GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT: CAPACITY ASSESSMENT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL: A SURVEY OF MINNESOTA LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

A state-wide online survey of Local Government Unit (LGU) staff was conducted in 2017 with funding from the University of Minnesota's Serendipity Grant Program. This report describes capacity assessments of Minnesota city and county local government units capacities to engage in groundwater protection. The study was conducted by the Center for Changing Landscapes, University of Minnesota in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Department of Health, League of Minnesota Cities, Metro Cities, Association of Minnesota Counties, and the nonprofit Freshwater Society. The overarching goal of the study was to examine resource and other types of capacity needs at the local level to address groundwater management. The primary objectives of the study were to: • Assess the capacities of LGUs to engage in groundwater protection • Identify and prioritize critical capacity-building needs of LGUs to better protect groundwater and drinking water Findings from the survey identified capacity needs and constraints to groundwater protection across the entire state, as well as differences between city and county LGUs and differences between MASWCD Technical Service Areas.