ERMUSR MISC ISSUES 04-13-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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It Metropolitan Council Building communities that work • Environmental Services March 16, 2004 Bryan Adams Utility Superintendent City of Elk River 13065 Orono Pkwy Elk River, MN 55330-5600 Re: Northwest Metro Water Supply Work Group Kickoff Meeting Dear Mr. Adams; The Metropolitan Council (Council) in cooperation with the North Metro Mayors Association would like to invite you to participate in a work group being formed to address water supplies in the Northwest Metro area. The work group will be informal and will be made up of representatives of the local communities, counties, the Metropolitan Council, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Department of Health and other interested parties. The purpose of the group will be to address resource and administrative issues related to supplying the growing population with a sustainable water source. It is anticipated that the group will meet on a quarterly basis. The group will be modeled after the highly successful Southwest Metro Groundwater Work Group (SMGWG) which has been in existence since 1997. That group has worked together to address several issues related to the impact of groundwater withdrawals on surface water features, water appropriation and well permitting, well interference and inter-community cooperation. The group recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement which in essence committed the parties to continue working together to supply the area with sufficient water supplies while protecting natural resources. The Northwest Metro Area does not have the sensitive rare calcareous fen and corresponding water appropriation permit issues that spurred the creation of the SMGWG. However, it is important that the area address the significant growth forecasted and the lack of access to the highly prolific Prairie du Chien-Jordan Aquifer. The work group will serve as a forum for discussion and exchange of information. The formation of this work group is part of a pilot project under Governor Pawlenty's Water Initiative. The pilot project has many aspects which address water supply planning in the Metro to St. Cloud corridor. They include connection of the Minneapolis and St. Paul Waterworks, revision of the emergency and conservation plan guidelines, developing a framework for water supply management, assessment of resources in the I-94 growth corridor and formation of the Northwest Metro Water Supply Work Group. www.metrocouncil.org Metro Info Line 602-1888 230 East Fifth Street • St. Paul. Minnesota 55101-1626 • (651)602-1005 • Fax 602-1138 • TTY 291-0904 An Equal Opportunity Employer