Tell Your Senator to OPPOSE the Public Waters Rollback in SF2077
Protect Water Now and for Future Generations
Public waters provide drinking water, recreation opportunities, habitat, and essential ecosystem services. That is why proposals to dam, ditch, drain, or disturb a public water require a permit and environmental review.
Minnesota’s state laws protecting public waters are crucial, especially now. As federal protections for waterways are being rolled back, it’s more important than ever to have clear state laws that define which streams, rivers, wetlands, and lakes are protected.
Currently, the Senate Environment Budget bill (SF 2077) includes a provision added by amendment that would make it less clear which waterways are protected under state law by repealing a clarification adopted in 2024. We are asking the Minnesota Legislature to remove this provision, and Governor Walz to publicly oppose this amendment.
Stand with us in defending Minnesota’s public waters and the invaluable benefits they provide. Contact your legislators today and tell them to reject efforts to “muddy the waters” about which streams, rivers, and lakes are protected under state law.
Minnesota statute defines a “public water” in Section 103G.005
In a 2022 case, the Minnesota Supreme Court agreed with the DNR that a specific waterway (Limbo Creek in Renville County) was a public water even though it was not listed on the Public Waters Inventory (PWI) and also suggested that the legislature consider clarifying the statutory language.
In 2024, the Minnesota Legislature adopted language to provide that clarity and reinforce DNR’s long-standing interpretation. The language affirms that it is the statutory definition that defines the scope of the State’s jurisdiction over public waters. This does NOT impact the implementation of the Buffer Law, which by law only applies to waters on the Public Waters Inventory.
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