Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Concurrent Session I: 10:00–11:30 a.m.

Closing the Groundwater Governance Gap

Moderator: Carrie Jennings
Steward: Jim Stark

Minnesotans have shared values regarding water that prioritize clean, safe water for human consumption and to support ecosystems. This is borne out by our statutes and bipartisan support of mechanisms to allocate money to fund work on water. A challenge currently facing the region is the growing pressure to use groundwater to support a shift from our traditional economy of agriculture and industry to high-tech industries.

For equitable and shared groundwater governance, the needs of a community must be fully explored. This means that, as a first step, technical datasets are provided to communities in a way that is understood by all. Communities that use the same source water need to understand their interdependence. Land-use and economic development planners require synthesized data in a timely way to balance local water supply needs with future growth and environmental impacts. Elected officials need to be briefed on the issues, outcomes of engagement, and provided with examples of specific approaches to close governance gaps that can be translated into resolutions, bills, or ordinance language.

In this session, Freshwater will model the approach that was used across EPA Region 5 (six states from Minnesota to Ohio and 35 sovereign Tribal nations) to create a platform for technical experts, community groups, government employees, and those with knowledge of groundwater to voice their concerns and experiences dealing with the existing governance structure around groundwater. We will recruit up to 20 participants for this session, with others attending to learn about the process.

By empowering and respecting all voices, a community arrives at a greater understanding of priorities for groundwater use in light of the real, physical limits of their shared aquifers.

Participants:

  • Carrie Jennings, Research and Policy Director, Freshwater
  • Alyssa Fabia, Tribal Outreach and Research Coordinator, Freshwater
  • Rosie Russell, Founder and Facilitator, Community Kinetics

Concurrent Session II: 1:15–2:45 p.m.

Science Communication: Planning, Plain Language, and Accessibility

Moderator: Anne Nelson
Steward: Alycia Overbo

You’ve gathered valuable data from your project—now what? This hands-on session will help you transform your insights into compelling communications. Bring your own data or stories, and we'll explore various ways to present these—whether that is through a report, graphics, or developing a strategic communications plan to guide your future work.

First, we'll dive into communication planning, share practical resources, and work with user-friendly design tools like Canva or Adobe Express to create eye-catching infographics or social media content. Along the way, we'll discuss the power of plain language, utilizing tools and strategies with hands-on examples that will help you transform your technical writing into easy-to-read messaging the general public will read and respond to. Lastly, we'll provide key considerations for document and photo accessibility.

Led by two passionate environmental health professionals, this session is designed for those whose primary role isn't communications but who want to sharpen their skills. Bring a laptop and get ready to turn your data into impact!

Speakers:

  • Anne Nelson, Sophia Walsh, Minnesota Department of Health

Concurrent Session III: 3:15–4:45 p.m.

Improving Water Quality Through Building Soil Health

Moderator: Paula Kalinosky
Steward: Casandra Champion

This session explores soil health as a driver of water quality and ecological resilience across natural, urban, and developed landscapes. It features local field studies, reviews state programs and funding opportunities, and highlights urban stormwater applications, including a model Iowa residential program. A concluding panel brings together experts to discuss practical outcomes and strategies for expanding soil health practices and how they can be leveraged to improve stormwater quality.

Speakers:

  • Zack Dichausen, Riley Purgatory, Bluff Creek Watershed District
  • David Bauer, Alliant Engineering
  • Ryan Johnson, City of Roseville
  • Warren Tuel, Minnesota Department of Transportation
  • Brad Jordahl Redlin, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
  • Jared House, Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources
  • Pat Sauer, Iowa Stormwater Education Partnership
  • Paula Kalinosky, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Morning Plenary: Soil Organic Matter—Does It Hold Water?

Speaker: Dr. Anna Cates, University of Minnesota

Many have seen estimates that by adding 1% to soil organic matter increases soil water holding capacity by 20,000 gallons, but the research behind the estimate is surprisingly variable. In this presentation we will review the range of values found in field and lab studies that measure soil organic matter and soil water. To explore why the range is wide, we will do a deep dive into how organic matter interacts with the physical architecture of soil, bonds with water, and of course, responds to management. The result may not be more certainty or specificity in the relationship between organic matter and water in the soil, but participants should walk away with a hearty skepticism of pat formulas and ideas to bring more nuance to water storage estimates.

Concurrent Session IV: 10:00–1:30 a.m.

