Minnesota agencies launch 75-year water supply forecasting project

Minnesota Management and Budget has launched a 75-year forecasting project to analyze how the state’s water supply will change by the year 2100. The initiative aims to provide data to assist state legislators in making critical water-related decisions.

Experts identify several “drivers of change” that will shape the state's water future, including climate change, population growth, land use changes, and water-intensive industries such as agriculture and data centers. The University of Minnesota’s Water Resources Center is supporting the project with research briefs.

Climate projections suggest Minnesota’s average annual temperature could increase by 3.8 to 4.5 degrees Fahrenheit by mid-century, with average annual precipitation increasing by up to 1.2 inches. These shifts may result in wetter springs, drier summers, and shorter snow seasons, potentially increasing the frequency of toxic algal blooms that threaten plants, animals, and human drinking water.