Groundwater Governance
Groundwater is complex, unseen and often misunderstood. Even in places like the Great Lakes region that are known for its abundance of natural lakes, rivers and streams, the groundwater aquifers that supply our drinking water and help support aquatic ecosystems are vulnerable to overuse and contamination. The variability of precipitation plays a critical role in the availability of groundwater in a particular area.
Groundwater supplies 75% of Minnesota's drinking water and 90% of agricultural irrigation. As such, groundwater is one of Freshwater's key focus areas: To ensure groundwater sustainability through restoration, governance, and protection.
Groundwater Governance in the Great Lakes Region
Freshwater is leading a multi-year project to study how groundwater is governed by the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin, along with the 35 tribal nations within this region. This work also includes policy recommendations, collaboration and engagement with water managers and community members to help create a more equitable and effective structure for ensuring clean and sustainable groundwater – now and in the future.
Phase I (2021-2023)
In Phase I of this project, Freshwater set out to provide an overview of the hydrogeology of the region and current groundwater institutions, governance approaches, and some of the challenges.
[Maybe explain more about how/who were convened.]
Check out the timeline of blogs and related governance issues during Phase I below.
Project announcement
Freshwater to lead a one-year project funded by the Joyce Foundation, Groundwater Governance in the Great Lakes Region: A Comparative Study with Engagement.
Project kick-off: Groundwater Governance in the Great Lakes Region
Freshwater builds project team and sets out to understand groundwater governance.
What's the fuss over water governance?
Who's role is it to manage groundwater when there are multiple users? How does Minnesota's rules stack up to other states?
Freshwater shares Groundwater Governance story at U.S. Water Alliance's One Water Summit
Groundwater Governance Tested at Vermillion River Headwaters
Recently, an important instance of groundwater governance played out in Scott County, MN.
Phase II (2024 to present)
Heading
Text goes here.
Heading
Text goes here.
Heading
Text goes here.