Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Technical staff: Mike Vavricka, 218-846-0776
Jack Frederick, 218-846-0734
Media contact: Dan Olson, 218-846-7390
Moorhead, Minn. - The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is hosting informational meetings in Breckenridge, Moorhead and Thief River Falls to describe the progress of projects underway to improve water quality in 25 reaches (portions) of 12 area rivers that are listed as impaired for turbidity. Turbidity refers to how clear water is. Biological processes in fish and other aquatic life can be affected by particles such as silt, sediment or algae in the water. These projects are known as TMDLs, which stands for Total Maximum Daily Load. A TMDL has multiple phases and can take several years to complete. In the first phase, standards are set for how much of a particular pollutant load, such as sediment, a water body can receive each day before becoming impaired for that pollutant. Then, water quality monitoring is done to determine if the standard is being met. If impairments are found, studies are done to determine sources of the pollutant and how much each source is contributing to the problem. Finally, the MPCA works with the sources of pollution, local units of government and other stakeholder groups to reduce pollutant loads to meet state water quality standards. Representatives from the MPCA will describe the status of regional turbidity TMDL projects and planned future activities. The MPCA will also solicit citizen input and participation in the process. The impaired river reaches and associated public meeting are listed below:
· Moorhead - Oct. 24, 7:15 p.m., Clay County Family Services Center, 715 11th Street N., room 7. River reaches covered: Buffalo River, Stony Creek, Wild Rice River
· Breckenridge - Oct. 25, 7:15 p.m., Wilkin County Recycling Building, 505 South 8th Street. River reaches covered: Mustinka River, Rabbit River, Otter Tail River, Whiskey Creek
· Thief River Falls - Nov. 2, 7:15 p.m., Red Lake Watershed District Office, 102 North Main Avenue. River reaches covered: Snake River, Thief River, Red Lake River, Grand Marais Creek, Two Rivers