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Whether they are called sloughs, swamps, bogs, or potholes, these are all wetlands and they provide many environmental benefits and contribute to watershed health. Though Minnesota has lost almost half of its wetland acreage over time, the quality of the remaining wetlands is good overall.
The MPCA has actively been developing methods and building capacity to improve our ability to monitor and assess wetlands to protect and restore them.
PFAS are persistent and problematic chemicals that are found throughout the environment and not just in areas where large quantities have been manufactured, disposed of, or spilled. PFAS are…
A training and certification program for evaluating aquatic life in Minnesota’s rivers and streams.
Fire departments are often the first responders to incidents that include spills of hazardous substance.
The MPCA regulates the design, construction, and operation of treatment facilities for municipal and industrial wastewater in Minnesota.
Industrial stormwater steps to compliance Step 6: Meet requirements
Solving the problem of oversalted sidewalks is elementary!
Minnesota's strategic, coordinated approach to protecting families and communities from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
MPCA's compliance and enforcement program tracks how well wastewater treatment facilities are complying with their permits and takes enforcement actions when necessary.
Image Stormwater has an enormous impact on water quality in Minnesota, whether it's runoff from farm fields or from urban hardscapes. Rain and snow…
The Rainy River - Rainy Lake Watershed covers 583,791 acres. Open water makes up 75,815 of those acres and wetlands occupy another 84,851 acres. The watershed is 64% in St. Louis County and 36% in Koochiching County. The northern boundary is part of the international border waters with Ontario, Canada.
Residents' guide to stormwater permitting.
Guidance on NPDES/SDS construction stormwater requirements
When temperatures climb, conditions are ripe for Minnesota lakes to produce algae blooms, some of which can be harmful to pets and humans.
The Duluth Urban Area Watershed is a focused geographic area designed to recognize the complexity and challenges in an urban center with a water-rich environment. It is defined by a series of small watersheds that are portions of three major watersheds.
Farmers Grain, LLC, a grain elevator in Thief River Falls, paid $18,120 in fines for pumping contaminated water from their property into the city of Thief River Falls stormwater system.
The Crow Wing River Watershed is located in north-central Minnesota and covers approximately 1,946 square miles within the counties of Becker, Cass, Clearwater, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Morrison, Otter Tail, Todd, and Wadena.
Kathy Wagner, recipient of the 2025 Community Conservationist Award from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (MASWCD), discusses her personal conservation work and local environmental advocacy.
The MPCA solicited project proposals to distribute $10 million to communities for projects to prepare local wastewater infrastructure for the impacts of climate change. These projects are specifically meant to protect water quality and increase resilience.