Minnesota agencies that receive Clean Water Fund dollars released their first collaborative report in February 2012.

Clean Water Fund dollars comes from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment that Minnesotans passed in 2008. The Legacy Amendment increased the state sales tax by three-eighths of 1 percent beginning on July 1, 2009, and continuing until 2034. The Clean Water Fund receives 33% of the revenue. Approximately $152 million was invested in the first two years for water management activities such as monitoring, planning, and on-the-ground restoration and protection activities. The report helps Minnesotans understand connections between Clean Water funds invested, actions taken, and outcomes achieved in 2010-2011.

Overall, the report shows the state is on track with its investments, though challenges remain. The 18 measures in the report provide a snapshot of how Clean Water Fund dollars are being spent and the progress that's being made. The measures are organized into three sections: investment, surface water quality, and drinking water protection. These are just some of the measures that will be used to consistently track and report clean water outcomes over the life of the amendment.

Each measure has a status ranking and trend information. Of the 18 measures, status and trends vary; six measures showed improving trends, 11 showed no trend or were too early to assess, and one showed a slightly declining trend.

It is important to note that the report does not include information on other ongoing water-related work as it would be impossible to measure everything in one report or project. This report is the beginning of what is to come over the next 25 years in outcome-based water quality data and information.

Check out the report, the summary document and the metadata sheets at Minnesota's Legacy website.