DNR Update for the N&E Metro GWMA Project

DNR Update for the N&E Metro GWMA Project

 Groundwater Sustainability

Minnesota’s use of groundwater has increased over the last two decades, particularly in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. An increasing reliance on groundwater may not be a sustainable path for continued economic growth and development. The DNR is establishing the North & East Metro groundwater management area (GWMA) to help improve groundwater appropriation decisions and help groundwater users better understand and plan for future development opportunities. More information about the GWMA will be posted on the project webpage.

DNR Holds Project Kick-Off & Stakeholder Meeting

On Jan. 8, some 200 people gathered to learn more about the North & East Metro groundwater management area during a two-hour Department of Natural Resources presentation and listening session at the Shoreview Community Center. The area is one of three in the state where the DNR is moving forward with a new regional approach to making sure that there continues to be an adequate supply of uncontaminated groundwater available for drinking and other uses.

“Groundwater is not unlimited” DNR commissioner Tom Landwehr told the group. “We aren’t at this time facing an acute shortage, but we can see the trend lines and they’re going in the wrong direction.”

Those trend lines show groundwater levels falling in some parts of state, said Jason Moeckel, a DNR section manager who is overseeing the three groundwater management area projects. In some parts of the state, there are also issues with groundwater being contaminated by nitrates or other pollutants. DNR has the statutory responsibility to assure that groundwater can continue to meet the needs of current and future users without harming natural ecosystems or causing other conflicts and problems. A groundwater management area is another way for DNR to address long-term sustainability of this resource.

A groundwater management area plan entails a comprehensive approach working across the jurisdictional boundaries of cities and counties. The first step in creating such a plan is to define the boundaries of the groundwater management area. For the North & East Metro GWMA, the preliminary boundary encompasses all of Ramsey and Washington Counties and the southern eight cities in Anoka County, said Paul Putzier, DNR project manager.

The groundwater management area plan will be developed over the course of about a year. An advisory team consisting of individuals from local communities, businesses, counties, state agencies, the Metropolitan Council, the DNR and others will meet monthly to review the development of the management plan for the DNR. More community meetings are planned for this summer so the public can review and comment on the proposed plan. Specifics of the plan are currently being developed.

More information on the North & East Metro groundwater management area, including the Draft Working Boundary document and a current list of advisory team members, is available at: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/gwmp/area-ne.html

Upcoming Project Meetings

January 16, 2014 Project Advisory Team Meeting.   The North & East Metro groundwater management area project Advisory Team will meet on January 16 from 8:30 to 11:30 am. The meeting will be held at the DNR Central Office, 500 Lafayette Road in St. Paul. More information about the planned meeting will be posted on the project webpage.   The current list of Advisory Team members is posted at the project webpage.

February 14, 2014 Project Advisory Team Meeting.   The North & East Metro groundwater management area project Advisory Team will meet on February 14 from 8:30 to 11:30 am. The meeting location will be posted on the project webpage.  

ADVISORY TEAM GROWING

Several new members have joined the N&E Metro GWMA Advisory Team. Bryan Bear, City Administrator for City of Hugo, Ryan Lemickson, Water Quality Coordinator with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and Brian West with RockTenn will join us at the January 16 Advisory Team meeting. Several additional individuals with business backgrounds and affiliations will also be joining the team.

Individuals do not need to be on the Advisory Team to participate. The Advisory Team meetings are open for interested parties to observe and to provide comments and ideas.

PROJECT WORK

DNR staff and the Advisory Team started work on the sustainability analysis for the management area, which includes a more detailed evaluation of:

• Water use - current and future
• Status of water appropriation permits
• Water conservation measures
• Water level trends for aquifers within the working boundary
• Water dependent ecologic features and biological communities

These and other issues will be discussed at the January 16, 2014 project Advisory Team meeting.

Opportunities for you to engage

• January 16, 2014 – Project Advisory Team Meeting. DNR Central Office, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul. 8:30 – 11:30 am. The agenda includes time for interested parties to participate.
• Web based Survey – Read the Draft Groundwater Strategic Plan, complete the survey and send us your comments.
• Project Updates Available - For information about the project, updates have been posted on the project webpage.
• Two Other GWMA’s In Minnesota - For information about the other GWMA projects, including updates and details on upcoming meetings, and to sign up for our email notifications please visit the webpages for the Bonanza Valley GWMA and the Straight River GWMA.
• Kick-off & Stakeholder Meetings scheduled for Bonanza Valley and Straight River GWMAs.
  • o   January 15, 2014 Straight River GWMA Kick-off Meeting, Park Rapids High School, Park Rapids, MN. 6:30 – 8:30 PM
  • o   January 22, 2014 Bonanza Valley GWMA Kick-off Meeting, Brooten-Belgrade-Elrosa High School, Belgrade MN. 6:30 – 8:30 PM

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CONTACT INFORMATION

If you have questions about this project, please contact Paul Putzier (DNR project manager at 651-259-5692; paul.putzier@state.mn.us) or visit our website at www.dnr.state.mn.us/gwmp/areas.html.