FRESHWATER SOCIETY

EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT:WE LED IMPACTFUL COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVES, INCLUDING THE MN WATER STEWARDS PROGRAM, LEADING THE MINNESOTA WATER WORKFORCE TEAM, OUR NATURE-BASED EDUCATION WORK WITH THE TEACHER FIELD SCHOOL, GROWING GREATER LAKES PROMISE TO BUILD LAND CONSERVATION TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY IN THE GREAT LAKES. THE WEATHERGUIDE CONTINUED TO INSPIRE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, WITH EFFORTS TO STREAMLINE PRODUCTION AND CONNECT WITH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. THROUGH EVENTS, PRESENTATIONS, AND PARTNERSHIPS, WE ELEVATED WATER STEWARDSHIP AWARENESS AND WORKFORCE PATHWAYS. POLICY:WE STRENGTHENED OUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS BY CREATING A CROSS-FUNCTIONAL POLICY TEAM TO ADDRESS WATER ISSUES AT LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVELS. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE NATIONAL WORK ON SMART DATA CENTER SITING, TESTIFYING AT THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE, ENGAGING WITH STATE AND EIGHT FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE LEADERS, AND PARTICIPATING IN THE NATIONAL WATER POLICY FLY-IN. OUR TEAM CHAMPIONED CRITICAL ISSUES LIKE SUSTAINABLE WATER SUPPLY, NITRATE CONTAMINATION, ACCESS TO SAFE DRINKING WATER, AND INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING, ENSURING A STRONG VOICE FOR WATER QUALITY AND ACCESSIBILITY.RESEARCH:WE ADVANCED WATER RESEARCH BY SEVERAL COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS INCLUDING COMPLETING OUR REPORT ON GROUNDWATER GOVERNANCE STRATEGIES FOR EPA REGION 5, SUPPORTED INITIATIVES LIKE THE ST. ANTHONY FALLS CUTOFF WALL INVESTIGATION, CONTINUED TO ASSIST WITH A MANAGED AQUIFER RECHARGE STUDY WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, AND CIRCULAR WATER ECONOMY EVALUATIONS. PRESENTATIONS AT KEY FORUMS AND ACTIVE PURSUIT OF STATEWIDE WATER REUSE PLANNING SOLIDIFIED OUR ROLE AS LEADERS IN WATER RESEARCH AND INNOVATION.