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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…

We Are Water MN travels to Stillwater to focus on the St. Croix River, featuring artwork by painter Kami Mendlik.

In most of Minnesota’s livestock-dense counties, feedlot oversight is a cooperative effort between the MPCA and county government.

Volunteer water monitors collect valuable data used by agencies and organizations across the state to protect and manage Minnesota’s waters.

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.

It's Septic Smart Week and Minnesota local governments are reporting significant progress in fixing inadequate septic systems around the state.

The MPCA monitors water quality in rivers and streams is several different ways around the state.

Finding ways to keep stormwater on land and let it soak into the ground can lessen the negative effects on water quality from stormwater.

Data shows that ice cover on Minnesota's lakes doesn't last as long as it used to. That means a shorter ice fishing season, yes, but it also has implications for the environment and Minnesota's fish and wildlife.

Minnesota businesses, organizations, and municipalities seeking or holding MPCA wastewater permits are charged two basic types of permit fees: application fees and annual fees.

The MPCA completed 68 enforcement cases for water quality, air quality, hazardous waste, stormwater, and wastewater violations in the first half of 2025.

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.

Keep It Clean focuses on the growing problem of garbage and human waste left on the ice by anglers and other visitors during ice fishing season.

In addition to the vessel requirements in the EPA VGP and Minnesota’s ballast water general permit, vessels must follow the requirements in Minnesota Statutes and Minnesota’s 401 certification of the VGP.

The Mississippi River - Lake Pepin Watershed includes 205,747 acres that drain several small, coldwater streams in bedrock-dominated bluff country.

Through this Minnesota climate smart food systems (CSFS) grant, the MPCA sought project proposals to partially fund new, cleaner versions of fossil fuel on-road and off-road equipment and vehicles in Minnesota.

MPCA policy recommendations for the upcoming legislative session

The MPCA studies, monitors, and regulates many land pollutants that affect the quality of life in Minnesota and the health of residents.

Each year, MPCA hires seasonal positions to assist with biological monitoring of streams and wetlands during the summer months.

Determine what type(s) of water quality permit is required at facilities that mine construction sand and gravel; industrial sand; quarry limestone, granite or dimension stone; operate hot mix asphalt production areas; produce concrete block, brick and other products; and/or produce ready-mix concrete.