Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact: Jennifer Groebner, 651-296-7706 Rochester, Minn. -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) will host a public information meeting on Wed., March 19, to share information about a water quality report for the Lower Vermillion River Watershed in southeastern Minnesota. Known as a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) study, the report addresses water pollution caused by turbidity. The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Pleasant Hill Library, 1490 S. Frontage Rd, Hastings. Water quality monitoring of the Lower Vermillion River has shown that its turbidity levels frequently exceed state standards. Turbidity is a measure of water clarity and is an indicator of water quality. It is caused by suspended and dissolved matter such as clay, silt, organic matter and algae. Increased turbidity levels limit light penetration and inhibit healthy plant growth. High turbidity can make it difficult for aquatic organisms to find food, affect gill functions of fish and damage spawning habitat. In accordance with the Clean Water Act, waters that exceed state standards are placed on a list of polluted or impaired waters. TMDL studies are required for all waters placed on the list. A TMDL identifies the maximum amount of a pollutant that can enter a water body without causing a violation of water quality standards. The TMDL process establishes the allowable amount of pollutants and allocates portions of that load to all identified sources. A draft of the Lower Vermillion River Turbidity TMDL will be presented at the March 19 meeting. Representatives from the MPCA, Dakota County and its Soil and Water Conservation District, and Tetra Tech, the project's technical consultants, will be on hand to present information, answer questions and collect feedback on the project. A formal public comment period for the draft TMDL report will be announced in the near future. For more information, contact Justin Watkins, at the MPCA's Rochester office at 507-281-7763 or by e-mail at justin.watkins@pca.state.mn.us.