Legislative Update – May 2023
Water policy flowing as legislative session nears conclusion The Minnesota Legislature is entering the home stretch before it is scheduled to adjourn on May 22, with a wide range of … Read more
Policy
Groundwater governance tested at Vermillion River headwaters
Niagara Bottling proposes groundwater-fed bottling plant in Elko New Market The debate over groundwater protection is playing out in Scott County, Minnesota, as California-based Niagara Bottling seeks to build a … Read more
Extra innings?
The legislative session has gone into extra innings more often than not recently. Is this the new norm? This time the game was called with bases loaded and only a couple of runs on the scoreboard. Runners left on base and the pitcher were playing chicken when the lights went off.
Play ball!
It’s that time of year again! The days are getting longer and helping us eke out daytime temps above zero (and even above freezing!), the snow is looking grungy, and the legislative session is in full swing … kind of.
Water storage, environment policies hang in the balance
St. Paul, MN—As the Minnesota Legislature heads into the final stretch of the 2021 legislative session, millions of dollars for environment and natural resources spending and issues that have bipartisan support hangs in the balance due to negotiations on the Environment and Natural Resources Omnibus bill. While negotiations are normal part of the legislative process, there are a significant number of differences between the House and Senate bills that threaten to derail issues that have broad support.
Several Streams of Water Policy
The Freshwater legislative focus is on two major water issues, one surface water and one groundwater, and one funding issue, that Legacy Funds are spent in accordance with the Clean … Read more
Groundwater Governance in the Great Lakes Region
Freshwater launched a year-long project funded by the Joyce Foundation with an all-team, virtual meeting during the first week of March. The team is also growing! Workgroups are being built … Read more
Groundwater Governance in the Great Lakes Region: A Comparative Study with Engagement
Freshwater will lead a one-year project “Groundwater Governance in the Great Lakes Region: A Comparative Study with Engagement” funded by Chicago-based Joyce Foundation A team of researchers and facilitators from … Read more
Freshwater Supports Governor Walz’s Budget Recommendations for Clean Water Fund
St. Paul, MN. Earlier today, Governor Walz released his budget for legislative consideration, in which he followed the recommendations of the Clean Water Council for how to appropriate funding from … Read more