The Minnesota Environmental Quality Board’s Water Policy Reportis organized as a menu of options to move beyond the status quo on water challenges. It provides a framework to continue a broad conversation on water policy with local and state implementation partners. The report includes voluntary and regulatory solutions as well as proposing system changes that harness market forces and look to change cultural expectations. Finally, in some areas, more study is needed to best determine how to take action.Key findings from the report include:
- Minnesota is a global leader in water: Water concerns are a global issue and Minnesota water technology industries are leading the way in innovations to clean, reuse, and more efficiently use water for the whole world. This sector employs more than 13,500 Minnesotans, pays above average wages, and puts Minnesota in the top 10 in technology export and patents.
- Minnesotans need to protect their waters: Living plant cover and green infrastructure reduce runoff and increase infiltration on urban and agricultural lands. These practices hold water on the landscape, filter contaminants, and reduce runoff.
- Minnesotans need to identify vulnerabilities and increase the resilience of all communities. Flooding is becoming a reality for more Minnesotans as extreme rainfall events increase. And while not all parts of the state have water supply issues, many wells have shown decreased water levels in recent years.
The Environmental Quality Board is made up of nine Minnesota agency heads and five citizen members. In addition to other duties, the board provides leadership and coordination across agencies on priority environmental issues that are multi-jurisdictional and multi-dimensional, as well as provide opportunities for public access and engagement.
