1. Water Availability Focus Group Welcome, Introduction, Goals John Wells and Princesa VanBuren Environmental Quality Board June 9, 2008

2. Welcome & Introductions

3. EQB Water Availability Initiative MPCA board requestMPCA board request –RGU in ER for variety of projects –Need for information broader than individual projects EQB chargeEQB charge Interagency work group convenedInteragency work group convened Work plan created and approvedWork plan created and approved

4. The Charge Find a way to put consideration of proposed water uses into a broader frameworkFind a way to put consideration of proposed water uses into a broader framework Consider standards to address environmental impacts of water usesConsider standards to address environmental impacts of water uses Summarize needs and options for collecting additional dataSummarize needs and options for collecting additional data

5. Assumptions Complete project in six monthsComplete project in six months Base work on existing dataBase work on existing data Project should give public a better understanding of water availability and sustainabilityProject should give public a better understanding of water availability and sustainability Today’s decisions would benefit from an understanding of the context of future needsToday’s decisions would benefit from an understanding of the context of future needs

6. Questions What do and don’t we know about Minnesota’s ground water resources?What do and don’t we know about Minnesota’s ground water resources? Can we make any estimates on water availability in a broad sense?Can we make any estimates on water availability in a broad sense? What’s our water resources management strategy?What’s our water resources management strategy? Do we have a sustainable planning strategy? What is it?Do we have a sustainable planning strategy? What is it? Can we identify the data gaps and develop tools to improve our understanding?Can we identify the data gaps and develop tools to improve our understanding?

7. The Team Agriculture – Bob Patton & Ralph GroschenAgriculture – Bob Patton & Ralph Groschen BWSR – Eric MohringBWSR – Eric Mohring Commerce – Ken BrownCommerce – Ken Brown DNR – Matt Langan, Jim Japs, Julie Ekman, Mel Sinn & Jeanette LeeteDNR – Matt Langan, Jim Japs, Julie Ekman, Mel Sinn & Jeanette Leete EQB – Princesa VanBuren, Gregg Downing & John WellsEQB – Princesa VanBuren, Gregg Downing & John Wells Health – Sheila GrowHealth – Sheila Grow Met Council – Chris ElvrumMet Council – Chris Elvrum Minnesota Geological Survey – Dale SetterholmMinnesota Geological Survey – Dale Setterholm PCA – Chai Insook, Ralph Pribble & Jess RichardsPCA – Chai Insook, Ralph Pribble & Jess Richards University of Minnesota – Research AdvisorsUniversity of Minnesota – Research Advisors US Geological Survey – Jim StarkUS Geological Survey – Jim Stark

8. Outcomes People will understand … How today’s water permitting, availability and policy decisions fit with the long term viewHow today’s water permitting, availability and policy decisions fit with the long term view

9. EQB Water Availability Project Web Page 1. General http://www.eqb.state.mn.us/project.html?Id=19502 2. Focus group http://www.eqb.state.mn.us/resource.html?Id=19614

10. Future Water Management Puts water upfront in land use decisionsPuts water upfront in land use decisions Manages aquifers & watersheds as oneManages aquifers & watersheds as one Is well informedIs well informed Accepts limits to growthAccepts limits to growth Meets ecosystem, community & business needsMeets ecosystem, community & business needs

11. Questions?

12. Elements I History and background (April)History and background (April) Regulatory approach (April)Regulatory approach (April) Understanding of water availability and sustainability (May)Understanding of water availability and sustainability (May) Land use and water supply planning (May)Land use and water supply planning (May)

13. Elements II Connections with other activities and studies (May)Connections with other activities and studies (May) Framework for understanding long-term implications and directions (June)Framework for understanding long-term implications and directions (June) Standards that quantify and address the water impacts (June)Standards that quantify and address the water impacts (June) Information needs and priorities (July)Information needs and priorities (July)