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The Snake River Watershed is located north of the Twin Cities in the St. Croix River Basin and encompasses 1,006 square miles in five counties: Aitkin, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Pine, and Isanti.
The chemical 1,4-dioxane, a likely carcinogen, was detected in a private residential well in the Eastbrook Terrace area in Andover.
Sandy and Jay Boss Febbo shared their story as part of We Are Water MN, a traveling exhibit and community engagement program that explores Minnesotans’ relationships with water.
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.
The Chippewa River Watershed covers 2,085 square miles and drains portions of eight counties in west central Minnesota.
The MPCA offers environmental audits to help businesses and organizations examine how well they are complying with environmental regulations, and correct any problems that are identified.
The Mississippi River - Winona Watershed covers 419,200 acres in the southeast Minnesota counties of Wabasha, Winona, and Olmsted. A majority of the watershed is cropland, with forest and grassland covering large portions as well.
The Pomme de Terre River begins cool and clear in Otter Tail County, bordered by wooded hills and grassy meadows. It flows south through several lakes; as the river nears its mouth, it is bordered by eroding banks, becoming increasingly muddy before discharging into the Minnesota River at Marsh Lake.
The Clearwater River Watershed drains an area of 886,600 acres in the Red River of the North basin. The river flows to the northwest and southwest, eventually emptying into Red Lake River near Red Lake Falls.
Find out what’s being done in Minnesota’s watersheds to protect and improve water quality.
Technical assistance to small, rural, and Tribal wastewater facilities
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.
During a residential construction project in Franklin Township in 2024, Capstone Homes and Arnt Construction failed to properly manage construction stormwater activities.
MPCA investigation determined Derek Vekich committed stormwater and wetland violations in 2024.
BNSF Railway Company paid a fine of $20,000 for industrial stormwater and wastewater permit violations at its Willmar facility.
Minnesota samples a network of shallow monitoring wells designed to provide early detection of contamination in the groundwater.
Volunteer water monitors collect valuable data used by agencies and organizations across the state to protect and manage Minnesota’s waters.
The Mississippi River - Grand Rapids Watershed covers 1,3 million acres and contains 1,908 miles of stream/rivers and 552 lakes greater than 10 acres. The watershed drainage comprises parts of the counties of Aitkin, Carlton, Cass, Itasca, and St. Louis.
MPCA studies shows 75% of Minnesota lakes meet standards for recreation. Clean Water Fund dollars help answer water quality questions.
Clean Water Fund dollars come from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment that Minnesotans approved in 2008.