Agenda - Council - 03/10/2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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An Integrated Strategy for Water Resources The quality and quantity of water in the region's lakes, rivers and streams sustain the health of wildlife habitat and ecosystems while enhancing the quality of life for the region's residents. Individual lakes and streams are important to their host communities, providing opportunities for swimming, boating and fishing and enhancing the livability of the community. In addition, the region's lakes, streams, and wetlands together form a system that discharges into the region's major rivers (Mississippi, Minnesota and St. Croix), which provide drinking water for the urban core, recreational uses, and barge transportation that support the region's economy and quality of life. Plentiful, high-quality water is essential to achieving regional outcomes of stewardship, prosperity, equity, livability, and sustainability. The Council is committed to working with partners to protect, conserve, and utilize the surface and groundwater resources in the region. Achieving this goal requires that we consider how our activities in the individual areas of water supply, surface water management, and wastewater management and operations can support or reinforce each other. For example, the Council will: • Continue to implement our inflow and infiltration mitigation program, which preserves clear water, protects public health, and avoids pollution of our surface water. • Support water supply solutions that promote the wise use of water at the community level through conservation, reuse, aquifer recharge, and development of alternative approaches to groundwater and surface water use. • Promote treating stormwater on-site to support surface water needs while also allowing it to infiltrate into the groundwater. • Pursue opportunities for reusing wastewater to reduce the demand on our groundwater. Thrive MSP 2040 Water Sustainability Direction: The region's water resources are sustainable, supported by a regional strategy that balances growth and protection to improve and maintain the quality and quantity of water in our lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands and groundwater. The Council will work with state, local and regional partners to provide for sustainable water resources through effective water supply, surface water, and wastewater planning and management. In response to this direction and input from our partners and stakeholders, the following water sustainability goal has been developed. Water Sustainability Goal: To protect, conserve and utilize the region's groundwater and surface water in ways that protect public health, support economical growth and development, maintain habitat and ecosystem health, and provide for recreational opportunities, which are essential to our region's quality of life. 12