Minnesota Water Sustainability Framework

The University of Minnesota’s Water Resources Center has been charged by the Minnesota State Legislature to develop the state’s master plan for sustainable water management, a plan that will protect and preserve Minnesota’s lakes, stream, rivers and ground waters for the 21st century and beyond without compromising people’s current needs, water quality or natural ecosystems.

Background

In fall of 2008, Minnesotans passed The Clean Water, Land and Legacy Act, an amendment to the state’s constitution that created a three-eighths of a percent sales tax to fund, among other things, the protection and preservation of Minnesota’s freshwater. The amendment has the potential to raise more than $275 million a year – of which roughly one third—about $85 million a year—will go toward protecting and preserving Minnesota’s surface and ground water.

This spring, the legislature took the first step in investing that money, appropriating $750,000 to the University of Minnesota’s Water Resources Center to create a comprehensive, 25-year framework for the sustainable management of Minnesota’s water resources. The framework is intended to serve as a roadmap—with clear signposts on how and when to spend the money and on what initiatives—based on scientific research, expert opinion, and input from citizens around the state. The plan, titled “Minnesota Water Sustainability Framework,” will be presented for recommendation to the legislature in January of 2011.

Why a Framework?

Currently, Minnesota lacks a holistic approach to its water management. The state’s drinking water, water used for industrial and agricultural purposes, and lake and river water are monitored and managed by independent agencies. “As a result, we don’t have a good understanding of how much water we’re using relative to how much is being replenished,” says Deborah Swackhamer, co-director of the Water Resources Center and Framework project leader.

Swackhamer, a environmental chemistry professor with the university’s School of Public Health who also holds the Humphrey Institute’s Charles M. Denny Jr. Chair in Science, Technology and Public Policy, was the lead on Minnesota Statewide Conservation and Preservation Plan, the 400-page comprehensive plan for environmental sustainability produced by the university’s Institute on the Environment and the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) and presented to the Minnesota Legislature last July.

Process and Governance

The Headwaters Council, an oversight team made up of experts on the topic of water resources from around the region, is currently being assembled to provide guidance to the Framework’s process and policy recommendations.

Concurrently, experts from state agencies including the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Health, the Environmental Quality Board, the Board of Soil and Water Resources and representatives from higher education, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations are being appointed to work teams. These teams will identify the water issues to be considered, determine gaps in knowledge, management and policy, and formulate recommendations. Additional teams will synthesize the recommendations and identify timelines for implementation.

Commitment to Public Engagement

Because water policy involves values as well as science, the Water Resources Center will engage all Minnesotans through surveys, workshops and on-site events to find out how Minnesotans want to use their water and how they feel about a range of water-related issues — from fishing and boating to agricultural practices. A Citizen and Stakeholder Advisory Committee will be named this fall to guide this process.

Timeline

Summer/Fall 2009

Naming of Headwaters Council, Citizens and Stakeholder Advisory Committee, and work teams.
Water Resource Center booth at the Minnesota State Fair solicits public opinion on a range of water issues

Fall/Winter 2009 –2010

Work teams develop recommendations and engage citizens and stakeholders through communications campaigns and public forums

Spring/Fall 2010

Work team recommendations are compiled and synthesized

Fall/Winter 2010—2011

Final report is prepared and reviewed before being presented to the Minnesota State Legislature on January 15, 2011.

Key Contacts and Partner Organizations

Deborah L. Swackhamer, Project Leader - dswack@umn.edu

Jean Coleman, Project Coordinator - jcoleman@crplanning.com

Barbara Liukkonen, Citizen Engagement Coordinator - liukk001@umn.edu

Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources

Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Minnesota Department of Health

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Minnesota Public Facilities Authority

The Metropolitan Council

The Minnesota Environmental Quality Board

Feedback

The Water Resources Center wants your thoughts on how to preserve and protect Minnesota’s waters for all future generations. Contact Us

Resources

Statewide Conservation and Preservation Plan. 2008. University of Minnesota

Water Is Life: Protecting a Critical Resource for Future Generations. 2008. Freshwater Society (.pdf)

Minnesota Water Marks. 2000. Minnesota Environmental Quality Board (.pdf)

Managing for Water Sustainability. 2008. Minnesota Environmental Quality Board and MN Department of Natural Resources (.pdf)

Minnesota’s Water Supply. 2000. MN Department of Natural Resources (.pdf)