As the demand for clean water continues to grow, globally and here in Minnesota, Freshwater is actively working on ways to support water reuse and recharge by collaborating with technical experts, governing agencies and local communities.

Circular water was the topic of our spring Moos Family Speaker Series webinar, along with a June workshop on water reuse and recharge co-hosted by Barr Engineering. In the fall, Freshwater co-hosted three visits to stormwater reuse sites with the cities of Waconia, Hugo and Woodbury. Attendees included staff from cities, watershed organizations and state agencies; elected officials; contractors; business partners; and interested residents who were able to see the sites firsthand and ask questions about their design, operation and maintenance.

Freshwater Executive Director Michelle Stockness was also featured in an interview with Treatment Plant Operator magazine to discuss how circular water systems can replace traditional one-way operations that use water and send it downstream.

Freshwater led the second phase of a multi-year project to advance groundwater governance in the Great Lakes region. A key focus of this work is to amplify tribal government perspectives and indigenous leadership in groundwater management.

Our team convened two interactive aquifer meetings, first in May at the North American Indian Association in Detroit. In October, a second meeting was held in partnership with the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in northern Wisconsin. Connections made through these events are intended to spur positive changes on a local level, which may be even more effective than “top-down” regulatory efforts to protect groundwater.

Currently, groundwater knowledge and policies vary significantly across EPA Region 5 (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and 35 tribal governments), creating barriers to a regional framework. Since aquifers span political jurisdictions, Freshwater is working to identify collaborative governance and policy solutions to address current and future challenges.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) engaged Freshwater to help gather input for its 10-year drinking water action plan. Freshwater partnered with the University of Minnesota’s Water Resources Center, the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, and Clean River Partners to host a series of focus groups centered around drinking water management and governance.

The project team compiled input from drinking water professionals, as well as the broader statewide community with an emphasis on learning about public trust in drinking water from diverse perspectives. The team held seven community outreach events with community members across the state. These community meetings included informational presentations on local drinking water supply, surveys to understand drinking water habits for the area, the community’s level of trust in drinking water quality management, and an opportunity to provide MDH with very specific feedback on their performance.

The Minnesota Drinking Water Action Plan is currently being finalized (a draft was released in September 2024), and it will help guide future policies and inform programs designed to protect drinking water throughout the state.

After 11 years and more than 500 Minnesota Water Stewards certified, mainly in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, Freshwater is now planning to expand this successful leadership training program to a statewide audience.

Incorporating input gathered from current and potential partners, as well as Stewards and program supporters, the Freshwater team is adapting Minnesota Water Stewards into a more affordable, sustainably funded online program that will be widely available across the state and region. Plus, recognizing that local water issues call for local solutions, we are also developing customized training and action steps to meet specific regional and cultural needs such as private well education, natural shorelines and more.

What won’t change is our dedication to volunteer leadership development that is grounded in water science, engagement and education – and building a statewide community of committed, connected water champions.

In 2024, we strengthened our advocacy efforts by creating a cross-functional policy team to address water issues at local, state and federal levels. Highlights include testifying on nitrate pollution and water infrastructure needs at the Minnesota Legislature, engaging 19 state and eight federal legislative leaders, and participating in a Farm Bill working group and national water priorities discussions.

Freshwater continues to champion critical water issues like soil health, access to safe drinking water for private well owners, water infrastructure funding, and responsible development of water-intensive industries.

We also work to maintain the integrity of dedicated state environmental funds by actively supporting funding recommendations by the Clean Water Council and Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). Visit the Freshwater policy page to view our current legislative agenda and learn more about this work.

Freshwater entered the second year of a 5-year project to develop a new regional enterprise for land conservation focused on Great Lakes water quality improvement.

Propelled by a $1.5 million grant from the Great Lakes Protection Fund, Freshwater is partnering with several land trusts and watershed scientists to protect land and improve water quality around three Great Lakes tributaries – the St. Louis River, Saginaw River and Maumee River. A primary goal is to restore select croplands to perennial vegetation, which reduces runoff and erosion while trapping carbon in the soil.

This past year saw the launch of the Greater Lakes Promise brand and website, a highly visible wall-scape billboard near the Maumee River in Toledo, Ohio, and a digital media campaign that generated over 14,000 visits to the new website. The team is currently pursuing business partners to help build awareness and generate long-term funding to continue this important work.

Learn more about Greater Lakes Promise.

A new trash capture boom was installed this summer at Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis, while the boom at nearby Lake Hiawatha entered its second season. These projects have been embraced by local government and communities as a way to reduce litter flowing into the lakes.

The booms have dual benefits – they capture trash from entering the lake through a storm drain outfall, and they raise awareness of how pollutants travel from city streets into our lakes and rivers.

Partners on the new Lake of the Isles project include Freshwater, City of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, East Isles Neighborhood Association, River Network, and Osprey Initiative.

Learn more about this work.

With an influx of new proposed data centers in Minnesota, Freshwater is working to ensure that water-intensive developments are carefully planned to protect groundwater. Data centers can use large amounts of water for cooling, so the location and design of these facilities is critical to the future of drinking water supplies and aquatic ecosystems.

In December, Freshwater Research and Policy Director Carrie Jennings discussed the need for siting data centers with groundwater in mind during a webinar presented by the Counsel of State Governments. This topic has garnered interest from a wide range of Freshwater partners, along with media outlets like Minnesota Public Radio and the Star Tribune.

Freshwater is now collaborating with state agencies, local governments, businesses and community members to advocate for long-term regional water planning, to make sure water is considered early in the development process, and to prioritize water efficient processes and alternatives to groundwater cooling.

Freshwater and a coalition of conservation partners urged voters to renew the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, which dedicates a portion of Minnesota Lottery proceeds to fund clean water, outdoor recreation and environmental research projects.

Freshwater Executive Director Michelle Stockness spoke at the Minnesotans for Our Great Outdoors campaign kickoff in September, emphasizing that this investment in clean water benefits all Minnesotans and is critical for future generations.

The measure passed during the November election with 77 percent approval by Minnesota voters – a reassuring sign that these shared values can span political, cultural and geographic divides in our state.

Freshwater’s annual Water Connects Us benefit was held September 12 at Forgotten Star Brewing in Fridley, Minnesota, where staff and partners showcased the importance of our work and impact from upstream to downstream.

Opening with an inspiring welcome from Freshwater board member Josephine Marcotty, the interactive event featured emcee John O’Sullivan of One Minute Tours who guided over 120 guests through our projects and programs, interviewing Freshwater team members along the way.

Just before the event, we hosted a complimentary tour of Minneapolis Public Works Water Treatment & Distribution Service where guests had a unique opportunity to explore the inner workings of the city's water system and learn more about where their drinking water comes from.