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About this report <br />The Twin Cities seven -county metropolitan area is home to three million people, over half of <br />Minnesota's population. Securing residents' safe and plentiful water — while protecting the region's <br />diverse water resources — requires coordinated, interdisciplinary and ongoing effort. <br />Although the seven -county region is relatively water -rich, the region's steady population growth, <br />increased groundwater pumping, changing land use, and variable weather and climate is challenging <br />some communities' ability to meet current and future water demand. <br />This report summarizes findings, recommendations, and continuing planning activities that address the <br />water supply needs of the metropolitan area. It also documents work done since 2005 by Metropolitan <br />Council (Council), with the Metropolitan Area Water Supply Policy (MAWSAC) and Technical Advisory <br />Committees (TAC), and other partners, to fulfill the requirement of Minnesota Statute 473.1565. <br />Activities include: <br />1) Support for collaboration <br />2) Development and maintenance of a base of technical information including: <br />a) Surface and groundwater availability analyses <br />b) Water demand projections <br />c) Water withdrawal and use impact analyses <br />d) Modeling <br />e) Similar studies <br />3) Development and periodic update of a Metropolitan Area Master Water Supply Plan (Master <br />Plan) that: <br />a) Provides guidance for local water supply systems and future regional investments <br />b) Emphasizes conservation, interjurisdictional cooperation, and long-term sustainability <br />c) Addresses the reliability, security, and cost-effectiveness of the metropolitan area water supply <br />and its local and subregional components <br />4) Recommendations: <br />a) Clarify the appropriate roles and responsibilities of local, regional, and state government in <br />metropolitan area water supply <br />b) Streamline and consolidate metropolitan area water supply decision -making and approval <br />processes <br />c) Fund ongoing and long-term metropolitan area water supply planning activities and capital <br />investments <br />The Council considers the work and recommendations of the policy and technical advisory committees <br />as the Council prepares regional development framework updates. <br />OtTi <br />k: <br />_.,..„ <br />CLEAN <br />WATER <br />LAND & <br />LEGACY <br />AMENDMENT <br />Minnesota's Clean Water Fund supports two Metropolitan Council programs that <br />increase communities' implementation of projects to help achieve sustainable water <br />supplies. <br />Page - 4 I METROPOLITAN COUNCIL <br />