The Clean Water Council was created to advise the Legislature and the Governor on the administration and implementation of the 2006 Clean Water Legacy Act (Minn. Stat. 114D).
The 28-member council represents organizations with a major role in achieving clean water, enabling consensus building and coordination on a wide array of issues critical to the people of Minnesota.
Council recommendations
The Clean Water Council’s biennial report includes Clean Water Fund and policy recommendations, and a progress report on Clean Water Fund activities, for the Legislature and the Governor.
The council is currently deliberating its FY26-27 recommendations for the Clean Water Fund.
Meetings of the full council
The Clean Water Council meets monthly. Meetings are held on the third Monday of the month (January and February are held on the fourth Monday due to holidays) and typically run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. All are invited to attend.
Upcoming meetings
Recent meetings
Contact Paul Gardner for older meeting materials.
Stay connected
Sign up for the Clean Water Council newsletter
Council members
Members serve until their successors are appointed by the appointing authority.
| Member | Representing | Term expires | Appointing authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Barten | Nonprofit organizations focused on improvement of Minnesota lakes and streams | January 2027 | Governor |
| Steven Besser | Statewide fishing organization | January 2028 | Governor |
| Richard Biske | Environmental organizations | January 2028 | Governor |
| Richard Brainerd | City governments | January 2028 | Governor |
| TBD | Township officers | January 2027 | Governor |
| Gail Cederberg, PhD | Metropolitan Council | January 2027 | Met Council |
| Steven Christenson | Business organizations | January 2027 | Governor |
| Tannie Eshenaur | Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) | January 2027 | MDH Commissioner |
| Warren Formo | Statewide farm organizations | January 2027 | Governor |
| Brad Gausman | Statewide hunting organizations | January 2027 | Governor |
| Kelly Gribauval-Hite | Business organizations | January 2028 | Governor |
| Justin Hanson | Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) | January 2027 | BWSR |
| Holly Hatlewick | Soil and water conservation districts | January 2027 | Governor |
| Rep. Josh Heintzeman | Minnesota House of Representatives | January 2025 | House |
| Peder Kjeseth | Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) | January 2027 | MDA Commissioner |
| Annie Knight | Environmental organizations | January 2027 | Governor |
| Trista Martinson | County government (seven-county metropolitan area) | January 2028 | Governor |
| Sen. Nicole Mitchell | Minnesota Senate | January 2025 | Senate |
| Jason Moeckel | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) | January 2027 | DNR Commissioner |
| Jeff Peterson | University of Minnesota (UMN) | January 2027 | UMN Board of Regents |
| Rep. Kristi Pursell | Minnesota House of Representatives | January 2025 | House |
| Peter Schwagerl | Statewide farm organizations | January 2028 | Governor |
| Glenn Skuta | Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) | January 2027 | MPCA Commissioner |
| TBD | County government (rural counties) | January 2027 | Governor |
| Sen. Nathan Wesenberg | Minnesota Senate | January 2025 | Senate |
| Ole Olmanson | Representative of tribal governments | January 2027 | Governor |
| Marcie Weinandt | Watershed districts | January 2028 | Governor |
| Jessica Wilson | City governments | January 2027 | Governor |