Water Pollution in Minnesota
Minnesota’s waters vary as widely as its landscape. Walleye lakes and wetlands dominate the landscape in the Northeast. Trout streams and rivers of the karst region in the Southeast have free flowing connections to groundwater. Groundwater supplies are very shallow in the Central Sands Plain. Groundwater is hard to find in any quantity at all in the Southwest. The Red River of the North flows north into Canada across a drained Lake Agassiz lake bed in the Northwest. The muddy Minnesota River flows through artificially drained farmland along an ancient river bed into the mighty Mississippi.
In each of these landscapes, water quality is under pressure from development, agriculture, mining, and competition for limited resources. As a result, 40 percent of surface waters tested to date fail to meet protective water quality standards. Every year this list of impaired water grows as new testing is conducted. The rate of cleanup is much slower.
In each of these landscapes, water quality is under pressure from development, agriculture, mining, and competition for limited resources. As a result, 40 percent of surface waters tested to date fail to meet protective water quality standards. Every year this list of impaired water grows as new testing is conducted. The rate of cleanup is much slower.
Impaired Waters WebmapMCEA has developed a webmap to illustrate the extent of water impairments across the state. The map identifies pollution in our streams, lakes and wetlands, as well as the presence of pollution sources and invasive species. The webmap also highlights the maximum amount of pollutant a body of water can receive while remaining in compliance with water quality standards (Total Maximum Daily Loads or TMDLs), and Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) areas that are used to evaluate water conditions and prioritize goals for improvements in water quality.
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Governor's 25 by '25 Water Quality Goal
Earlier this year, Governor Mark Dayton announced his goal to achieve a 25% improvement in water quality by the year 2025.
The Governor voiced his desire to increase efforts to improve the state's water quality because without additional action, the quality of Minnesota’s waters is expected to improve only 6 to 8 percent by 2034.
The Governor's Office, with the support of state agencies and local partners, is now in the process of hosting Town Hall meetings across the state to collaboratively combat Minnesota's growing water pollution issue and reach this 25 by '25 goal.
Citizens, businesses, government entities and other stakeholders attending the meetings will be asked what they believe a 25% improvement in water quality is, along with what they believe are the best approaches to reach that goal.
The Governor voiced his desire to increase efforts to improve the state's water quality because without additional action, the quality of Minnesota’s waters is expected to improve only 6 to 8 percent by 2034.
The Governor's Office, with the support of state agencies and local partners, is now in the process of hosting Town Hall meetings across the state to collaboratively combat Minnesota's growing water pollution issue and reach this 25 by '25 goal.
Citizens, businesses, government entities and other stakeholders attending the meetings will be asked what they believe a 25% improvement in water quality is, along with what they believe are the best approaches to reach that goal.
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In addition to the scheduled meetings, Governor Dayton is also calling on Minnesotans and civic organizations to organize their own Community Water Meetings to provide further feedback and ideas.
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To support those speaking up for water, MCEA has compiled background information on some of Minnesota’s most pressing water quality problems and suggestions for solutions.
Meeting attendees are encouraged to download and utilize these materials both in preparation for the meetings and at the meetings themselves to ensure the most factual and scientific information is heard by the state's top decision makers.
Water Impairment Maps of Your Town Hall Community
Click your community to investigate the local water impairment webmap.
Click your community to investigate the local water impairment webmap.
Locations and Dates for Town Hall Meetings:
All Town Halls are free and open to the public. No advance registration is required.
All Town Halls are free and open to the public. No advance registration is required.
Additional ways to get involved
25 by 25 in the News
- Dayton plans town-hall meetings on water quality (July 8, 2017)
- Press release announcement (February 23, 2017)
