The Upper Mississippi River Bacteria Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Study and Protection Plan describes the reduction in pollutant loading for 22 stream reaches (impaired for aquatic recreation due to E. coli) and protection efforts for 29 streams and river reaches. E. coli is used to indicate the potential presence of waterborne pathogens that can be harmful to human health.
The MPCA and Minnesota Department of Health are partnering to lead this project in close coordination with area land and watershed management organizations, cities and counties, and agencies to develop a TMDL report and implementation plan. The ultimate goal of this project is to protect and restore the water quality of the Upper Mississippi River and its tributaries.
Minnesota’s water quality standard for E. coli bacteria in streams is 126 organisms per 100 ml (milliliters) of water. Testing for pathogens in water bodies is difficult, so indicator organisms such as E. coli are used to indicate the likelihood that a river contains disease-causing pathogens. E. coli comes from human, livestock, pet, and wildlife waste. Bacteria can be transferred to water bodies from stormwater systems, areas with field-applied manure fertilizer or storage, non-compliant septic systems, connected water bodies, or feedlots.
The process for developing the TMDL Study and Protection Plan consisted of evaluating the water quality problem, determining the sources of the pollutant, allocating pollutant loads to sources and areas, and implementation activities to protect and restore water quality.
Map and location
The majority of the TMDL Study and Protection Plan focuses on the Mississippi River Corridor from Royalton to Hastings and includes portions of three major watersheds (8-digit HUCs): Mississippi River-Sartell (07010201), Mississippi River-St. Cloud (07010203), and Mississippi River-Twin Cities (07010206).
Upper Mississippi River Bacteria TMDL - Monitoring Station Map 1- Upper Mississippi River Bacteria TMDL - Monitoring Station Map 2
- UMRB TMDL Developed Land Cover and MS4 Municipal Boundary Map - Mississippi River-Sartell Watershed
- UMRB TMDL Developed Land Cover and MS4 Municipal Boundaries Map - Mississippi River-St. Cloud Watershed
- UMRB TMDL Developed Land Cover and MS4 Municipal Boundaries Map - Mississippi River-Twin Cities Watershed
TMDL report and implementation plan
- Final TMDL
- Upper Mississippi River TMDL - Bacteria: EPA approval letter (Nov. 20, 2014)
- Upper Mississippi River Bacteria TMDL Implementation Plan (MPCA approval 2/18/2016)
Other documents
- Microbial Source Tracking Pilot Study
- Effectiveness of best management practices for bacteria removal
- Data Analysis, Source Assessment, and Monitoring Recommendations Report for the Upper Mississippi River Bacteria TMDL
- Literature Review of Bacteria and Environmental Associations
- Bacteria - Sources, Types, Impact on Water Quality - A General Overview
Beaches and recreational waters in Minnesota (Minn. Department of Health)
Meetings and events
June 16, 2015 — Stakeholder meeting (Elk River)
- Upper Mississippi River Bacteria TMDL: Agenda (June 2015)
- Upper Mississippi River Bacteria TMDL: Presentations (June 2015)
March 22, 2013 — Joint Twin Cities Metro and St. Cloud Stakeholder Advisory Team and Technical Advisory Committee Meeting, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Elk River City Hall, 13065 Orono Parkway, Elk River, MN 55330
- Upper Mississippi River Bacteria TMDL: Agenda and Meeting Notes
- Upper Mississippi River Bacteria TMDL: Presentations
June 27, 2012 — Joint Twin Cities Metro and St. Cloud Stakeholder Advisory Team and Technical Advisory Committee Meeting, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Elk River City Hall, 13065 Orono Parkway, Elk River, MN 55330
- Upper Mississippi River Bacteria TMDL Stakeholder Meeting — agenda
- Upper Mississippi River Bacteria TMDL Stakeholder Meeting — presentations
November 30, 2011 - A meeting with stakeholders and regulated MS4s for the Upper Mississippi River Bacteria TMDL Project, offering an overview of the project and technical discussion.
May 10, 2011 - Joint Twin Cities Metro and St. Cloud Stakeholder Advisory Team and Technical Advisory Committee Meeting, 9:30 a.m.-, Elk River City Hall, 13065 Orono Parkway, Elk River, MN 55330
- Agenda and Meeting Notes (wq-iw8-08n)
- Presentations (wq-iw8-08p)
October 6, 2009 - Joint Twin Cities Metro and St. Cloud Stakeholder Advisory Team and Technical Advisory Committee Meeting, 9:00 a.m. - Elk River City Hall, 13065 Orono Parkway, Elk River, MN 55330
June 12, 2009 - Joint Twin Cities Metro and St. Cloud Stakeholder Advisory Team and Technical Advisory Committee Meeting, 9:00 a.m., Elk River City Hall, 13065 Orono Parkway, Elk River, MN 55330
- Agenda and Meeting Notes
- Presentation: Upper Mississippi River Bacteria TMDL: Project Overview (Phil Votruba and Barb Peichel)
- Presentation: Upper Mississippi River Bacteria TMDL: Data Analysis (Andrea Plevan)
- Presentation: Evaluation of Nutrient and Bacterial Transport from Manure Applied Lands (Scott Matteson)
August 26, 2008 - St. Cloud-Sauk River-Crow River Basin Planning Advisory Committee Meeting, 1 to 3:30 p.m., St. Cloud Holiday Inn
July 22, 2008 - Joint Metro Stakeholder Advisory Team and Technical Advisory Committee Meeting, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, 2117 West River Road, Minneapolis, MN 55411
- Agenda
- Meeting Notes
- Presentation - Overview of the Upper Mississippi River Bacteria TMDL
- Presentation - Lessons Learned from the Lower Mississippi River Bacteria TMDL (Lee Ganske)
Links
- Upper Mississippi River Basin
- Minnesota’s Impaired Waters and TMDLs
- Minnesota Department of Health
- Upper Mississippi River Source Water Protection Project
- Minnesota Lake Superior Beach Monitoring Program
Information contact
Phil Votruba, Project Manager
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
7678 College Road, Suite 105
Baxter, MN 56425
218-316-3901
phil.votruba@state.mn.u