GOVERNOR PAWLENTY APPOINTS BURANDT TO THE

BOARD OF WATER AND SOIL RESOURCES

Saint Paul - Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Robert Burandt to the Board of Water and Soil Resources.

Robert Burandt, of Waconia, is an elected Carver County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor. Burandt also serves as the treasurer of his Soil and Water Conservation District. He is a fifth generation owner of Burandt Lakeview Farms and currently serves as treasurer of Carver Camp Gideons, and as a member of the building committee for Trinity Lutheran School in Waconia.

Burandt previously served on the American Dairy Association Board, the Trinity Lutheran Church Stewardship Board, and the Executive Board of Lutheran High School in Mayer. His history as a conservation-minded farmer goes back to 1977, when he was named Carver County Conservation Farmer of the Year.

Burandt is appointed to a Board position for a soil and water conservation district supervisor and will serve a four-year term which ends January 5, 2009. He replaces Victor Ormsby on the Board.

The Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) is the state's administrative agency for 91 soil and water conservation districts, 43 watershed districts, 27 metropolitan watersheds, and 80 county water management organizations. The agency's purpose, working through local government, is to protect and enhance the state's irreplaceable soil and water resources by implementing the state's soil and water conservation policy, comprehensive local water management, and the Wetland Conservation Act as it relates to the 41.7 million acres of private land in Minnesota. The board consists of 17 members, including 12 members appointed by the Governor.