1. About the MPCA
  2. News and media

Featured stories

Don't let your septic system freeze

Cold temperatures are on their way. Don't let your septic system freeze. Here are some simple tips that can help you avoid costly problems with your septic system.
A man speaking to a group of people outside a brick building. The man is gesturing toward a rain garden and river in the distance.

Standing up to climate change

State and community leaders visited Faribault and Northfield to observe Minnesota climate resiliency efforts in action.
Aerial view of a brown river with tree-lined banks, a town on the right side, and a bridge in the distance.

Rare conditions: MPCA studies the shrunken Minnesota River

MPCA staff studied the river during this summer's extreme drought conditions to see if tighter limits on phosphorus are protecting aquatic life.
Swimmers in Lake Nokomis

Most Minnesota lakes in good shape

MPCA studies shows 75% of Minnesota lakes meet standards for recreation. Clean Water Fund dollars help answer water quality questions.
Backyard of home being dug up for a new septic system

Minnesota is septic smart

It's Septic Smart Week and Minnesota local governments are reporting significant progress in fixing inadequate septic systems around the state.
Heavy traffic on freeway driving into a city

Ask the MPCA: Busy highways and air pollution

What are the health risks associated with living near a busy freeway? Bad enough to affect my home-buying decisions?
 
Smoky air over a lake that is dimming light from the sun and making the scene look brown.

Air quality alerts: Your questions answered

Are pets affected by poor air quality? Will wearing a mask help when I’m outside? What is particulate pollution? We’ve got the answers.
A boat ramp leads to a dry river bed. A man stands on the dry ground looking at the river in the distance.

Rivers during droughts: Little flow can mean big impacts to fish

Minnesota rivers are shrinking in the drought; some have their lowest flows in decades. What will be the long term effects?
Smoky backyard fire in a metal fire pit

Ask the MPCA: Suffering from smoke

What can you do when you are especially sensitive to wood smoke and your neighbors are having lots of backyard fires?
Hands scooping ingredients out of a bulk bin

13 sustainable choices for your green life

We have some suggestions for avoiding disposable items, excessive packaging, and single-use plastics when shopping for your everyday needs.
A pile of rusted black metal pipes on the ground with an abandoned corrugated metal building in the background

Round Lake clean up at TCAAP reaches new milestone

The Army has proposed a plan for cleaning up contaminated sediment in Round Lake, located within the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP) site.
Headshot of MPCA Commissioner Laura Bishop

Laura Bishop resigns as commissioner of Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Agency credits Bishop with advancing innovative solutions to environmental challenges.
The words We Are Water Minnesota above three photos: a girl fishing, a woman wild-ricing, and a smiling young man

Telling Pipestone's water stories

The newest We are Water MN exhibit highlights Pipestone's unique geography and its many challenges to water quality.
Cement lid next to septic tank opening on the ground with septage water on the ground in front of the opening.

Ask the MPCA: Abandoned septic systems

If the property I'm selling has an abandoned septic system, do I need to do anything before putting it on the market?
 
View from the lake looking toward people in the distance on a sandy beach and wading in the water.

Del Clark Lake built for flood control in Canby

Canby Creek now flows into Del Clark Lake and protects Canby from flooding, while providing outdoor recreation and excellent water quality.