The University of Minnesota’s Water Resources Center has been charged by the Minnesota State Legislature to develop the framework for sustainable water management, a set of recommendations that will protect and preserve Minnesota’s lakes, stream, rivers and ground water for the 21st century and beyond without compromising people’s current needs, water quality or natural ecosystems. This product is called the Minnesota Water Sustainability Framework — and it’s a pretty big deal.

Funded by the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Act, the framework is intended to serve as a roadmap — with clear signposts on how and when to spend Legacy amendment funds and on what initiatives. It will be the product of an unprecedented stakeholder input process. Dozens of water resources experts from state agencies, higher education, the private sector and non-governmental organizations are helping to create the plan (FMR submitted many comments), and the framework has been many months in the making. Now in its final stages of development, the framework will be presented to the Minnesota State Legislature on January 15th, 2011.

While the framework's fate in the new legislature is uncertain, we will urge lawmakers and the new governor to take action on its recommendations to ensure a safe, clean and healthy water supply for Minnesota's next generations.

For more information:

• Watch this brief video overview of the framework by program manager Deb Swackhamer,
• Visit the Water Resources Center website,
• Visit the Minnesota Water Sustainability Framework webpage.

— Trevor Russell, Watershed Program Director