Watershed Districts
Appointed by the Stearns County Board of Commissioners
What's a Watershed District?
A watershed district may cover several counties. The boundaries of the districts follow the natural watershed (region or area which drains to a particular watercourse or body of water). A watershed district is usually named after the biggest watershed in the district.
Each watershed district works to prevent and control water-related problems. Each district monitors the water quality within ditches, rivers, streams, creeks and lakes. Some of the projects the districts handle are the administration of ditch and drainage laws and the approval of culvert size. They also help protect the wetlands and manage draining systems.
There are four watershed districts in Stearns County: Clearwater River, North Fork Crow River, Sauk River, and Middle Fork Crow River. All watershed district meetings are open to the public.
View a map of the boundaries of the watershed districts (470 KB pdf file)
NOTICE TO SAUK RIVER WATERSHED DISTRICT RESIDENTS
The Stearns County Board of Commissioners is seeking applicants for an appointment to the Sauk River Watershed District Board of Managers. The appointment would be to serve a three year term ending on June 30, 2015. If you are interested in being appointed to said board and you reside in Stearns County and are in the Sauk River Watershed District, send a brief resume or complete an online application form giving your place of residence and any other information about yourself which you would like to share with the Board regarding your qualifications or interests in serving on said board. You can also contact us at 320-656-3900, send resumes to the Stearns County Auditor-Treasurer's Office, Administration Center, Room 148, 705 Courthouse Square, St. Cloud, MN 56303, e-mail Randy Schreifels at auditor@co.stearns.mn.us or contact your county commissioner no later than Friday, May 25, 2012.
Randy R. Schreifels, MBA, CPA
Stearns County Auditor-Treasurer
Stearns County Watershed Districts & Boards of Managers
District: Clearwater River
visit their web site at www.crwd.org/
Administrator:
C. Merle Anderson
3147 South 15th Avenue
St. Cloud, MN 56301
merleanderson@cloudnet.com
320.202.0554
| Board Member | Appointment Date | Term Expires |
| Jerry Risberg | February 7, 2006 | August 13, 2014 |
| Ben Drewes | January 17, 2012 | August 13, 2013 |
Meets the 2nd Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Annandale Middle School.
District: North Fork Crow River
visit their website at http://nfcrwd.org/
Administrator:
Josh Reed
North Fork Crow River Watershed District
Po Box 40, 100 Prairie Avenue North
Brooten, MN 56316
nfcrwsd@midstate.tds.net
320.346.2869
320.346.2410 (fax)
| Board Member | Appointment Date | Term Expires |
| Gary Berndt | April 26, 2011 | May 9, 2014 |
| John Hanson | April 24, 2012 | May 9, 2015 |
Meets the 2nd Monday of every month (7 p.m. April-November, 1 p.m. December-March) in the District Office Meeting Room, 100 Prairie Avenue North, Brooten
District: Sauk River
visit their web site at www.srwdmn.org/
Administrator:
Holly Kovarik
524 S. 4th Street
Sauk Centre, MN 56378
320.352.2231
| Board Member | Appointment Date | Term Expires |
| Tim Lundsford | June 28, 2011 | June 30, 2014 |
| Jason Scherping | May 19, 2009 | June 30, 2012 |
| Todd Foster | May 18, 2010 | June 30, 2013 |
| John Harren | June 28, 2011 | June 30, 2014 |
Meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month (on Wednesday if holiday or caucus) at 7 p.m. at the District Office, 524 4th Street South, Sauk Centre.
District: Middle Fork Crow River
visit their website at http://www.mfcrow.org/
Administrator:
Chad Anderson
174 Lake Avenue North
PO Box 8
Spicer, MN 56288
320.796.0888
| Board Member | Appointment Date | Term Expires |
| Bruce Wing | June 2, 2009 | April 27, 2013 |
Meets the third Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at the District Office, 118 Lake Avenue North, Spicer, MN 56288.
Board Appointments to be Made in 2012
| Watershed District | Positions | Current Term Expires | Applications Due |
| Sauk River | 1 | June 30, 2012 | |
Board Membership Terms
The appointment of board members is for three-year terms.
The County Board took action on February 3, 2009 setting the term limits on committee appointments to 3-year terms with a maximum of 3 terms.
How to Apply
The Stearns County Board of Commissioners appoints members to the four watershed district Boards of Managers. Each time a board vacancy occurs, the Stearns County Auditor-Treasurer’s Office puts an advertisement in the area newspaper(s) and on this web site, stating which district the appointment is for and the date applications must be received by.
Each candidate who wishes to be considered must reside in Stearns County and in the watershed district in which the board has an opening. Each candidate is requested to send a brief resume giving their place of residence and any other information about themselves that would qualify them to be appointed to the board.
Send resumes or Board and Committee Application to the Stearns-County Auditor Treasurer’s Office:
via U.S. mail: Administration Center, Room 148, 705 Courthouse Square, St. Cloud, MN 56303
via e-mail
via fax: 320.656.3916
The Stearns County Board of Commissioners appoints new Watershed Board members based on the resumes received from the candidates. The candidates are notified by letter as to who has been appointed to the board.
Links:
Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts
www.mnwatershed.org
Department of Natural Resources -- Watershed Index (includes maps and various resources
www.dnr.state.mn.us/watersheds/index.html
Water Resources Group (interactive water resources journal of water law, policy and commentary)
www.waterlaws.com
Minnesota Waters
http://www.minnesotawaters.org/