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Upper St. Croix River

Streams of the Upper St. Croix Watershed are among the most biologically intact, healthy, and resilient of watersheds in Minnesota.

Minnesota GreenCorps

The Minnesota GreenCorps program, coordinated by the MPCA, aims to preserve and protect Minnesota’s environment while training a new generation of environmental professionals.

The MPCA developed the Wastewater Nitrogen Reduction and Implementation Strategy to decrease the wastewater sector’s nitrogen loads for the protection and restoration of bodies of water in and downstream of Minnesota.

Minimizing fish kills in Minnesota

While hundreds of fish kills occur in Minnesota every year, mostly in lakes and ponds, fish kills on trout streams in southeast Minnesota are much less common.

Managing vapor intrusion

Vapor intrusion occurs when chemical vapors migrate from contaminated groundwater through the soil into the basements or foundations of buildings.

Johnson’s Rolling Acres: Farming practices that protect water and preserve a family legacy

Smart technology, conservation practices, and a commitment to clean water help this family dairy and crop operation thrive — while protecting rivers, streams, and future generations.

Reducing phosphorus in the Red River and Lake Winnipeg

A new planning effort in northwest Minnesota takes a basin-wide approach to reducing the state's phosphorous contributions to the Red River, and to Canada's Lake Winnipeg.

Minnesota GreenCorps makes waste reduction a priority in Edina

Minnesota GreenCorps member Heidi Blum focused on waste reduction and recycling in Edina, Minnesota.

MPCA, lake advocates: Efforts to reduce ice garbage working

The Keep It Clean campaign, a 2023 Minnesota law, and many partners working together are adding up to less garbage and waste left behind on frozen lakes.

Surface water assessment grants

Surface water assessment grants (SWAG) provide local organizations and citizen volunteers with funds to complete the monitoring needed to meet assessment requirements on Minnesota lakes and streams. Assessment is usually the first step in protecting or restoring surface waters.

Watershed approach to water quality

A watershed is the area of land where all of the water that drains off of it goes into the same place — a river, stream or lake.

Old homes still have good bones, so why demolish them?

Construction and demolition projects produce twice the amount of waste of household trash every year. A new MPCA grant aims to reduce that amount by funding innovative building material reuse projects.

Real bottom feeders: How removing carp can improve water quality

Removing Middle Lake from the impaired waters list required wrangling with a bottom feeder, the invasive carp.

Clean Water Act Section 401 water quality certifications

The MPCA 401 certification fills a unique niche in protecting water quality by applying state water quality standards to projects.

2025 WRAP-up: MPCA scientists aim for cleaner waters with updated research

Water scientists from the MPCA published four watershed reports in 2025, updating the data we need to keep Minnesota’s waters clean and protected.

Wastewater permits

The MPCA regulates the design, construction, and operation of treatment facilities for municipal and industrial wastewater in Minnesota.

MPCA targets PFAS in draft wastewater permit for 3M’s Cottage Grove facility

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)’s draft wastewater permit for the 3M facility at Cottage Grove adds new water quality protections for the Mississippi River and improves accountability through monitoring and reporting requirements. The draft permit is one of the most rigorous in state history and mandates the removal of certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to levels below detection.