January 7th luncheon registration may now be completed online.  Please register online by Friday, January 3rd.  Online registration will be closed after Friday, January 3rd.  You will no longer have to email our Communications Director, Mary Sitko, to register for future luncheons unless your registration needs cannot be addressed online.

Advance luncheon registration cost is $21 for non-members and $16 for members.  Same-day luncheon registration cost is $25.  Note the luncheon costs have increased to accurately account for AIPG Minnesota's luncheon expenses.

Presentation Title

“Creation of  The N&E Metro Groundwater Management Area”

by Paul Putzier, PG, CPG

Presentation Abstract

In the 2010 legislative session new statutory language gave DNR the authority to designate groundwater management areas (GWMA) to assist in meeting the agency’s responsibility for sustainable water use in Minnesota.

The GWMA statute gives DNR another important tool to help achieve sustainable use of the state’s water resources.  The consequences of unsustainable use can take a variety of forms, including: declining heads in aquifers, impacts to surface waters such as lakes, wetlands and streams, or impacts to water quality by moving contaminants.  An important element of a groundwater management area designation is that it allows DNR to take into account cumulative impacts from multiple appropriations and establish total annual appropriations within a hydrologic system, or geographic boundary.

In the north and east metro DNR has years of groundwater and surface water monitoring data, increased concern over long-term growth of groundwater use as a primary water supply source and potential impacts to surface water features.    In response to DNRs data, analysis of surface water-groundwater interaction by other agencies, growing concern for the health of water dependent natural resources, the DNR is moving forward with a GWMA designation in the north and east metro.

This is the first instance where DNR will incorporate cumulative impacts from water use within a specific geographic area and aquifer under the GWMA authority to help manage our water resources for the long-term sustainability.  The GWMA designation will address a broad set of water supply and water sustainability issues in the north and east metro.

Several other areas of the state are being actively considered for designation as groundwater management areas, including the Straight River area and the Bonanza Valley area.

Speaker Biography

Paul Putzier is a Lead Hydrogeologist in the Groundwater Unit of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, supporting the department’s Clean Water Legacy - Drinking Water Protection work.  Paul’s primary work is developing the agency’s new Groundwater Management Area program.  He is the Project Manager for the North & East Metro Groundwater Management Area, which includes all or parts of Anoka, Ramsey and Washington Counties. Before joining MN DNR, Paul held the position of section leader at HDR Engineering, supporting EIS work on wind farm, pipeline and transportation projects.  Prior to his EIS work at HDR, Paul was an Operations Manager and Project Manager at AECOM for approximately 15 years leading investigation and remediation of State and Federal Superfund, Brownfield and other sites. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology from University of Wisconsin, Madison (Go Bucky) and a Master of Science in Geology from the University of South
Florida (Go Bulls), Tampa.