Source Water Protection Collaborative
A Minnesota-based statewide initiative, the Source Water Protection Collaborative brings together individuals who have expertise in source water, community outreach, engagement, or public health to develop ways to promote land use which protects drinking water sources.
The Source Water Protection Collaborative began in 2019 when Environmental Initiative, the Minnesota Department of Health, and Citizens League explored needs and opportunities for land use and land use decisions that protect drinking water supplies.
Vision and Purpose
Vision: We make choices on the land that ensure clean, safe drinking water for all.
Purpose: Bringing together diverse groups and perspectives to advance collective action for protecting drinking water.
What we do
- Share knowledge between communities with similar efforts and concerns.
- Leverage and learn from projects and policy planning efforts about ways drinking water protection is impacted throughout the state.
- Build capacity of local and state government officials responsible for providing drinking water to engage with those who have been marginalized from government decision-making, including farmers, rural residents, immigrant and BIPOC communities, and small business owners.
- Support local community partnerships and trust-building efforts, focusing on those who have been marginalized, in order to build a stronger civic fabric and greater collective capacity for securing safe drinking water for all.
Collaborative Members
- Sarah Berry, Local Public Health Association and Waseca County Public Health
- Mae Davenport, University of Minnesota
- Annie Felix-Gerth, Board of Water and Soil Resources
- Tim Gieseke, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
- Larry Gunderson, Minnesota Department of Agriculture (alternate)
- Stephanie Hatzenbihler, City of Rochester Department of Public Works
- Nick Jordan, Forever Green
- Alex Keilty, Lake Pepin Legacy Alliance
- Amanda Lovelee, Metropolitan Council
- Aaron Meyer, Minnesota Rural Water Association
- Catherine Neuschler, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
- Alycia Overbo, Minnesota Department of Health
- Dave Schulenberg, Minnesota Water Well Association
- Pat Shea, American Water Works Association and Saint Paul Regional Water Services
- Stephanie Souter, Local Public Health Association and Washington County Department of Public Health and Environment (alternate)
- Bruce Tiffany, farmer
- Lisa Vollbrecht, American Water Works Association and Saint Cloud Public Utilities Department (alternate)
- Margaret Wagner, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
- Nathan Weise, East Otter Tail Soil and Water Conservation District
- Ed Zabinski, Itasca Waters
- Molly Zins, Central Regional Sustainable Development Partnership
Our Experts
If you are interested in learning more about the collaborative’s work which includes a clearinghouse for water resources and public art projects, contact us.
Our Partners
