8-year project underway
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has launched an eight-year effort to update the Public Waters Inventory (PWI)—a critical tool for identifying lakes, wetlands, and streams that meet Minnesota’s legal definition of public waters.
The project will proceed county-by-county, with the goal of completing an average of 12 counties a year (adjusting, as appropriate, for county size and number of public waters). The specific counties and order of county updates has not been determined.
Why now?
A 2024 statute revision clarified that public waters are defined by law, not by whether they appear on the PWI. As a result, the DNR is updating the inventory by 2032 to ensure it accurately reflects current legal definitions.
What to expect in each county
For each county, the DNR will:
- Send an initial notice to the county, local governments, and newspapers.
- Share proposed corrections in a preliminary map with opportunity for review, questions and comments
- Host a public meeting to share and discuss preliminary corrections. Any comments received will be considered prior to finalization of PWI corrections for that county.
Project goals
Correct the Inventory: The Public Water Inventory Update Project addresses known errors identified by the DNR. Key updates include adding trout streams and tributaries identified since the 1990s, and correcting classification errors found during the 2016 Buffer Protection Map initiative. Additional review of other DNR-identified errors (original inventory omissions or potential removals) are included.
Support Water Protection: Help landowners, agencies, and local governments better understand and manage water resources.
Clarify Regulations: Ensure compliance with state laws, including Minnesota’s Buffer Law, which requires vegetative buffers to protect water quality.
About the PWI
Originally created in the 1980s, the PWI serves as a shared reference for:
- Determining public water locations
- Guiding development and conservation decisions
- Supporting enforcement of state water protection laws
Learn more
For details on buffer requirements, visit the DNR Buffer Mapping Project webpage.
Information on the Public Waters Inventory Program.
Project updates
The DNR’s county update process is represented in this generalized diagram.
Important links
On Oct. 2, 2024, the DNR hosted a webinar with a question and answer opportunity for anyone interested in learning more about the department's project to update Minnesota's Public Waters Inventory (PWI). The webinar recording is available to view and the DNR has prepared answers to questions submitted by attendees during the webinar.
Click here to view responses to 10/2/2024 webinar questions »»
Questions about the PWI Update Project can be sent to [email protected].