Blog
Rural Health and Drinking Water project tackles arsenic testing in southern Minnesota wells
Freshwater recently kicked off a new 3-year project in July in partnership with the Minnesota Well Owners Organization (MNWOO), Mayo Clinic, and the U.S. Geological Survey to test 8,000 private … Read more
Freshwater leads regional discussions on data centers and large water users
Freshwater continues to lead discussions on smart siting of data centers and high-volume water users in Minnesota and the Great Lakes region. Want to learn more? Here are our upcoming … Read more
Snake River paddle explores geologic history and watershed restoration needs
Freshwater recently completed a short project funded by the Snake River Watershed Board (Aitkin, Mille Lacs, Kanabec and Pine county commissioners) to help orient their new watershed coordinator, Mary Poelman, … Read more
Minnesota water policy outcomes from the 2025 session
Shortly after compiling this end-of-session report, we were shocked and saddened by the killing of Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, along with the shooting of Sen. John … Read more
Treaties and groundwater in EPA Region 5
Treaties have clear implications for the management of surface waters, but the application to groundwater is less clear. Recent rulemaking by the EPA may make it possible to address water … Read more
Communicating groundwater science
Water touches many realms and people, yet groundwater policy decisions are commonly made by people with academic credentials who work in recognized bureaucratic organizations. It takes all perspectives to shape … Read more
Emerging recommendations for regional groundwater governance
The following are general recommendations for local leaders participating in groundwater governance. These came from local workshops that spanned jurisdictions and groundwater management areas. Hyperlocal coordination Regional groundwater planning conversations … Read more
Regional planning and the role of groundwater management agreements
The Great Lakes region is perceived as being water-rich, and states promote this asset to attract water-intensive industries. While it is true that the region hosts usable groundwater, the supply … Read more
The industry voice in groundwater governance
Every person and industry uses water. Yet water – a shared, common-pool resource – is often an afterthought in site selection and planning. Industries are important stakeholders in the groundwater-governance … Read more
Local groundwater governance
At the municipal level, governments may have specific regulations regarding groundwater extraction, particularly for municipal water supply purposes. These can include building and construction codes outlining requirements for well construction … Read more