Water Availability Focus Water Availability Focus GroupGroup

Welcome, Introduction, GoalsWelcome, Introduction, Goals

John Wells and Princesa John Wells and Princesa VanBurenVanBuren

Environmental Quality BoardEnvironmental Quality BoardJune 24, 2008June 24, 2008

EQB Water Availability EQB Water Availability InitiativeInitiative

• MPCA board requestMPCA board request– RGU in ER for variety RGU in ER for variety

of projectsof projects– Need for information Need for information

broader than individual broader than individual projectsprojects

• EQB chargeEQB charge

• Interagency work Interagency work group convenedgroup convened

• Work plan created Work plan created and approvedand approved

The ChargeThe Charge

• Find a way to put consideration of Find a way to put consideration of proposed water uses into a broader proposed water uses into a broader frameworkframework

• Consider standards to address Consider standards to address environmental impacts of water usesenvironmental impacts of water uses

• Summarize needs and options for Summarize needs and options for collecting additional datacollecting additional data

AssumptionsAssumptions

• Complete project in six monthsComplete project in six months

• Base work on existing dataBase work on existing data

• Project should give public a better Project should give public a better understanding of water availability understanding of water availability and sustainabilityand sustainability

• Today’s decisions would benefit Today’s decisions would benefit from an understanding of the from an understanding of the context of future needscontext of future needs

QuestionsQuestions

• What do and don’t we know about What do and don’t we know about Minnesota’s ground water resources? Minnesota’s ground water resources?

• Can we make any estimates on water Can we make any estimates on water availability in a broad sense?availability in a broad sense?

• What’s our water resources What’s our water resources management strategy?management strategy?

• Do we have a sustainable planning Do we have a sustainable planning strategy? What is it?strategy? What is it?

• Can we identify the data gaps and Can we identify the data gaps and develop tools to improve our develop tools to improve our understanding?understanding?

The TeamThe Team• AgricultureAgriculture• BWSRBWSR• CommerceCommerce• DNR DNR • EQBEQB• HealthHealth

• Met CouncilMet Council• Minnesota Geological SurveyMinnesota Geological Survey• PCAPCA• Technical AdvisersTechnical Advisers• University of MinnesotaUniversity of Minnesota• US Geological SurveyUS Geological Survey

OutcomesOutcomes

People will understand …People will understand …

• How today’s water permitting, How today’s water permitting, availability and policy decisions availability and policy decisions fit with the long term viewfit with the long term view

EQB Water Availability EQB Water Availability ProjectProject

Web PageWeb Page

1. General1. Generalhttp://www.eqb.state.mn.us/project.html?Id=http://www.eqb.state.mn.us/project.html?Id=1950219502

2. Focus group 2. Focus group http://www.eqb.state.mn.us/resource.html?Idhttp://www.eqb.state.mn.us/resource.html?Id=19614=19614

Future Water ManagementFuture Water Management

• Puts water upfront in land use Puts water upfront in land use

decisionsdecisions

• Manages aquifers & watersheds as Manages aquifers & watersheds as

oneone

• Is well informedIs well informed

• Accepts limits to growthAccepts limits to growth

• Meets ecosystem, community & Meets ecosystem, community &

business needsbusiness needs

Elements IElements I

• History and background (April)History and background (April)

• Regulatory approach (April)Regulatory approach (April)

• Understanding of water availability Understanding of water availability and sustainability (May)and sustainability (May)

• Land use and water supply Land use and water supply planning (May)planning (May)

Elements IIElements II• Connections with other activities Connections with other activities

and studies (May)and studies (May)

• Framework for understanding long-Framework for understanding long-term implications and directions term implications and directions (June)(June)

• Standards that quantify and address Standards that quantify and address the water impacts (June)the water impacts (June)

• Information needs and priorities Information needs and priorities (July)(July)

Questions?Questions?