Minnesota Statutes Water (Ch. 103A-114B) § 103E.011. Drainage authority powers

Subdivision 1. Generally. The drainage authority may make orders to:

Subd. 2. Draining water basins and watercourses. A drainage authority may not drain a water body or begin work or activity regulated by the public-waters-work permit requirement under section 103G.245 in a watercourse until the commissioner determines that the water body or watercourse is not public waters. If a water body or watercourse is determined to be public waters, the drainage proceedings are subject to section 103G.211 relating to replacing public waters and the water bank program.

Subd. 4. Flood control. The drainage authority may construct necessary dams, structures, and improvements and maintain them to impound and release floodwater to prevent damage. The dams, structures, and improvements may be constructed with or without a drainage project. For a water body or watercourse that is not public waters the drainage authority may:

Subd. 5. Using external sources of funding. Notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter, a drainage authority may accept and use funds from sources other than, or in addition to, those derived from assessments based on the benefits of the drainage system for the purposes of wetland preservation or restoration or creation of water quality improvements or flood control. The sources of funding authorized under this subdivision may also be used outside the benefited area but must be within the watershed of the drainage system.