Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Christy Jo Fogarty, Sandra M. Hooker, and Keith Mykleseth to the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR). These three positions were created by the 2009 Legislature (Laws of Minnesota 2009, Chapter 176, Article 1, Section 24).

Fogarty, of Farmington, is a dental hygienist with New Art Dentistry in Hastings and has been a member of the Farmington City Council since 2003. She chairs the Economic Development Authority, serves on the Metropolitan Urban Services Area Committee, Housing and Redevelopment Authority, Empire/Farmington Joint Planning Committee, Farmington/Castle Rock Discussion Group, Farmington Water Vulnerability Assessment Task Force, Vermillion River Watershed Planning Commission, Community Center Steering Committee, Recreational Facilities Task Force, and the Farmington Park and Recreation Task Force. Fogarty is appointed to a new position for an elected city official from the Twin Cities metropolitan area to an initial term that expires on January 7, 2013.

Hooker, of Mapleton, has been a Medo Township Supervisor since 1977. She has served on a number of committees in connection with her service on the Medo Township Board, including the Feedlot Planning Committee and the Justice Center Planning Committee. She has also been the District 2 representative on the Minnesota Association of Townships (MAT) Board of Directors since 1995, is treasurer of the MAT Board of Directors, and is the MAT advisory board member to the BWSR. Hooker is appointed to a new position for a township officer to an initial term that expires on January 2, 2012.

Mykleseth, of Crookston, is The Nature Conservancy’s Glacial Ridge Project program director. Previously, he was the City of Crookston Water Superintendent. He has also been a member of the Crookston City Council since 2003, serves as vice mayor, and chairs the Street and Utility and Public Safety Committees. He is also the Polk County municipalities’ representative to the Northwest Regional Development Commission, the environmental representative on the Red River Flood Damage Reduction Work Group, and past chair of the Red Lake River Joint Powers Board. Mykleseth is appointed to a new position for an elected city official from outside the Twin Cities metropolitan area to an initial term that expires on January 3, 2011.

The Board of Water and Soil Resources 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. BWSR’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 now consists of 20 members, including 15 appointed by the Governor.