With about 90 percent of residents relying on groundwater as their primary drinking water source and the county's population projected to increase 12 percent by 2030, protecting our groundwater supply is important to everyone. With soils and geology that make aquifers highly vulnerable to contamination, protecting our groundwater quality is equally important.
Maintaining an adequate supply of clean, safe, drinkable groundwater is critical to human and environmental health. Dakota County updated its Groundwater Plan to do just that.
The 2020-2030 Dakota County Groundwater Plan provides strategic direction for the county's involvement in groundwater issues, and identifies goals, strategies and tactics the county plans to pursue to protect groundwater resources.
There are four overarching plan goals:
- Water quality: Groundwater and drinking water are free from unhealthy levels of contaminants.
- Water quantity: Groundwater is sufficient to meet human needs and sustain groundwater-dependent ecosystems.
- Education: People who live and work in Dakota County are knowledgeable about water issues, conserve water, and prevent pollution.
- Governance: Groundwater programs and services are efficient and effective.
The Groundwater Plan was developed with input from interested residents and other stakeholders, the Dakota County Planning Commission, and a technical advisory group. The Groundwater Plan was approved by the Board of Soil and Water Resources (BWSR) in December 2020 and was adopted by the Dakota County Board of Commissioners in January 2021.
2020-2030 Groundwater Plan
Carrying out the Groundwater Plan
Dakota County started carrying out the Groundwater Plan in 2021. The county will report on annual measures and track changes of measures and outcomes over time.
Dakota County adopted the Agricultural Chemical Reduction Effort (ACRE) Plan in October 2022, which was identified in the Groundwater Plan. To learn more, please visit the ACRE page.
2021-2022 Groundwater Plan Update
2022-2023 Groundwater Plan Update
2023-2024 Groundwater Plan Update
2024-2025 Groundwater Plan Update