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’s FY 24-25 Clean Water Fund recommendations total $315 million.
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 2023 | Governor |
| Steven Besser | Statewide fishing organization | January 2024 | Governor |
| Richard Biske | Environmental organizations | January 2024 | Governor |
| Richard Brainerd | City governments | January 2024 | Governor |
| Gary Burdorf | Township officers | January 2023 | Governor |
| Tannie Eshenaur | Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) | January 2023 | MDH Commissioner |
| Warren Formo | Statewide farm organizations | January 2023 | Governor |
| Justin Hanson | Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) | January 2023 | BWSR |
| Kelly Gribauval-Hite | Business organizations | January 2024 | Governor |
| Rep. Josh Heintzeman | Minnesota House of Representatives | Per appointing authority | House |
| Frank Jewell | County government (rural counties) | January 2023 | Governor |
| Jen Kader | Environmental organizations | January 2023 | Governor |
| Rep. Kristi Pursell | Minnesota House of Representatives | Per appointing authority | House |
| Peder Kjeseth | Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) | January 2023 | MDA Commissioner |
| Holly Kovarik | Soil and water conservation districts | January 2023 | Governor |
| Sen. Jennifer McEwen | Minnesota Senate | Per appointing authority | Senate |
| Jason Moeckel | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) | January 2023 | DNR Commissioner |
| Jeffrey Peterson | University of Minnesota (UMN) | January 2023 | UMN Board of Regents |
| Raj Rajan | Business organizations | January 2023 | Governor |
| Victoria Reinhardt | County government (seven-county metropolitan area) | January 2024 | Governor |
| Todd Renville | Statewide hunting organizations | January 2023 | Governor |
| Sen. Carrie Ruud | Minnesota Senate | Per appointing authority | Senate |
| Peter Schwagerl | Statewide farm organizations | January 2024 | Governor |
| Patrick Shea | City organizations | January 2023 | Governor |
| Glenn Skuta | Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) | January 2023 | MPCA Commissioner |
| Phillip Sterner | Metropolitan Council | January 2023 | Metropolitan Council |
| Jordan Vandal | Representative of tribal governments | January 2023 | Governor |
| Marcie Weinandt | Watershed districts | January 2024 | Governor |