Nutrient reduction strategy
Agencies working to reduce nutrients in Minnesota’s waters
Agencies and stakeholders are working together in Minnesota to address excessive levels of nutrients – primarily phosphorus and nitrogen – to improve water quality at home and downstream.
Nine agencies are working with Minnesotans to create a statewide strategy to reduce nutrients in Minnesota waters.
- Metropolitan Council Environmental Services
- Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources
- Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture
- Minnesota Dept. of Employment and Economic Development
- Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (this site)
- Natural Resources Conservation Service
- University of Minnesota Extension
- Minnesota Dept. of Health
In Minnesota
Water is one of Minnesota’s most abundant and precious resources. In the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Minnesota’s tourism and economy depend on healthy waters that provide recreational opportunities, safe drinking water, productive agriculture, healthy fish and wildlife habitat.
The goal is for our water to be fishable and swimmable for Minnesotans and those that come to visit. However, fishable and swimmable isn’t always possible due to excessive levels of nutrients entering our waters from a variety of activities on the land.
15 ways to reduce nutrients in Minnesota waters
Downstream
When we have nutrient problems here, they leave Minnesota’s borders and flow downstream to people in other cities who need clean water, too.
Minnesota is home to headwaters for three major drainage basins including the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico, the Great Lakes, and Lake Winnipeg. All are facing significant water quality issues, the most prominent being the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf is facing extreme low dissolved oxygen leading to a condition known as hypoxia.
Each of the 12 states contributing to the hypoxic conditions in the Gulf of Mexico, and participating on the Hypoxia Task Force, have agreed to develop strategies by 2013.
Introduction
Multiple agencies in Minnesota are working together to develop Minnesota’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy. This strategy will guide existing state-level programs to achieve additional reductions in nutrients within Minnesota water bodies by maximizing ongoing efforts. This will help to enhance the health of aquatic life in Minnesota water bodies, and increase the recreational potential of Minnesota waters. The strategy will also provide incremental benefits for the Gulf of Mexico hypoxia problem and other waters downstream of Minnesota.
The strategy theme, A Path to Progress in Achieving Healthy Waters, highlights a multi-faceted approach to nutrient reduction that will focus on the following:
Progress goals for downstream waters – The strategy process will develop meaningful and achievable nutrient loading reduction targets and interim milestones.
Progress on in-state nutrient criteria – The strategy will complement existing planning efforts to make progress toward meeting in-state nutrient criteria and provide protection to lakes and streams not yet assessed, or assessed as threatened or unimpaired by nutrients.
Prioritize and target watersheds – The strategy will help to prioritize watersheds relative to nutrient loads and impacts and target implementation activities to ensure efficient use of resources.
Build from existing efforts – Many ongoing efforts are moving the state in the right direction. The strategy will unify and organize information to align goals, identify the most promising strategies, and coordinate activities.
Lead to local implementation –The goal is for agencies and organizations to focus and adjust programs, policies, and monitoring efforts.
Resources
- Mississippi River Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force
A Primer on Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia - An Urgent Call to Action; Report of the State-EPA Nutrient Innovations Task Group
- ICT kick off meeting presentations
- Drainage conference presentation
- Factsheet
- Community Outreach Toolkit
- Post/card Poster
- Three – panel display
- Nutrient Pollution Microsite and Resource Directory
- Nutrient Tips for broadcast meteorologists
- More Nutrient Tips for broadcast meteorologists
- Videos about Nutrient Pollution