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Water Availability Focus Group Welcome, Introduction, Goals

Water Availability Focus Group Welcome, Introduction, Goals. John Wells and Princesa VanBuren Environmental Quality Board June 24, 2008. EQB Water Availability Initiative. MPCA board request RGU in ER for variety of projects Need for information broader than individual projects EQB charge

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Water Availability Focus Group Welcome, Introduction, Goals

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  1. Water Availability Focus GroupWelcome, Introduction, Goals John Wells and Princesa VanBuren Environmental Quality Board June 24, 2008

  2. EQB Water Availability Initiative • MPCA board request • RGU in ER for variety of projects • Need for information broader than individual projects • EQB charge • Interagency work group convened • Work plan created and approved

  3. The Charge • Find a way to put consideration of proposed water uses into a broader framework • Consider standards to address environmental impacts of water uses • Summarize needs and options for collecting additional data

  4. Assumptions • Complete project in six months • Base work on existing data • Project should give public a better understanding of water availability and sustainability • Today’s decisions would benefit from an understanding of the context of future needs

  5. Questions • What do and don’t we know about Minnesota’s ground water resources? • Can we make any estimates on water availability in a broad sense? • What’s our water resources management strategy? • Do we have a sustainable planning strategy? What is it? • Can we identify the data gaps and develop tools to improve our understanding?

  6. The Team • Agriculture • BWSR • Commerce • DNR • EQB • Health • Met Council • Minnesota Geological Survey • PCA • Technical Advisers • University of Minnesota • US Geological Survey

  7. Outcomes People will understand … • How today’s water permitting, availability and policy decisions fit with the long term view

  8. EQB Water Availability ProjectWeb Page 1. General http://www.eqb.state.mn.us/project.html?Id=19502 2. Focus group http://www.eqb.state.mn.us/resource.html?Id=19614

  9. Future Water Management • Puts water upfront in land use decisions • Manages aquifers & watersheds as one • Is well informed • Accepts limits to growth • Meets ecosystem, community & business needs

  10. Elements I • History and background (April) • Regulatory approach (April) • Understanding of water availability and sustainability (May) • Land use and water supply planning (May)

  11. Elements II • Connections with other activities and studies (May) • Framework for understanding long-term implications and directions (June) • Standards that quantify and address the water impacts (June) • Information needs and priorities (July)

  12. Questions?

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