Why is this important?

Water is at the heart of Minnesotan's connection with the outdoors. Lakes, rivers, and streams provide places to swim, boat, fish, hunt, and play. Surface water and ground water sustain homes, farms, businesses, and communities. Abundant clean water is essential for quality drinking water and to support the healthy populations of fish and wildlife that are at the core of our multi-billion-dollar outdoor recreation industry. Landscape changes from growth, development, and land management practices alter the quantity and quality of our waters. Climate change threatens to increase storm severity, runoff, and flood damage. Working with partners, DNR plays a vital role in helping Minnesota achieve water sustainability.

Water sustainability faces challenges from increasing domestic, agricultural, and industrial demand for water; climate change; riparian development; wetland loss; pollution; and aquatic invasive species.

Increasing demand for water: Two-thirds of Minnesota's public water supply comes from ground water. Demand for water is increasing faster than population growth is increasing. As demand grows, some communities are struggling to find adequate supplies of clean water.

Increasing numbers of impaired waters: Of the 10 percent of Minnesota surface water bodies tested, 40 percent are impaired in some way. Impairments include excessive nutrients, sediment, bacteria, mercury, and other contaminants. As testing proceeds, the number of impaired waters will increase and the challenge of restoring them while protecting our healthiest waters will become even greater.

Demand for water is increasing faster than population growth is increasing. Increasing water use challenges our ability to meet current needs without sacrificing the ability to meet the needs of future generations.