Minn. Stat. § 103A.212

The quality of life of every Minnesotan depends on water. Minnesota's rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands, and groundwater provide a foundation for drinking water and the state's recreational, municipal, commercial, industrial, agricultural, environmental, aesthetic, and economic well-being. The legislature finds that it is in the public interest to manage groundwater and surface water resources from the perspective of aquifers, watersheds, and river basins to achieve protection, preservation, enhancement, and restoration of the state's valuable groundwater and surface water resources.