Groundwater Chloride and Its Influences on Surface-Water Quality

Moderator: Jared Trost
Steward: Jim Starck

Chloride concentrations are increasing in streams and lakes across Minnesota, and especially in the Twin Cities Metro Area. Dozens of water bodies exceed the 230 mg/L chronic aquatic life standard and are thus classified as chloride-impaired. Shallow groundwater monitoring in the Twin Cities Metro Area shows that nearly 30 percent of sampled wells exceed the non-health-based Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level drinking water standard of 250 mg/L. Typical chloride concentrations in shallow urban groundwater are 60–80 mg/L (Minnesota Groundwater Association, 2020). Organizations that manage surface-water bodies are tasked with reducing chloride loads to meet TMDL requirements.

Groundwater can contribute substantial chloride to water bodies and, in some cases, may even be the dominant source of chloride contributions to surface water. Managing widespread chloride inputs to groundwater in order to reduce loads to a surface-water body requires careful consideration of groundwater contributing areas, lag times, and history of chloride application.

In this special session, we will share presentations spanning perspectives from regulators, water resource managers, and scientific research. Following the presentations, we will facilitate a panel discussion about current approaches for incorporating groundwater chloride in the TMDL process and information needs for improving this process.

Discussion Panel

  • Ben Janke, University of Minnesota
  • Andy Leaf, USGS
  • Chandi McCracken–Holm, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
  • Justine Dauphinais, Coon Creek Watershed District
  • John Gulliver, University of Minnesota

Concurrent Session V: 1:15–2:45 p.m.

Lessons Learned in Stream Restoration Practice and Research

Moderator: Wade Johnson
Steward: Ann Banit

Monitoring, research and project outcomes continue to inform stream restoration planning and design. This session will showcase lessons learned that refine our understanding of restoring stream dynamics, including:

  • Minnesota based research on the habitat effectiveness of stream restorations
  • Project examples highlighting lessons learned in practice
  • Findings and recommendations from the MN Legacy Fund Restoration Evaluation Program

The session will conclude with a moderated panel discussion integrating questions from the audience.

Speakers:

  • Dr. Karen Gran, University of Minnesota Duluth
  • Luke Lunde, WSB
  • Mark Pranckus, Inter-Fluve
  • Karl Koller, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Concurrent Session VI: 3:15–4:45 p.m.

Effectiveness Monitoring in Minnesota: Understanding and Discerning Change

Moderator: Benjamin Lundeen
Steward: Brent Dalzell

Effectiveness monitoring plays a crucial role in assessing the success of conservation and restoration efforts in Minnesota. As natural resource managers, policymakers, and researchers work to implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) across the state, understanding the direct impacts of these interventions on habitat, water quality, and biological communities has never been more important.

This special session will bring together experts from state agencies, academia, and conservation organizations to discuss ongoing effectiveness monitoring initiatives. Presenters will share case studies, methodologies, and findings that illustrate the linkages between BMP implementation and measurable environmental outcomes. Key topics will include the influence of agricultural and urban BMPs on nutrient and sediment reduction, the role of habitat restoration in supporting fish and wildlife populations, and advancements in monitoring technologies that improve data collection and analysis.

Minnesota’s lakes, rivers, and wetlands are vital to both ecological integrity and local economies. Without robust monitoring efforts, it is difficult to determine whether BMPs are truly achieving their intended goals. This session will emphasize the importance of adaptive management—using monitoring data to refine conservation strategies, allocate resources effectively, and maximize environmental benefits.

Attendees will gain insights into:

  • How BMPs impact water quality, habitat conditions, and biodiversity over time
  • The latest monitoring approaches, from remote sensing to biological indicators
  • Challenges and opportunities in bridging science and policy for better decision-making

This session is ideal for water resource managers, conservation practitioners, scientists, policymakers, and anyone invested in protecting and restoring Minnesota’s natural resources. Join us as we explore how effectiveness monitoring strengthens our ability to create lasting environmental change.

Speakers:

  • Tiffany Schauls, Watershed Scientist – Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
  • Kristen Dieterman, Watershed Project Manager – Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
  • Jenny Jasperson, Watershed Scientist – Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
  • Jason Palmer, Natural Resource Biologist – Iowa Department of Natural Resources
  • Benjamin Lundeen, Statewide Monitoring Coordinator – Minnesota Pollution Control Agency