The Minnesota Legislature adjourned on May 18 after passing a $1.24 billion bonding bill, along with relatively few water-related policy bills. Freshwater, along with our team at Park Street Public, engaged with bipartisan legislators and partners to build support for water infrastructure funding, and … Read more
As we reflect on the April 2026 congressional vote to roll back federal protections around mining near the Boundary Waters, we are reminded that clean water is our shared priority … Read more
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 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
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 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
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
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
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
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
