Public Waters Inventory Update Project

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In 2024, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) 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. This project, referred to as the PWI Update, was initiated following a 2024 statute revision which 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.
Background
The project will proceed county-by-county, with the goal of completing an average of 12 counties a year. The DNR plans to update four counties at a time, to have one county underway in each of DNR’s four administrative regions at any given time. Counties will be updated on a quasi-alphabetical basis, with adjustment as needed to defer areas with intricate topics such as ongoing trout stream designations. This approach ensures geographic representation and maintains a balance of the resources involved.
What to expect in each county
For each county, in general, the DNR will:

  • Send an initial notice to the county, soil and water conservation district, and watershed agencies.
  • Prepare a preliminary map reflecting the corrections and any modifications and submit it to the county board with a public meeting date. Potentially affected landowners will receive direct mail notice.
  • Host a public meeting to elicit public feedback on the preliminary revisions to the map. The comment period on the corrections and modifications made in the preliminary map will run for 60 days, with the public meeting date occurring midway between the comment period’s opening and closing.
  • Review the feedback received during the comment period and make necessary modification to the preliminary map. This revised map, now a provisional final map, will be submitted to the county and made available on the DNR’s project web page.
  • Provide 90 days for parties (including riparian landowners) or counties wishing to challenge a decision made by the DNR to request Commissioner review of the modified and updated PWI.
  • Issue the updated PWI list and map for the county, upon completion of DNR Commissioner review.

Click here to view the process map »»

Public engagement in the PWI Update
The stakeholder outreach and public input phase begins for a county when the DNR publishes the preliminary map of proposed corrections. As preliminary corrections are provided for each county, there will be opportunity for review, questions and comments. The DNR will provide a 60-day public comment period and host a public meeting in the county to obtain feedback on the preliminary corrections. The comment period closes 30 days after the public meeting.

The DNR will receive public input on the PWI Update preliminary map through a web-based tool accessible on this webpage. Any comments received will be considered prior to finalization of PWI corrections for that county. Written comments may be submitted to Public Waters Inventory Update, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN  55155-4025, or [email protected]. Comments cannot be submitted by phone.

Any information submitted will be part of the public record. Individual comments will not receive a reply. The DNR will review feedback received during the comment period and make necessary modifications to the preliminary map.

Public input opportunities
The DNR will provide a 60-day public comment period and host a public meeting in the county to obtain feedback on the preliminary corrections. The comment period closes 30 days after the public meeting.

Public input is desired for the following counties: Aitkin, Benton, Blue Earth and Clay county. Details are listed below.

County status map and public comment tool

The PWI Update project status for Minnesota counties is shown below. The public comment tool for feedback on the preliminary map of proposed corrections can be found in this mapping application. To view a larger version, open the mapping application in a browser window.

Stakeholder feedback examples
Useful feedback will be specific to proposed corrections shown on the preliminary map and related statutory definitions of public waters. Feedback not sought by the DNR includes refinements to digital line placement or public water name adjustment. Those data management activities are not a statutory definition error and are not part of the PWI Update scope of work. Feedback on Buffer Law requirements for any new public waters will be accepted only after the finalization of a county’s updated map.
Requests for PWI additions or removals
To ensure all potential corrections are identified, the public may request the DNR evaluate a resource as a potential correction during a county’s public input phase. PWI designations cannot be removed or added unless it can be proven to have been in error at the time of designation (late 1970s through early 1980s) and consistently demonstrated throughout time as an error.

Minnesotans that have evidence of an error in the PWI may submit a request for review. A requestor must provide specific evidence demonstrating why the resource in question did, or did not, meet the definition of a public water at the time of the inventory and throughout time.

In order to do so, there are two steps required prior to the close of the public comment period.

  1. Using the public comment tool, navigate to the particular point desired for reconsideration and select. Enter information in the pop-up text box.

    Please note: Your request will not be considered if you do not complete the following steps.

  2. Copy the Feedback ID from the map tool to the designated text box in the Add/Remove Request Form. Requesters must complete the form and include a minimum two different types of evidence to support your request.
  3. Prior to the close of the public comment period, email this form and the required document with exhibits to [email protected].Requesters must complete the form and include a minimum two different types of evidence to support your request.

Click here for the Add/Remove Request Form »»

Sign up for email updates on the project webpage to receive information as the project progresses

Next steps and further public input
The DNR will review feedback received during the comment period and make necessary modifications to the preliminary map. A revised map, now a provisional final map, will be submitted to the county and made available on the DNR’s project webpage.

Parties wishing to challenge a decision made by the DNR will have 90 days to request a Commissioner’s Review of the provisional final PWI map for a county. The challenge request must regard a specific PWI correction decision within the preliminary map and public input phase. This request must be accompanied by a submission form provided by the DNR and all required evidentiary materials.

Commissioner’s Review request form will be posted here when available.

Important links
A project fact sheet with answers to frequently asked questions is available here:

Click here to view the project fact sheet (FAQ) »»

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 »»

Project Goals
Update the Inventory: The Public Waters 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. Review will include other DNR-identified errors.

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 public waters to have vegetative buffers to protect water quality.

About the PWI

The original development of the PWI used a rigorous and robust process. 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

Details about the PWI are available on the Public Waters Inventory Program web page.

For details on buffer requirements for public waters are available on the DNR Buffer Mapping Project webpage.

Questions about the PWI Update Project can be sent to [email protected].

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