Upper Mississippi River Basin Association Upper Mississippi River Basin Association Structure and FunctionStructure and Function

Presentation to ORSANCO-UMRBA Joint Meeting – Policy SessionPresentation to ORSANCO-UMRBA Joint Meeting – Policy SessionJune 5, 2013June 5, 2013

Presentation Overview

Resource and Institutional Setting UMRBA History Structure & Governance Mission Activities and Accomplishments Strategic Plan and Priorities Questions and Discussion

Upper Mississippi River: Resource Setting

189,000 square miles in basin

1,300 miles in total length

850 miles navigable, 816 interstate

Avg. Annual Discharge: 9,200 cfs at St. Paul

205,000 cfs at Thebes

Leveed floodplain 3% 53% 83%

Channel complexity

Basin and tributary influence

Upper Mississippi River: Resource Setting

23 community water systems serving over 2 million people (an underestimate)

29 power plants

Approximately 300 wastewater dischargers

29 locks and dams designed for navigation (but limited ability to regulate flows)

Over 100 million tons of commodities shipped annually (grain more than half of total)

Upper Mississippi River: Resource Setting

More than 250,000 acres in National Wildlife Refuge

Over 120 species of fish, 30 species of mussels, 300 species of migratory birds

Millions of recreational visits per year

Upper Mississippi River: Institutional Setting

Five states, multiple agencies within states (environmental, natural resource, transportation, and others

Several federal agencies (USACE, USFWS, USGS, US EPA and others)

Local and regional entities

Commercial interests (shipping, recreation, industry, and others)

Environmental interests (NGOs)

Citizens (residents and river users)

Universities

Professional associations

UMRBA History

Upper Mississippi River Basin Commission1972 Formed by Governors under the authority of Title II

of the 1965 Water Resources Planning Act1981 Terminated by Presidential Executive Order

Upper Mississippi River Basin AssociationAug 1981 Joint Governors’ ResolutionDec 1981 Articles of Association signed by Governors’

representatives 1983-1984 Governors’ Executive Orders1986 Congressional recognition in WRDA 1997 Joint Governors’ Resolution2007 Joint Governors’ Statement on Water Quality

UMRBA Board - State Representatives

All are Governors’ appointees Represent a State’s position as a whole, including internal

coordination among agencies, with Governor’s office, etc.

Illinois DNRIowa Agriculture, DNR*, Transportation,

Economic Development, Utilities BoardMinnesota EQB

DNR, PCA, DOT, MDA AlternatesMissouri DNR* Wisconsin DNR *

* State DNR has both natural resource and environmental quality functions

Federal Liaisons

Agriculture (NRCS)Department of the Army (USACE)Environmental Protection AgencyHomeland Security (FEMA & Coast Guard) Interior (Fish and Wildlife Service and USGS)Transportation (Maritime Administration)

Federal liaison members do not have voting rights.

Role of Federal liaison members established in bilateral “Partnering Agreements” with UMRBA

Meetings & Decision-Making

Quarterly Meetings of UMRBA Board, open to the public.

Location rotates (e.g. St. Louis, Quad Cities, La Crosse, Twin Cities).

Often held in conjunction with related ecosystem restoration meetings (UMRR EMP-CC) and/or water quality meetings

Annual (February) meeting includes the election of Chair and Vice Chair

Seek consensus in decisions and voting. Each State has one vote.

Budget, Staffing and Structure

FY 2013* Budget = $650,000

FY 2013 Revenue Sources State Dues and Water Quality “Assessments” 48% Grants, Cooperative Agreements, and Contracts 51% Interest on Investments & Other Income 1%

Staff 4 permanent staff (Exec Director, 2 Program Directors, Admin Assistant) 2-3 project staff (Spill response mapping/planning for US EPA) All located in St. Paul, MN

Structured as 501(c)(3) non-profit, with the five states of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin being sole members.

*UMRBA uses a July 1-June 30 fiscal year.

UMRBA Work Groups and Affiliated Groups

Hydropower Ad Hoc Group 2010Water Quality Executive Committee

2006Water Quality Task Force

1999Hazardous Spills Group

1989UMRR EMP Coordinating Committee

1987(formed by the Corps of Engineers, staffed by UMRBA)

Additionally, a floodplain managers group has met as needed since 1993.

UMRBA Mission Statement and Value Proposition

UMRBA Mission Statement Purpose: Facilitate dialogue and cooperative action regarding water and

related land resource issues in the basin More Specifically:

– Serve as a regional interstate forum for the discussion, study, and evaluation of river-related issues of common concern to the States

– Facilitate and foster cooperative planning and coordinated management– Create opportunities and means for the States and Federal agencies to exchange

information– Develop regional positions on river issues and serve as an advocate of the States’

collective interests before Congress and Federal agencies

Value Proposition UMRBA is the linchpin that enables its member states to achieve their

collective vision for integrated, multi-purpose management of the Upper Mississippi River System and tis watershed.

UMRBA Fundamental Principles & Primary Functions

Fundamental Principles Consensus Integrated Management Regional Focus Board Leadership Flexibility Collaboration Best Available

Information Best Achievable Policy

Primary Functions Regional interstate forum Facilitate cooperative action &

collaboration Monitor issues Foster communication, disseminate

information Identify & voice states collective interests Augment member states’ capacity on

river-related issues Foster relationships with federal agencies

and stakeholders Shape federal investment policies(No direct program implementation, land

management or regulatory functions.)

UMRBA Accomplishments

Standing Forum for a Partnership of State and Federal Agencies on the UMR Authorization & Implementation of the Upper Mississippi River Restoration Environmental Management Program (UMRR-EMP) Interbasin Diversion Charter Upper Mississippi Spill Response Plan Inland Sensitivity Atlas (under US EPA cooperative agreement) NESP Authorization (supported by Industry/NGO/State Government coalition) Interstate Water Quality (CWA) Coordination (minimum assessment reaches, ongoing consultation, shared tools & approaches)

UMRBA Strategic Plan Focus Areas

Strategic Plan Priorities - 2013

Questions and Discussion

Interstate Compact ORSANCO, GLCFederal-State Compact Delaware River Basin

CommInterstate Commission UMRBA Federal-State Commission UMRBCInternational Treaty Great Lakes WQ AgreementFederal Regional Council Midwest Natural

Resources GrpFederal Regional Agency TVABasin Interagency Committee AWRBIACIntrastate Special District Florida WMDsSingle Federal Administrator Colorado River CompactFederally Chartered & Private Corps St. Lawrence SeawayNongovernmental Organizations Foundations, academic

groups(Information from the 2006 ICWP Report: “Interstate Water Solutions for the New

Millennium” )

Summary and Comparison: UMRBA Among Various Institutional Forms

Lots ofAuthority

NoAuthority

Many Issues

Few Issues

Large Budget

and Staff

Small Budget

and Staff

Summary and Comparison: Where is UMRBA?

Big BasinSmall Basin

Jurisdictional Complexity

High

Jurisdictional Complexity

Low

Public Outreach and

Visibility

High

Public Outreach and

Visibility

Low

Summary and Comparison: Where is UMRBA?