Minnesota’s Continuous Nitrate Sensor Network generates publicly available water quality data on nitrate levels in our surface water. With it, you can see nitrate levels in rivers and streams 24 hours a day from March to November.
Introducing the network
Speakers introduced Minnesota’s new nitrate network, presenting the 2025-26 implementation schedule and 35 continuous monitoring locations, followed by Q & A.
The Minnesota Legislature and the Clean Water Fund provided funding for the network in 2024. The Legislature directed the MPCA to install a network of continuous nitrate sensors in areas of the state where elevated nitrate had been measured. While excess nitrate can occur anywhere in the state, southern Minnesota has historically seen more elevated nitrate levels in surface water.
Your dollars at work
Funding for this initiative comes from the Clean Water Fund, part of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment that Minnesotans approved in 2008. The MPCA uses Clean Water Fund dollars to protect, enhance, and restore water quality in lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater.
Why care about nitrate?
Nitrate is a form of nitrogen, which is essential to life. Nitrogen is found in soil, plants, water, and air. But maintaining balance is crucial. When nitrate levels are too high, they threaten the safety of our surface water, groundwater, and drinking water.
In people, excess nitrate interferes with the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, and the primary pathway of concern is through drinking water. High nitrate has also been implicated in other health issues. High levels of nitrate are toxic to some insects, snails, crayfish, and trout hatchlings.
Network installation
In the first year of operation, 2025, MPCA expects to install 21 continuous nitrate sensors at monitoring stations. When complete, the network is expected to operate and maintain 35 sensors. The sensors are placed in rivers and streams during ice-free months, which means the network runs about seven months per year.
Technology, electricity, and collaboration among state and federal agencies are needed to run the network. Each monitoring station has electricity and telemetry equipment to transmit the data about nitrate levels. New data appear on a station’s web page throughout the day during the months when the network operates.
Get nitrate data
Station data are recorded and displayed throughout the day.
- Buffalo Creek near Glencoe
- Seven Mile Creek near St. Peter
- Middle Fork Whitewater River near St. Charles
- Zumbro River at Kellogg
- Root River near Mound Prairie
- Bridge Creek near Houston
- Crystal Creek near Harmony
- South Branch Root River near Grand Meadow
- Cedar River near Austin
- Little Rock Creek near Rice
- South Fork Crow River at Delano
- Cottonwood River near New Ulm
- Sleepy Eye Creek near Cobden
- East Branch Blue Earth River at Blue Earth
- Dutch Creek near Fairmont
- South Fork Watonwan River near Madelia
- Maple River near Sterling Center
- Little Beauford Ditch near Beauford
- Cannon River at Welch
- Straight River near Faribault
- Mississippi River at Winona
- Middle Fork Whitewater River near St. Charles
- Middle Fork Zumbro River near Oronoco
- Turtle Creek at Austin
- West Fork Des Moines River near Avoca
- Split Rock Creek near Jasper
- Rock River at Luverne
Partners
Operating a 24-hour network is possible because of collaboration among state and federal agencies. These organizations provide vital services to support the nitrate network.
- Minnesota Department of Agriculture
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
- U.S. Geological Survey
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- National Weather Service