Groundwater Governance
Groundwater is complex, unseen and often misunderstood. Even in places like the Great Lakes region – known for its abundance of natural lakes, rivers and streams – the groundwater aquifers that supply drinking water and support aquatic ecosystems are vulnerable to overuse and contamination. The variability of precipitation in a particular area, along with the underlying geology, plays a critical role in the availability and sustainability of groundwater.
Groundwater supplies 75 percent of Minnesota's drinking water and at least 90 percent of agricultural irrigation. That's why this 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 was convened.]
Check out the timeline of blogs and related governance issues during Phase I below.
Phase II (2023-2025)
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.
Groundwater in the news
Water-guzzling data centers spark worry for Minnesota's groundwater (Minnesota Public Radio)
Farmington residents sue city over proposed data center campus (Star Tribune)
Here’s the choice: Cheap McDonald’s fries or health of Anishinaabe village of Pine Point (Minnesota Reformer)
Brackish groudwater is no easy water solution for Arizona (Circle of Blue)
States challenge EPA rule to protect tribal treaty rights (Minnesota Public Radio)
Residents complain of water problems after Elko New Market pumping test (Minnesota Public Radio)
Human's are depleting groundwater worldwide, but there are ways to replenish it (The Conversation)
Court rulings give states new power to protect groundwater (New York Times)
St. Louis and the Midwest are gearing up for water fights fueled by climate change (St. Louis Times)
Are Wisconsin aquifers lower due to recent drought? (Wisconsin Public Radio)
Agriculture built these High Plains towns. Now, it might run them dry (Source NM)
A tangle of rules to protect America's water is falling short (New York Times)