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The MPCA is committed to delivering a pollution reduction program that benefits all Minnesotans and works diligently to incorporate their ideas and opinions into our projects and plans. To develop…
Find out what’s being done in Minnesota’s watersheds to protect and improve water quality.
The MPCA is authorized to develop numeric water quality criteria that apply specifically to a water body or region where the pollutant is found, using data from that water body or region.
The Zumbro River Watershed covers more than 900,000 acres and reaches parts of six counties in southeast Minnesota (Olmsted, Dodge, Steele, Rice, Goodhue, and Wabasha). Rochester, one of Minnesota's largest cities, is located in the southeast quadrant of the watershed.
MPCA's fish sampling process and why we do it
One of the most basic forms of air pollution, haze reduces visibility in many cities and scenic areas within the United States. Haze-causing pollutants come from a variety of sources, both natural and man-made, including motor vehicles, electricity generation, industrial facilities, agriculture, and wildfires.
In 2010, the MPCA began receiving public inquiries about projects to mine silica sand for use in hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” a drilling method used for natural gas and oil wells.
MPCA sought proposals from qualified responders for a contract conducting a waste characterization study evaluating the types of materials generated and discarded in Minnesota and their relative prominence in Minnesota’s waste streams.
Grede Foundry violated the terms of its air permit in 2024, according to a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency investigation.
TEAM Industries, with machining operations in Audubon, Bagley, Cambridge, Detroit Lakes, and Park Rapids, paid $80,000 in fines for air, hazardous waste, and industrial stormwater violations.
Minnesota’s air currently meets all federal air quality standards. However, even levels of air pollution below the standards can affect people’s health, including levels currently found in parts of Minnesota.
MPCA Commissioner Katrina Kessler and Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen reflected on the theme of National Ag Day 2023 — “Growing a Climate for Tomorrow” — and ways Minnesotans can support the future of Minnesota farms.
MPCA plans to amend its 20-year old rules governing land treatment of petroleum-contaminated soil.
MPCA sought proposals from qualified environmental contractors for a contract to support the agency's Watershed Division on statewide, basin-wide, water body, and watershed scale projects.
This long-term data gathering initiative helps track trends in water bodies around the state. The MPCA is grateful for every volunteer who has dedicated time to monitoring their favorite lake or stream.
The StormReady designation recognizes the MPCA’s commitment to emergency management planning and continuity of operations during an emergency.
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…
The MPCA provides climate change technical assistance to Minnesotan, including one-on-one consultation or small group facilitation, to assess current capacity, build on strengths, and address underlying needs.
The Mississippi River - La Crescent Watershed drains 95 square miles in Houston and southeast Winona counties, an area defined by wooded bluffs and spring-fed cold-water streams that flow directly to the Mississippi River.
A transport truck released fugitive lime dust that drifted and deposited on area school playground equipment, vehicles, and vegetation near its paper production facility in International Falls, Minn., in October 2023.