Testing the waters

 

MPCA's water monitoring and protection work is supported by the Clean Water Fund.

MPCA's water monitioring crews don't use plows or tractors, instead they use advanced tools such as real-time telemetry gauges and Van Dorn samplers. With these and other tools, crews measure the elevation of the water, the volume of water flowing through the stream, the amount of sediment in the water—all to determine the health of Minnesota's streams and lakes.

This crew is monitoring the Whitewater River in southeastern Minnesota and its ability to support recreational uses. The area is a popular area for canoeing and trout fishing.

The Whitewater River watershed is one of 81 watersheds in the state. Since 2007, the MPCA and its partners have begun a 10-year cycle for addressing waters Minnesota’s major watersheds.

Find out more

To learn more about your watershed, visit the Watershed Overview Map webpage. You can find your watershed by clicking on the map or by entering the name of your town.

More information about the MPCA’s monitoring program is available on the agency’s Water monitoring and reporting webpage.