Groundwater is an essential drinking water source that supports livable communities, healthy environments, and thriving economies in the Metropolitan Region. Recharge is the natural process where water moves from the surface into the ground to replenish groundwater. When land is developed and impervious land cover increases, stormwater is no longer able to easily infiltrate into the ground, and the presence of potential pollutants from human activities often grows.  If not properly planned for and managed, these actions can lead to groundwater deficits or contamination, creating a costly and unsustainable scenario for communities. 

To help communities better consider groundwater protection in their land planning, resource management, and development decisions, the Metropolitan Council worked with Barr Engineering to identify and map areas for prioritizing the protection and enhancement of recharge in the region.

The study extends and builds off of a similar approach previously developed by Washington County using readily available hydrogeologic data that describes the region’s geology and subsurface water movement. This study is done at a regional scale but local actions and associated tradeoffs that protect or enhance recharge often happen at the parcel level. This study should be considered guidance that points to areas where local conditions and needs would benefit from additional assessment, to ensure our groundwater is plentiful and clean. 

This technical memo describes the input data, scoring approach, and provides maps of the region that show areas where investment in recharge protection and restoration may be prioritized for communities. It is important to note, that while some areas have a higher prioritization “score” than others, often due to the underlying geology, protecting the quantity and quality of water entering the ground is essential everywhere.

Funding Sources

Clean Water Funds for Sustainable Water Supply Planning: $39,000

Deliverables

• Technical Memo: Identifying Priority Areas for Recharge Protection and Enhancement Activities in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Region (PDF)