Water

Overview

According to Minnesota Statutes 103B.151, the Environmental Quality Board is to coordinate a comprehensive long-range water resources plan for the state every ten years.

2020 State Water Plan: Water and Climate:

Water Plan Cover

Download the 2020 State Water Plan (7MB PDF)

Appendix A: Five-year Assessment of Water Quality Trends and Prevention Efforts (2MB)

Appendix B: 2020 Groundwater Monitoring Status Report (1MB)

Appendix C: Water Availability Assessment Report (1MB)

Appendix D: Water Supply Planning in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area (2005-2020) (1.8MB)


 

PAST REPORTS:



2015 Key Findings

The EQB’s Water Policy Report focuses on addressing issues including stewardship of water resources, the management of the built environment, increasing the living cover across watersheds, and helping Minnesota remain resilient to extreme rainfall. Key findings from the report include:

  • Minnesota is a Global Leader in Water – We are a global leader in production of technology to treat, reuse, and conserve water. This leadership results from the intersection of our entrepreneurs, cutting-edge research and development, a world-class education system, and a cluster of innovative industries.
  • Land Usage Affects Our Water – The choices landowners make on the landscape determine whether it is able to hold the soil, absorb rainfall, and filter nutrients. Similarly, the choices we make in the built environment affect how water drains off roads and other impervious surfaces, carrying contaminants that can impair water quality.
  • Land Usage Results in Significant Costs – Building in floodplains and human changes to watersheds that increase runoff combine to increase flood damages. Pollutants make public waters unfit for consumption, swimming, or fishing.

About the Report

This report was prepared by the EQB, with the Board of Water and Soil Resources, Department of Agriculture, Department of Employment and Economic Development, Department of Health, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Council, and Pollution Control Agency. 


Minnesota's Water Industry Economic Profile:Leveraging Industry Strengths to Grow an Emerging Cluster


APPENDIX:

2015 Groundwater Monitoring Status Report

Five-Year Assessment of Water Quality Degradation Trends and Prevention Efforts

Minnesota’s Water Industry Economic Profile

The Agricultural BMP Handbook for Minnesota

Water Availability Report (2015)


An archive of past EQB water efforts:

EQB Water Archive