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pollution; the Metropolitan <br />Council's Twin Cities Water <br />Quality Initiative includes the <br />application of numerous such <br />BMPs in metro area projects. <br />Funding would allow the council <br />to conduct the monitoring <br />necessary to assess the site- <br />specificapplicability ofcertain of <br />these measures as well as <br />evaluate their cost-effectiveness. <br />Agricultural Chemicals <br />(MDA) <br />The Minnesota Department of <br />Agriculture (MDA) monitors <br />surface water to determine the <br />effectiveness of its pesticide and <br />nutrient management plans. <br />Adequate evaluation, however, is <br />being prevented by a shortage of <br />the necessary monitoring stations. <br />The department currently uses <br />samples collected by other state <br />agencies and also has a small <br />number of automatic, continuous <br />monitoring stations. Funding <br />would allow the installation of <br />needed additional stations, <br />measuring both precipitation and <br />water chemistry in targeted small <br />watersheds. <br />Local Monitoring Cooperatives <br />for Agricultural Chemicals <br />(MDA) <br />Local groups are essential <br />partners in the monitoring <br />process, but are often hampered <br />by a lack of knowledge of <br />pesticide and nutrient monitoring <br />technologies. Funding would <br />allow the MDA both to develop a <br />guidebook to assist in setting up <br />local programs and to provide <br />staffing to coordinate state and <br />local efforts, giving a framework <br />for local involvement in the <br />implementation of agricultural <br />chemical management plans <br />tailored to local needs. <br />Well Record Database <br />Enhancement (MDH) <br />This Minnesota Department of <br />Health (MDH) proposal would <br />result in a continually updated <br />database of well construction and <br />geologic information contained in <br />well records. It addresses the <br />need to expand the information <br />contained in the current water <br />well record database to meet the <br />current demands of state agencies, <br />local government, and the general <br />public. <br />This proposal tivould 1) provide <br />for the long-term incorporation of <br />several hundred thousand well <br />drilling records into a database <br />that the department shares with <br />the Minnesota Geological Survey; <br />2) provide the capability for the <br />department to enter and update all <br />the information it receives on <br />wells so that it can be effectively <br />used. by all program staff; and 3) <br />provide updated well data needed <br />to support efforts by other state <br />agencies to monitor impacts of <br />land use on the quality of the <br />state's groundwater resources and <br />to characterize the movements of <br />contaminants into groundwater. <br />For more information on <br />MDA initiatives, contact <br />Greg Buzicky (612/296- <br />5639) or Larry Palmer <br />(612/296-1161). <br />For more information on <br />MDH initiatives, contact Pat <br />Bloomgren at 612/215-0731 <br />or Bruce Olsen at 612/215- <br />0796. <br />5 <br />