HF459

Purpose

• Provide a one-time appropriation from the general fund to protect a historic district in Carver by restoring the Carver levee to guard against floodwaters from the Minnesota River.
• Ensure the levee restoration meets federal standards, specifically FEMA certification.

Main Provisions

• Funding: $3,350,000 in fiscal year 2026 from the general fund to the commissioner of natural resources for a grant to the City of Carver.
• Use of funds: for capital improvements to restore the Carver levee, including predesign, design, engineering, land acquisition, and construction.
• Structural improvements: raise the height of the Carver levee; construct internal drainage; establish maintainable setbacks to adjacent structures.
• Certification and standards: project must achieve FEMA certification.
• Relationship to prior funding: this appropriation is in addition to the existing appropriation in Laws 2023, chapter 72, article 1, section 7, subdivision 8.
• Type and duration: onetime capital investment appropriation that remains available until the project is completed or abandoned, subject to Minnesota Statutes section 16A.642.

Financial Details and Availability

• Source: general fund.
• Recipient and administration: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources administers a grant to the City of Carver.
• Availability: one-time funding, available until project completion or abandonment per statute.

Relationship to Existing Law

• Builds on an earlier appropriation related to the same levee restoration.
• Requires FEMA certification, aligning state action with federal flood protection standards.

Implementation and Oversight

• Purpose is to fund capital improvements and ensure compliance with FEMA requirements.
• Project must address flood protection for an important historic district and comply with state statutes governing appropriations.

Impact Summary

• Purpose-driven funding to upgrade flood defense (Carver levee) to protect a historic area from Minnesota River flooding.
• Emphasizes intergovernmental coordination (state, city, FEMA) and adherence to federal certification standards.
• Provides a finite, one-time funding mechanism to complete the levee restoration and related features.

Relevant Terms Carver levee; Minnesota River; FEMA certification; predesign; design; engineering; land acquisition; construction; internal drainage; maintainable setbacks; setbacks to adjacent structures; general fund; grant; City of Carver; capital improvements; capital investment appropriation; Laws 2023 chapter 72 article 1 section 7 subdivision 8; Minnesota Statutes section 16A.642