The County Environmental Planners share the duties of the following titles along with assisting other positions in the Planning and Zoning Office.

County AG Inspector (CAI)

• The duties of the CAI are to inspect places that sell seed within Rice County, to assist local weed inspectors in enforcement of the State Noxious weed law and to assist the Minnesota Dept. of Ag as directed.
  
• Yearly the CAI in Rice County inspects about 20 retail seed sales locations collecting approximately 30 seed samples, inspects 3 to 4 townships for noxious weed law compliance, and works to get biological control agents established in Rice County to control weeds.
  

County Feedlot Officer (CFO)

• The duties of the CFO are to enforce and administer the County feedlot ordinance and to assist the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) with the enforcement of State and Federal rules that relate to livestock.  Yearly the CFO processes 30 to 40 feedlot permit requests, inspects 50 to 100 feedlot sites and follows up on more than 20 complaints.
  

Water Planner (WP)

• The Water Planner identifies water relates issues and carries out studies developing strategies to protect and maintain the water resources of Rice County and administers Rice County Comprehensive Local Water Plan.
  
• Shoreland Enforcement:
  • The County Environmental Planners enforce the shoreland restrictions.
  • These duties include enforcement of topographic alterations, grading and filling, vegetation alterations, building setbacks and erosion control standards.

• The Water Planner acts as liaison among the state, regional and local units of government, as well as addresses the general public, regarding water quality issues, and coordinates and leads the Water Plan Advisory Committee.
  
• The many current and long range water resource management issues include:
  • wellhead protection;
  • ground water sensitivity;
  • water conservation;
  • wetlands, wildlife habitat, and woodland management;
  • shoreland and floodplain protection;
  • storage tanks and individual sewage treatment systems regulation;
  • solid waste management;
  • wastewater treatment and septage/sludge application and regulation;
  • urban runoff and stormwater management;
  • soil erosion abatement
  • fertilizers and pesticides best management practices and regulation
  • and feedlots and animal waste regulation and study

For questions or concerns relating to Water Planning, please contact:  Jennifer Mocol, Rice County Water Planner & Environmental Technician, at (507) 333-3871 or by email

• Local Water Management Plan 2010-2014
  • Full Plan Document

  (This document is 84 pages/21.1 MB)

Environmental Planning Documents and Forms

External Links

• Cannon River Watershed Partnership
• FEMA
  • Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMS)
  • Instructions for Viewing the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMS)
• Geologic Atlas
• Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR)
• Minnesota Extension
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
• Minnesota Shoreland Management
• Ordinary High Water Mark
• Rice County Soil and Water
• Soil Survey

Planning & Zoning