Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Marshall, Minn. -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency will host an informational meeting on the draft of the state's 2006 list of polluted waters. The meeting will be held from 1:00-3:00 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 6, at the Marshall MPCA office, 1420 E. College Dr., Suite 900. The listed waters, also known as "impaired waters" under the federal Clean Water Act, do not meet water-quality standards. Pollutant levels in these waters are above acceptable limits. Because of that, these waters are unable to meet their designated uses for fishing, swimming and aquatic habitat. The state is required to update its polluted waters list every two years. The draft 2006 update includes 396 new listings, which brings the statewide total list of impairments to 2,274. Since some waters have multiple impairments, the 2006 list includes 1,008 lakes and 721 river segments with one or more pollutant problems. Approximately 16 percent of lakes and 10 percent of streams have been assessed at this time. As more water bodies are evaluated, the list is expected to grow larger. The three major river basins comprising the southwest region have a total of 566 individual impairments:
7 Minnesota River Basin: 501 individual impairments, 94 rivers and creeks impaired for one or more pollutants, 118 lakes impaired for one or more pollutants.
7 Des Moines River Basin: 38 individual impairments, 15 rivers and creeks impaired for one or more pollutants, three lakes impaired for excess nutrients.
7 Missouri River Basin: 27 individual impairments, seven rivers and creeks and two lakes impaired for one or more pollutants.
More details about the draft 2006 list of polluted waters are available on the MPCA Web site at hhref="/water/tmdl/index.html#tmdl, along with a complete list of all public information meetings. The draft 2006 list of polluted waters in Minnesota is on public notice from Monday, Jan. 23, to Friday, Feb. 24, 2006. Informational meetings include a presentation on categories of impaired waters and how water bodies are placed on the list. Opportunities for public participation in the process of identifying and cleaning up polluted waters will also be discussed. Changes to the meeting schedule (weather-related or otherwise) will be confirmed on the Web site as well. Direct questions, comments and requests for additional information to Howard Markus, MPCA, Environmental Analysis and Outcomes Division, 520 Lafayette Road N., St. Paul, MN 55155, by calling 651-296-7295 or 1-800-657-3864, or by e-mail to howard.markus@pca.state.mn.us.