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The Clean Water Act established the framework for creating water quality standards and continues to help us protect Minnesota's prized lakes and rivers.
The triennial standards review (TSR) gives the public a formal opportunity to provide wide-ranging comments about water quality standards.
For more than 50 years, volunteers have gathered critically important water clarity data on Minnesota lakes and streams.
To protect human health and the environment, we need to limit the amount of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in our waters to safe levels. Safe levels means water can be used for drinking,…
Wild rice is an important part of the biological community in many Minnesota lakes, streams, and wetlands, and a cultural resource to many, particularly members of the Dakota and Ojibwe Tribal Nations in Minnesota.
Standard operating procedures (SOPs) reflect how agency staff and contracted partners complete agency-funded field activities.
The triennial standards review offers every Minnesotan the opportunity to comment on essentially every water quality standard the agency defines to protect the waters that they drink, swim in, and fish from.
Water quality trading is a market-based approach to the protection and restoration of surface waters, another tool to be used in conjunction with existing voluntary, regulatory, and financial assistance programs.
The MPCA works with city and county governments, watershed districts, consultants, and others on monitoring, protecting, and restoring water quality. This is a repository of guidance and technical resources for agency partners.
From January through March 2025, MPCA air monitoring data showed elevated lead levels that exceeded national ambient air quality standards near the facility. An MPCA inspection of Gopher Resource in spring 2025 confirmed that the source of the elevated lead levels was addressed.
Online tool showing Minnesota waters failing to meet one or more water quality standards.
The MPCA uses the Environmental Quality Information System (EQuIS) to store water quality data from more than 17,000 Minnesota sampling locations.
Community wastewater treatment facilities and their operators play a critical role in maintaining a health community and preserving and protecting our waters.
Chloride is a problem for wastewater facilities and stormwater permittees.
MPCA studies shows 75% of Minnesota lakes meet standards for recreation. Clean Water Fund dollars help answer water quality questions.
Minnesota has a growing salty water problem that threatens its freshwater fish and other aquatic life. Chloride from both de-icing salt and water softener salt gets into lakes and streams, and…
Excess nitrate remains a long-term challenge to manage. In our lakes, rivers, and streams, it is toxic to fish and other aquatic life. In drinking water, it can pose a risk to human health,…
Removing of an old dam and restoring a creek's curves are improving habitat and water quality in the Pomme de Terre River Watershed.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is planning amendments to rules governing water quality fees (Minn. R. ch. 7002 and 7083).
Excess phosphorus is harming Minnesota waters. Phosphorus comes from both regulated and non-regulated sources. A quarter of Minnesota lakes have high levels of phosphorus, which means that they do…