project requires a fianancial assurance and the amount required. The amounts are also available in the District's financial assurance fee schedule (below).

  • Schedule C - Financial Assurance Requirements for Permits
  • The District accepts financial assurances in the forms listed below:
    • Performance bond^†
    • Cash escrow with an associated escrow agreement^†
    • Letter of credit^†

• 11.0 Variances

  • Request for Variance Form^†

• 12.0 Enforcement

• Addendum A

 

Application Submission

The application deadline is 30 days prior to the monthly board meeting. A complete application must be submitted in order to be considered.

• 2022 Permit Application Deadline Schedule
• The District does NOT accept cash or credit. All fees and deposits must be made via check.

Permit Issuance

The District has up to 60 days to take action on a submitted permit application that is considered complete.

• Example Permit Form^†
• Notice of Scheduled Site Inspection Form^†
• Example Inspection Report Form

Permit Transfers

If you believe that you need to transfer all or part of your permit, please review the materials below and contact District staff for assistance.

• Schedule E - Partial Permit Transfer, Residential Subdivision Lot
• Permit Transfer Form

Resolutions

• 09-03-01: Stormwater Facilities Fund Policy (2009)
• 11-03-01: Amending Watershed District Rules (2011)
• 18-02-01: Adopting Revised Watershed District Rules (2018)
• 18-06-01: Adopting Permitting Standard Forms and Templates (2018)

  † Exhibits to resolution 18-06-01. These standard forms and templates were approved by the CLFLWD Board on June 7, 2018.

Referenced Materials

• Minnesota Statute 103D
• District Watershed Management Plan
• MN Stormwater Manual - MPCA
• Incorporating Groundwater Protection in Watershed District Rules - EOR
• Chisago County Groundwater Plan (Within the Local Water Management Plan)
• Washington County Groundwater Plan
• Atlas 14 - NOAA
• Minnesota Land Cover Classificiation System - MnDNR
• Chisago County Topographic Survey (Available from County by request)
• Washington County Topographic Suvery (Available from County by request)
• Minnesota Routine Assessment Method (MnRAM) - BWSR
• Natural Communities and Rare Species Map for Washington and Chisago County - MnDNR
• Minnesota Administrative Rule 6120
• Minnesota Administrative Rule 7077
• Clean Water Act (22 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.)
• Protecting Water Quality in Urban Areas - MPCA
• Chisago County Soil Survey
• Washington County Soil Survey
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual
• Stormwater and Wetlands Planning and Evaluation Guidelines for Addressing Potential Impacts of Urban Stormwater and Snowmelt Runoff on Wetlands
• NRCS Technical Release #55
• National Soil Survey Handbook

 

Contact Information

Mike Sandager, Permitting Coordinator

mike.sandager@clflwd.org

651-395-5859