Metropolitan Council

Metropolitan Council Environment Committee

Master Water Supply Plan

February 10, 2009

Christopher Elvrum Manager, Water Supply Planning

Keith ButtlemanAssistant General Manager,

Environmental Quality Assurance

Purpose

Draft Master Water Supply Plan

Public review comments

Master Plan completion schedule

Master Plan Conclusions

Overall supplies are regionally adequate

Some water supply issues will occur using traditional sources

Options available to address potential issues

Early identification of issues critical

Ongoing assessment will guide sustainable water use choices

Goal and Principles

Goal: Ensure a sustainable water supply for current and future generations.

Principles

Water supply integral component of planning

Regional context for local decisions

All hydrologic systems considered

Water quality important

Interjurisdictional cooperation viable option

Cost-effectiveness considered

Wise use critical

Availability Analysis

Population forecasts

Land use

Water use

Climate

Groundwater recharge

Contamination

Aquifer analysis

Water Supply Availability AnalysisIssue Identification

METROPOLITAN AREA WATER SUPPLY MASTER PLAN

Ongoing Evaluation

Conservation Surface Water Evaluation

Metro Model 2

4,913 miles2

Includes entire metro

9 layers

Unconsolidated

Prairie du Chien

St. Lawrence

Ironton-Galesville

Mt. Simon

St. Peter

Jordan Eau Claire

Franconia

Model Questions

Are supplies available where we need them?

Will pumping harm:— neighboring wells— natural resources— the aquifer

How will climate and land use affect future availability?

Planning horizons: 2030, 2050

Municipal water use drives water demand growth

— Non-municipal demand included; no change forecasted

Current sources used for future demand whenever possible

Scope and Assumptions

Water Supply Development Issues

Significant decline in aquifers

Well interference

Impacts on surface waters

Significant uncertainty regarding aquifer extent and productivity

Groundwater contamination and vulnerability to contamination

DRAFT

DRAFT

Reporting Results: Community Water Supply Profiles

Current and projected water use

Current Sources

Available Sources

Issues that need to be addressed

Potential impact to surface waters

Issue Responses

Issue: Potential impact to surface waters

Threshold

>1m predicted decline in surficial aquifer by 2030

Response

• Develop resource protection thresholds

• Daily measurements at wells and resource

Issue Responses

Development of resource protection thresholds

Increased monitoring and data collection

Evaluation of supply alternatives

Increased conservation

Limit withdrawals

- Use alternative source is an option

DRAFT

Components of the Plan

Report

Community Profiles

Issue Responses

Conservation Toolbox

Water Supply Make-A-Map Application

Master Plan Public Comments PeriodNovember 3 – December 16th

Public Meetings 10:00am-Noon:December 2, City of Woodbury City Hall December 3, City of Savage, City HallDecember 4, City of Maple Grove Government Center

Email, US Mail, Voice Mail, Fax• Mail: Metropolitan Council Data Center, 390 N. Robert

Street, St. Paul, MN 55101 • Fax: 651-602-1464 • Public Comment Line: 651-602-1500 • Email: data.center@metc.state.mn.us• TTY: 651-291-0904

Public Commenters

Public meetings— 46 attendees from:

– 10 cities and townships – counties, – DNR, MDH, EQB, – consultants, non-profits– Metro Cities (AMM), and– Representative Paul Gardner

— 4 Metropolitan Area Water Supply Advisory Committee Members

Letters/emails

Total of 59 commenters

Comments

General Comments

Metro Model 2

Integrating Water Supply with Comprehensive Planning

Development of community Profiles and Issue Responses

Updating the Master Plan

Surface water and Stormwater

General Comments

General support

How does the plan meet the statutory requirements

What are recommendations

Metro Model 2

Model should be recalibrated prior to publication

What were the methods and measures used to ensure the soundness of the Model

Integrating Water Supply with Comprehensive Planning

Support/encourage integration with other comp planning

Do not make water supply a metropolitan system

Community Profiles and Issue Responses

How were the forecasts responses developed

Do not introduce requirements (issue responses) without statutory authority

How were local studies considered

What is the reasonableness test for responses

How will the Master Plan affect non-municipal water appropriators

Implementing the Master Plan

What will the role of the Met Council and DNR be in implementing the plan

How will existing plans and permits be affected

How will the plan be updated

How will local studies be incorporated

Surface Water and Stormwater

Plan focuses on groundwater when 1/3 of population uses surface water

Management of surface water source outside jurisdiction

Support stormwater management activities that recharge groundwater

Map soil contamination to evaluate recharge areas

Comment Responses

Model Recalibration

Add information/clarify plan text— Technical analysis— Integration with Comprehensive Planning— Permitting process— Plan implementation— Relationship to surface water and stormwater

management

Next Steps

Revise Plan – January/February

Update Metro Model 2 – January/February

Update profiles – February/March

Final Advisory Committee Review – March 26

DNR/Met Council Approval – April/May