Update of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area Regional Groundwater Flow Model (Metro Model 2) - Phases 1 & 2

Metropolitan Council

Quick Facts

Recipient: 
Metropolitan Council
Source: 
Clean Water Fund
Recipient Type: 
For-Profit Business/Entity, Local/Regional Government
Status: 
In Progress
Activity Type: 
Modeling
Counties Affected 
Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington, Wright

State law charges the Metropolitan Council (Council) with developing and maintaining a base of technical information needed for sound water supply decisions (Minnesota Statutes 473.1565). The Council’s primary tool to provide this information is the Metro Model 2, a regional groundwater model capable of predicting the impacts of planned water demand on aquifers and connected lakes and streams. The Metro Model 2 is a modern and comprehensive groundwater model of the Twin Cities area, but it is currently out-of-date. In order to provide the best available information for the update of the Council’s policy plans and related documents and tools, the model is being updated with new information, adapted to run transient (seasonal) simulations, and expanded to consider impacts of water supply development in adjacent counties.

Status: 
In Progress
Start Date: 
February 2012
End Date: 
June 2013

Project Details by Fiscal Year

Fiscal Year(s): 
2012
Legal Citation / Subdivision: 
M.L. 2011 (Special Session) Chp. 6 Art. 2 Sec. 9
Appropriation Language 

$500,000 the first year and $500,000 the second year are for implementation of te master water supply plan developed under Minnesota Statutes, section 473.1565.

Fiscal Year Funding Amount: 
$251,858
Direct expenses: 
$315,000
Administration costs: 
$0
Number of full time equivalents funded: 
0
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s) 

This project will provide: 1) better information to inform recommendations and policies about the local and regional water supply impacts of long-range growth plans in the Regional Development Framework, system policy plans, and in the Metropolitan Area  Master Water Supply Plan; 2) improvement in the base of technical information needed for sound water supply decisions; and 3) increased use of the Metro Model 2 by external stakeholders for state-, local-, and watershed-level planning.

Measurable Outcome(s) 

Outcomes will be reported at project completion.

Recipient Board Members: 
Susan Haigh (Chair), Roxanne Smith, Lona Schreiber, Jennifer Munt, Gary Van Eyll, Steve Elkins, James Brimeyer, Gary L. Cunningham, Adam Duininck, Edward Reynoso, John Doan, Sandy Rummel, Harry Melander, Richard Kramer, Jon Commers, Steven T. Chavez, Wendy Wulff

Project Manager

Lanya
Ross
Metropolitan Council
390 Robert Street North
Saint Paul
MN
55101
(651) 602-1803
Email: 
Lanya.Ross@metc.state.mn.us
Related Topics: 
Metropolitan Council, Water Resources, Modeling, Clean Water Fund, For-Profit Business/Entity, Local/Regional Government, Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington, Wright