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Within the three major watersheds that cover the Twin Cities area, there are 33 smaller watersheds managed by their own watershed district or watershed management organization.
Standard operating procedures (SOPs) reflect how agency staff and contracted partners complete agency-funded field activities.
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.
For more than 50 years, volunteers have gathered critically important water clarity data on Minnesota lakes and streams.
The Clean Water Council was created to advise the Legislature and the governor on the administration and implementation of the 2006 Clean Water Legacy Act
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,…
A water quality variance is a temporary change in a state's water quality standard for a specific pollutant and its relevant criteria, allowing deviation from meeting a water quality-based effluent limit for a particular discharger.
The MPCA has announced that 11 grant recipients will receive a total of $5.3 million for projects that build lasting capacity to support recycling markets in Minnesota.
Groundwater is the source of drinking water for about 75% of all Minnesotans and provides almost all of the water used to irrigate crops. Its purity and availability is critical to the health of the state.
During a residential construction project in Franklin Township in 2024, Capstone Homes and Arnt Construction failed to properly manage construction stormwater activities.
An MPCA investigation determined David Heinonen of Grand Rapids filled in 3,200 square feet of wetland near Horsehead Lake in Itasca County without prior approval and engaged in unpermitted construction activities on 1.57 acres on the shore of Horsehead Lake.
MPCA investigation found stormwater permit violations that occurred during a construction project in 2025, with sediment-laden stormwater entering a stream at a construction site in Chaska.
Lange Agricultural Systems paid $12,511 for violations of both its hazardous waste and industrial wastewater permits.
Superfund requires specific investigation and cleanup processes, designates parties that are legally responsible for the cleanup, and provides funds for certain types of cleanups under Minnesota’s Environmental Response and Liability Act (MERLA).
Privacy rightsSeveral federal and state laws protect your privacy rights regarding the information the MPCA has about you. At times, an MPCA staff member may ask you to provide information about…
Emissions generated from gasoline and diesel powered vehicles are the greatest source of air pollution in Minnesota
The MPCA fined Caledonia feedlot owner Mike Ingvalson $10,000 for multiple violations related to improper manure application and discharges as well as an unpermitted building.
Licensing and permitsCannabis businesses in Minnesota require a state license for their specific operation (micro-business, processor, retailer, etc.) from the Office of Cannabis Management. The…
Dairy will pay a fine and take corrective steps for improperly discharging industrial waste into a city curb and gutter stormwater system in Nicollet County.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is committed to ensuring that every Minnesotan has healthy air, sustainable lands, clean water, and a better climate.