Sustainable Management of Water Quality in Southeastern Minnesota, USA: History, Citizen Attitudes, and Future Implications

The water resources of southeastern Minnesota, USA, have been exploited by humans for the past two centuries. The region’s sedimentary (karst) geology holds vast underground aquifers with high-quality drinking water. Springs and seeps percolate from these aquifers in valleys to produce hundreds of kilometers of coldwater trout streams. Citizens in the region place high values on these surface and groundwater resources, protecting them from potential harm by becoming informed about threats and organizing in protest over resource contamination and perceived overuse. Agriculture, ethanol production, silica sand mining and processing, and urban development have all threatened the area’s water resources and prompted citizen action. Recent regional studies have examined long-term trends in water quality, surveyed citizen attitudes and values, and made recommendations for monitoring and protecting both surface and groundwaters in southeastern Minnesota. A culture of water stewardship will continue to grow in this region, serving as a good model to follow wherever sustainable water management practices are being developed.