History and Organizational Structure

The initial petition to establish the Lac qui Parle-Yellow Bank Watershed District was submitted to the Minnesota Water Resources Board on July 14, 1967 by the County Commissioners of Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, and Yellow Medicine Counties.  At that time, the Minnesota Water Resources Board (now called Board of Water and Soil Resources - BWSR) was also considering a petition seeking the establishment of the Big Stone Lake Watershed District.  Land areas in northern Lac qui Parle County, including the watershed of the Yellow Bank River within the county and land in the county that drained directly into the Minnesota River between the mouth of the Yellow Bank River and the Lac qui Parle River were included in both petitions.

In September, 1968, the Board approved the Big Stone Lake petition and established the Upper Minnesota River Watershed District. Those land areas in Lac qui Parle County included in both petitions were included in the Upper Minnesota River Watershed District.  This action was appealed to the District court by the aggrieved parties. They wished to have those lands in question in Lac qui Parle County excluded from the Upper Minnesota River Watershed.  In November 1969, the District Court reduced the area of the Upper Minnesota River Watershed District in Lac qui Parle County.  This action was appealed by the Minnesota Water Resources Board, and the appeal was ultimately dismissed in May 1970.

After due and proper notice was given, the Board conducted a public hearing on October 8, 1970 in Madison, Minnesota on the nominating petition for the establishment of the Lac qui Parle-Yellow Bank Watershed District.  The Board ordered the establishment of the Lac qui Parle-Yellow Bank Watershed District on April 19, 1971 and the appointment of the first district board of managers.  The Board of Managers was selected from a list of nominees submitted by the County Commissioners of the effected counties.

Madison, Minnesota was designated as the official place of business.  The first meeting of the Lac qui Parle-Yellow Bank Watershed District was held on May 13, 1971 in the office of the County Agent, Lac qui Parle County Courthouse, Madison, MN.  The Board of Managers were:  James Bauler, Walter Maatz, David B. Olson, Willard Pearson, & James Stone.

The purpose of the District was to aid local citizens who had requested help in controlling flooding in the watershed.  Much cross-over flooding had occurred over farm land between sub-watersheds, and had been identified as the highest priority need for the new district to address.  The original Watershed District Plan was established, as required by law, in October 1972. 

Serve as a partner in water planning and management with the state agencies, counties, cities, and soil & water conservation districts, and assist with the management of water quality and quantity within the Lac qui Parle-Yellow Bank Watershed boundaries.