Environmental Office

Planning and Zoning

Septics

Overview

The Environmental Office is charged with ensuring that septic systems installed throughout the County are designed, constructed, and installed correctly so that they do not pose a threat to human health or the environment.  Septic systems are effective at processing human waste and preventing pollution when they are installed and maintained correctly.  The County works closely with landowners when new systems are installed or old systems are replaced to ensure that they will function properly.  No septic system may be installed without being approved by the County.

What we do?

• We review and approve all septic system designs to make sure they are in compliance with the septic ordinance
• We conduct onsite inspections
  • Soil inspection prior to design
  • Inspection when septic tank is set in the ground
  • Inspection when the distribution pipes are laid in the ground
• We assist landowners with questions about system operation and maintenance
• We provide low interest loans and low income grants to assist individuals with upgrading non compliant or failing systems.

Helpful Materials

• Failing System Financial Assistance Brochure
• Septic Owner Info
• Taking Care of a Septic System
• MPCA Septic Owner Info

GIS

What is GIS?

GIS stands for “Geographic Information System” and it is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of spatial or geographical data.  If you have ever used google maps to find an address, or the closest gas station, you have seen GIS in action.  GIS is simply information with a location.

Overview

The Redwood County Environmental Office is tasked with maintaining, improving, and creating digital databases relevant to the County.  This can include infrastructure, land use, land cover, administrative or political boundaries, demographics, environmental, emergency management, and any other data which can be combined with a geographically referenced location.  GIS is a valuable tool to manage large systems and provides a way to display large amounts of data in an easy to understand fashion.

Our Office maintains all of our digital spatial data in a way that it is accessible and useful to other County Departments as well as the residents of Redwood County.  It is difficult to adequately explain how important GIS is to the functioning of a modern government organization.  The value we derive from GIS is only going to increase, and our investments now should pay off well into the future.

GIS to the Public

In 2016, Redwood County launched a new service, which provides the general public with access to our GIS data.  Beacon™ was the product chosen by the County to provide this service.  Beacon™ is an online interface that allows users to interact with data uploaded by Redwood County.  This data is in the form of “layers” that includes our roads, parcel information, waterways, public drainage, political lines, and more.   Beacon™ takes this data and represents it on high quality interactive imagery which makes it highly accessible to the public.

• Non-exclusive Use Agreement
• Third Party Addendum
• Beacon Brochure

Drainage

Overview

Redwood County maintains the Public Drainage System that was established under MN Statute 103E.  This includes County drain tile and County ditches.  The Drainage Inspector maintains the drainage system by performing timely repairs and maintenance to keep the systems working efficiently.  The repairs are done by private contractors.

There are over 520 miles of County open ditches and over 1100 miles of County tile lines in Redwood County.  The County Drainage system is funded by those who benefit from the system as determined by “viewers”.  When the drainage systems were established, “viewers” went out and determined by quarter quarters what land was going to be benefiting from the new drainage.  Using a formula based on soil types, slope, and proximity to the ditch and tile, dollar amounts are assigned to each quarter quarter (40 acres).  When work is conducted on a drainage system the individuals who are benefiting are assessed the cost based off their benefits in proportion to the system as a whole.

Helpful Materials

County Drainage Map

Redwood County Drainage Policy

Aquatic Invasive Species

Overview

In 2014 the MN Legislature passed a bill providing $10 million to Minnesota counties to support Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) prevention programs.  Redwood County receives approximately $20,000 / year in funding.  Redwood County has adopted a AIS Prevention Plan which outlines the steps the County is going to take.  Our prevention plan focuses on awareness and public education.

What are AIS?  Species such as Asian Carp, Zebra Mussels, Milfoil, and others, threaten to change the way we interact with our waters.  Aquatic invasive species (sometimes called exotic, invasive, nonindigenous or non-native) are aquatic organisms that invade ecosystems beyond their natural, historic range. Their presence may harm native ecosystems or commercial, agricultural, or recreational activities dependent on these ecosystems. They may even harm our health

Helpful Materials

AIS Prevention Plan

Noxious Weeds

Overview

The Redwood County Environmental Office oversees the enforcement of the states Noxious Weed Law.  Noxious weeds are those that have the potential to cause great economical or physical harm.  This could include physical harm to people (e.g. Giant Hogweed) or economic harm to crops (e.g. Palmer Amaranth).  It is the legal responsibility of all landowners to comply with the noxious weed law on their property.

Questions

What should I do if I discover noxious weeds on another property?

You should contact your city government, township supervisor, or the Redwood County Environmental Office, and let them know the location.  If you have a camera,  please take a picture of what you see.  

What should I do if I have noxious weeds on my property, but do not know the best way to eradicate them?

Please contact the Redwood County Environmental Office for assistance.

Informational Links

MDA Noxious Weed Website

2017  Noxious Weed List

Noxious Weeds Detailed Guide

Buffer Law

Ordinance

• Buffer Ordinance
• BWSR Ordinance Approval Letter

Informational Links

• Redwood County Soil and Water Conservation District
• MN DNR Page
• DNR Buffer Map
• BWSR Buffer Page

Forms

Zoning Forms 

• Land Use Zoning Permit
• Parcel Split Pre-approval Form
• Conditional Use Permit Application
• Extraction Permit Application
• Temporary Grading and Filling Permit Application
• Variance Permit Application
• Rezoning Permit Application
• Feedlot Permit Application

Septic Forms

• Septic Permit Application
• County Low Interest Loan Application 
• Low Income Septic System Grant Application

Other Forms

• Paxton Township Building Permit
• Citizen Complaint Form

Reports

• 2015 Annual Shoreland Report

• 2015 Annual SSTS Report

• 2015-2018 Middle Minnesota Watershed Low Interest Loan Report

• 2015 WCA Annual Reporting Form

• 2015 SSTS (NRBG) Report

• 2015 Shoreland-NRBG (Redwood County)

• 2015 – Wetland Conseration Act – NRBG (Redwood County)

• The 2015 NRBG Fund, 2015 WCA Report, and Redwood County Water Management Plan are available at http://www.redwoodswcd.org/WaterManagement.htm

Fee Schedule

GIS Fees

2009, 2013, 2016 Aerial Photos

*Free for government entities

Staff:

Scott Wold – Director of Planning and Environmental Services
Nick Brozek – Land Use and Zoning Supervisor
Brent Lang – Ditch Inspector, Ag Inspector
Scott Larsen – GIS Specialist
Adam Kletscher – Plum Creek County Park Supervisor
Lali Ortega– Administrative Assistant