UCOWR Presentation 7 22 04aa

Understanding Sustainability at the State Level: 

Understanding Sustainability at the State Level John R. Wells Minnesota Environmental Quality Board Allocating Water: Economics and the Environment July 22, 2004

Sustainable development is …: 

Sustainable development is … Thinking & acting as if the long-term future mattered Recognizing how things connect Living within our means Taking creative approaches to issues

The Governor’s Vision: 

The Governor’s Vision Keep Minnesota’s waters clean Ensure communities have safe water Keep an accurate picture Restore the casualties of society’s great progress Develop effective leadership on water

The Governor’s Clean Water Initiative : 

The Governor’s Clean Water Initiative Clean Water Cabinet Vision Guiding Principles Action Areas Goals Projects July 1, 2004 Metro Mississippi River Southeast Minnesota Executive Policies and Processes Reduce phosphorus loadings from Lambert Creek and phosphorus concentrations in Vadnais Lake Provide effective tools and incentives to protect WQ and sensitive natural resources Reduce levels of harmful bacteria Demonstrate the value of regional water supply planning and coordination; providing an inter-connected system Reduce sediment loading to rivers and streams Reduce harmful bacteria and other pathogens entering rivers and streams to acceptable levels Coordinate/target deliver of farm programs to cost effectively remediate pollution sources Align budget related processes and priorities with Governor’s Clean Water Vision South Branch, Root River Lambert Lake Wetland Restoration Twin Cities Sub-Regional Water Supply Plan Red River Valley Reduce flood damage to cropland and structures Grand Marais Flood Reduction Manston Slough Flood Control Reduce sediment loading to Red River of the North Enhance fish and wildlife habitat Central Minnesota Lakes Area Five county lakes area coordination Coordinate lake management Revise shoreland rule

Water & sustainability: 

Water & sustainability Growth & water Jobs Budget priorities

Projected population growth: 

Projected population growth By 2010 Rates (%) White … -8 to 0 Gray … 0 to 5 Black … 5 to 13 Blue … 13-37

Slide7: 

Aquifers Limited in Minnesota’s Growth Corridor                                                                                                                                        

A framework for decisions: 

A framework for decisions Convene corridor stakeholders Identify trends, plans and goals and develop growth scenarios Understand long-term regional implications of water and land use Bring people together to change local and state policy

Job Opportunity Building Zones : 

Job Opportunity Building Zones To stimulate economic development activity in rural Minnesota by providing local and state tax exemptions

Slide13: 

Karst Rochester Water Supply Area Decorah Edge Rochester Water Supply Recharge Area

Slide14: 

Northern Heights Country Club Manor. Assissi Heights Pill Hill Follwell Heights Willow Heights Golden Hill Rose Harbor. Developments on the Decorah Edge

Slide15: 

Groundwater Flow Direction Northern Hills Court Decorah Shale

Slide16: 

Water Being Pumped To The Storm Sewer From The Basement Of A Home Located On The Decorah Edge

Goals of a Decorah EdgeRecharge Area Ordinance: 

Goals of a Decorah Edge Recharge Area Ordinance Preserve the intact recharge areas Improve recharge quality and quantity

Slide18: 

10 Year Water Gaps By Resource ($ Millions)

Funding-related principles: 

Funding-related principles No new General Fund expenditures without savings Each agency must find savings, but the cabinet will act collectively New fee revenues may be proposed when the fee would: Ask polluters and resource users to pay for the benefits they receive Not place an undue burden on those who would pay the fee No new taxes

Sustainable development is …: 

Sustainable development is … Thinking & acting as if the long-term future mattered Recognizing how things connect Living within our means Taking creative approaches to issues

National Sustainable Water Resources Roundtable: 

National Sustainable Water Resources Roundtable Understanding if we’re on the right track

The General Systems Perspective: 

The General Systems Perspective “Natural Systems” Social System Biosphere Economic System

Slide23: 

Community Water Supply Example of the Systems Perspective Hydrologic and Climatologic Systems Social System Biosphere Economic System Social Systems For Managing Water Supply Economic Systems For Water Supply

SWRR Process for Identifying Criteria and Indicators: 

SWRR Process for Identifying Criteria and Indicators Criteria Identify Valued Forms of Capital Identify Components of Capital And Processes Affecting Them Identify Measurable Phenomena Systems Concepts Information Concepts

Slide25: 

Possible Types of Indicators Stressors & Investments Underlying Processes Outputs Effects Capital Indicators Goal: Sustainability of Water Resources Criterion Criterion Criterion Criterion Criterion

Slide26: 

Targets for Indicators Ex 1 Pollutants & Facility Construction Precipitation, Evaporation & Runoff Delivered Water Human Health, Income Capacity for Water Supply Indicators Goal: Sustainability of Water Resources Criterion Criterion Criterion Adequate Water Supply

Slide27: 

A Criteria & Indicators Model Sustainability of Water Resources Ecological System Social System Economic System Goal Category Indicator Category Human Health Quality & Quantity Hazards System Condition or Capacity Indicator Processes Outputs Human Effects Ecosystem Effects Criteria

Ecological System: 

Ecological System Capacity to make water of appropriate quality and quantity available to support ecosystems Integrity of ecosystems

Social System: 

Social System Social well being resulting from the use of water resources Social well being resulting from the use of water-related ecological resources Legal, institutional, community and technical capacities for the management of water and related land resources for sustainability

Economic System: 

Economic System Capacity to make water of appropriate quality and quantity available for human uses Economic well being resulting from use of water and related land resources Economic well being resulting from the use of water-related ecological resources

Draft Factors: 

Draft Factors For identifying, organizing, evaluating and choosing “Appropriate Indicators” Defining the state of things Relevance Appropriate time horizon and scale Indicator integrity Understandability

SWRR goals on sustainability of the nation’s waters: 

SWRR goals on sustainability of the nation’s waters Develop criteria and indicators to track national water sustainability Identify research collaboration opportunities Collaborate in development of a 2005 report on water sustainability

Lessons Learned: 

Lessons Learned Think long term Provide a process for developing a common language and understanding Align economic and policy signals with sustainable behavior Measure progress & make mid-course corrections

Web Sites: 

Web Sites www.eqb.state.mn.us/SDI/ www.eqb.state.mn.us/water/ www.nextstep.state.mn.us http://water.usgs.gov/wicp/acwi/swrr/

Slide35: 

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, that’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Meade