Inspiring people to conserve, restore,

and protect freshwater resources

Steve Woods

Groundwater!A Netflix Original Series

1970s - needed data

1990s - needed knowledge

2010s - need action

What do we do?

Policy

Community Engagement

Everything we do on the land affects water

So How Are Cities Doing?

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Met. Council Metro Plant

Phosphorus discharge

Urban Water

Car habitat

People habitat

Urban Water

Urban Water

Phosphorus

Urban Water!

Volume

Rate

Urban water is the easier part to fix

It’s regulated,

covers a small area, &

people have built up a

tolerance to government…

So how are

things outside

the cities ?

Close your eyes.

Remember.

What color

dominates farm

country?

It’s actually closer to this nine

months of the year.

Increased need for N application

Loss of alfalfa, small grains & hay

Increased potential for losses of sed, N and P from fields

Big conversions to row crops

affect water quality

Installing drain tile

Altered drainage Sac Co. IA Bill Stowe DMWW

Total Nitrogen

Cropland

groundwater

30%

Cropland tile

drainage

37%

Cropland

runoff

5%

Point sources

9%

Atmos.

9%

Urban

Stormwater

1%

Forests

7%

Septic

2%

Feedlot runoff

<1%

Minneopa Creek

There are two

compelling story

lines developing…

and they’re making

mainstream news

Raccoon & Des Moines Rivers

Aggressive Prep

Agricultural Runoff

Buffer needed

Buffer better…

Ask your staff:

Should we throw more

effort behind the

MN Cities Stormwater

Coalition?

Groundwater

supplies in

some areas…

Annual Reported Groundwater Use

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West TC Metro (‘45 – ‘12)

and under local control

Goals: safe and reliable

Ask your staff:

Can you show me the

long-term trend in our

groundwater level?

Ask your staff:

Does our water rate cover

the basics plus increased

coordination, efficiency

programs, loss reduction, &

meter upgrades?

Property tax $4890

Cell phone (2-lines) 2470

Homeowner insurance 1320

Electricity 880

Natural gas 820

Internet 710

Landline/long distance 620

Garbage/recycle 330

Sanitary sewer 280

Basic cable 270

Water 130

City stormwater fee 90

Composting service 85

Street lighting fee 40

Ask your staff:

Will the rates yield

enough once the

efficiencies kick in and

we sell less water?

Support an

organization you trust freshwater.org

Governments get things done by:

• Regulation

• Incentives

• Projects

• Education

• Taff: ▲ rule, price, ownership, mind

The

Constitutional

Amendment

33% Habitat

33% Water

14.25% Parks

19.75% Arts & Culture

Where does the water (precipitation) go…?Infiltration to Tile Drain

Surface RunoffEvapotranspiration

~10%

~75%

Temporary Storage/Residence Time

Precipitation

<5%

~10%

Infiltration:Bedrock Groundwater

best in state

top 10%

big influencer

average (for region)

meets legal minimums

never charged

never convicted

Where

do you

want

your

gov’ts

to be?

We are promised

self-government,

not necessarily

good government

Species of Gov’t vs. Quality

Diamond on:

people accepting change

• Compatible with current ways

• Fiscal neutral or better

• Visible

• Prestige

Clear, Practical Guidance

MN

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