The 28-member Council was established in 2006 by the Legislature through the 
Clean Water Legacy Act (Minn. Stat. Ch 114D). See below to find out who is currently on the Council and what organizations they represent.
Clean Water Council members (2017). Front row: Douglas Losee, Tannie Eshenaur, Sharon Doucette, Sandy Rummel, Victoria Reinhardt, Sharon Day, and Raj Rajan. Middle row: Jason Moeckel, John Barten, Patrick Shea, Representative Jean Wagenius, Rylee Main, Glenn Skuta, Susan Stokes, and Jeffrey Peterson. Back row: Todd Renville, Doug Thomas, Mark Abner, Steven Besser, Gary Burdorf, Frank Jewell, Warren Formo, and Robert Hoefert. Not pictured: Pam Blixt, Holly Kovarik, Senator David J. Osmek, Senator Ann H. Rest, and Representative Paul Torkelson.
Members serve until their successors are appointed by the Governor or appointing authorities (Minn. Stat. 114D.30).
Clean Water Council member biographies
| Member |
Representing |
Term expires |
Appointing authority |
| Mr. Mark Abner |
Environmental organizations |
January 2019 |
Governor |
| Rep. Patty Acomb |
Minnesota House of Representatives |
Per appointing authority |
House |
| Mr. John Barten |
Nonprofit organizations focused on improvement of Minnesota lakes and streams |
January 2019 |
Governor |
| Mr. Steven Besser |
Statewide fishing organization |
January 2021 |
Governor |
| Sen. Karla Bigham |
Minnesota Senate |
Per appointing authority |
Senator |
| Ms. Pam Blixt |
Watershed districts |
January 2021 |
Governor |
| Mr. Gary Burdorf |
Township officers |
January 2019 |
Governor |
| Ms. Sharon Day |
Representative of tribal governments |
January 2019 |
Governor |
| TBD |
City governments |
January 2021 |
Governor |
| Ms. Tannie Eshenaur |
Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) |
January 2023 |
Commissioner - MDH |
| Mr. Warren Formo |
Statewide farm organizations |
January 2019 |
Governor |
| Rep. Josh Heintzeman |
Minnesota House of Representatives |
Per appointing authority |
House |
| Mr. Bob Hoefert |
Statewide farm organizations |
January 2021 |
Governor |
| Mr. Frank Jewell |
County government (rural counties) |
January 2019 |
Governor |
| Ms. Holly Kovarik |
Soil and water conservation districts |
January 2019 |
Governor |
| TBD |
Business organizations |
January 2021 |
Governor |
| Ms. Rylee Main |
Environmental organizations |
January 2021 |
Governor |
| Mr. Jason Moeckel |
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) |
January 2023 |
Commissioner - DNR |
| TBD |
Minnesota Senate |
Per appointing authority |
Senate |
| Mr. Jeffrey Peterson |
University of Minnesota (UMN) |
January 2023 |
Board of Regents - UMN |
| Mr. Raj Rajan |
Business organizations |
January 2019 |
Governor |
| Ms. Victoria Reinhardt |
County government (seven-county metropolitan area) |
January 2021 |
Governor |
| Mr. Todd Renville |
Statewide hunting organizations |
January 2019 |
Governor |
| Mr. Patrick Shea |
City organizations |
January 2019 |
Governor |
| Mr. Glenn Skuta |
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) |
January 2023 |
Commissioner - MPCA |
| Mr. Phillip Sterner |
Metropolitan Council |
January 2023 |
Metropolitan Council |
| Ms. Whitney Place |
Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) |
January 2023 |
Commissioner - MDA |
| Mr. Kevin Bigalke |
Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) |
January 2023 |
Executive Director - BWSR |
Member resources
Past reports
Clean Water Council: Biennial reports of the Clean Water Council
Legal
Clean Water Legacy Act (Minn. Stat. Ch 114D)
Minnesota Constitution Article XI, Section 15
Policies and procedures
Bylaws
Per diem and expense policy
Expense form (wq-cwc7-03b)
Conflict of interest policy
Conflict of interest disclosure form
For information about the Clean Water Council, contact:
Paul Gardner, Clean Water Council Administrator
520 Lafayette Road North
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-757-2384
Deepa deAlwis, Clean Water Council Coordinator
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
520 Lafayette Road North
St. Paul MN 55155
651-757-2572
Frank Jewell, Clean Water Council Chair
218-726-2450
Pamela Blixt, Clean Water Council Vice Chair
612-673-3933
