Twin Cities Metropolitan Regional Groundwater Planning

(c) $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000 the second year are for metropolitan regional groundwater planning to achieve water supply reliability and sustainability, including determination of a sustainable regional balance of surface water and groundwater, a feasibility assessment of potential solutions to rebalance regional water use and identify potential solutions to address emerging subregional water supply issues such as the northeast metro, and development of an implementation plan that addresses regional targets and timelines and defines short- and medium-term milestones for achieving the desirable surface water and groundwater regional balance. By January 15, 2014, the commissioner shall submit an interim report on the expenditure of this appropriation to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate committees and divisions with jurisdiction over environment and natural resources finance and policy and the clean water fund.

$975,000 the first year and $975,000 the second year are to implement projects that address emerging drinking water supply threats, provide cost-effective regional solutions, leverage interjurisdictional coordination, support local implementation of water supply reliability projects, and prevent degradation of groundwater resources in the metropolitan area. These projects will provide to communities: 1) potential solutions to leverage regional water use through utilization of surface water, storm water, wastewater, and groundwater; 2) an analysis of infrastructure requirements for different alternatives; 3) development of planning level cost estimates, including capital cost and operation cost; 4) identification of funding mechanisms and an equitable cost-sharing structure for regionally beneficial water supply development projects; and 5) development of subregional groundwater models. $250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year are for the water demand reduction grant program to encourage implementation of water demand reduction measures by municipalities in the metropolitan area to ensure the reliability and protection of drinking water supplies.

(c) $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000 the second year are for metropolitan regional groundwater planning to achieve water supply reliability and sustainability, including determination of a sustainable regional balance of surface water and groundwater, a feasibility assessment of potential solutions to rebalance regional water use and identify potential solutions to address emerging subregional water supply issues such as the northeast metro, and development of an implementation plan that addresses regional targets and timelines and defines short- and medium-term milestones for achieving the desirable surface water and groundwater regional balance. By January 15, 2014, the commissioner shall submit an interim report on the expenditure of this appropriation to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate committees and divisions with jurisdiction over environment and natural resources finance and policy and the clean water fund.

$400,000 in 2015 from the clean water fund is to develop a plan for the North and East Metro Groundwater Management Area and to predesign preferred long-term solutions to address regional water supply and sustainability issues, including enhancing surface waters, in collaboration with the commissioner of natural resources. The plan, incorporating standard engineering practices, must address construction, operation, and maintenance of infrastructure needed to implement the preferred solutions and, in consultation with the Public Facilities Authority, include recommendations for funding that would fairly allocate the costs to users and other beneficiaries. As the plan is developed, the council must meet periodically with the local water supply work group to review details of the plan. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2015. $100,000 in 2015 from the clean water fund is to investigate, in collaboration with the Board of Water and Soil Resources and the Pollution Control Agency, the feasibility of collecting and treating storm water in the North and East Metro Groundwater Management Area to enhance surface waters and groundwater recharge. $50,000 in 2015 from the clean water fund is to partner with the University of Minnesota’s Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MNTAP) to identify opportunities for industrial water users to reduce or reuse their water consumption within the North and East Metro Groundwater Management Area.

(a) $975,000 the first year and $975,000 the second year are to implement projects that address emerging drinking water supply threats, provide cost-effective regional solutions, leverage interjurisdictional coordination, support local implementation of water supply reliability projects, and prevent degradation of groundwater resources in the metropolitan area. These projects will provide to communities:

(1) potential solutions to leverage regional water use through utilization of surface water, storm water, wastewater, and groundwater;

(2) an analysis of infrastructure requirements for different alternatives;

(3) development of planning level cost estimates, including capital cost and operation cost;

(4) identification of funding mechanisms and an equitable cost-sharing structure for regionally beneficial water supply development projects; and

(5) development of subregional groundwater models.