Big progress on river clean-up plan — Final draft of ‘South Metro Mississippi River Turbidity TMDL’ complete

From the confluence with the Minnesota River at Fort Snelling (above) to Lake Pepin, the south metro section of the Mississippi River suffers from high levels of suspended sediment in the water, i.e. high turbidity.

For the last few years, FMR has participated in a large-scale river clean-up plan known as the South Metro Mississippi River TMDL. After a lot of work by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and a number of stakeholders, we are very pleased to announce the arrival of the final draft of the TMDL/clean-up plan!

The draft TMDL provides the scientific rationale for new clean water goals for the Mississippi River and its tributaries. While primarily addressing turbidity (suspended sediments or soil particles), the plan also specifies pollution-reduction goals for Mississippis main tributaries, including the heavily polluted Minnesota River.

The plan, which will soon be available for public review and comment, is the first step toward a cleaner, healthier and safer Mississippi River for all of us. In addition, meeting pollution-reduction goals will double the anticipated lifespan of Lake Pepin, which is currently filling in at ten times its natural rate due to huge volumes of excess sediments in the river.

Next steps

Later this month, once the Stakeholder Advisory Committee (including FMR) reviews the final draft, the MPCA will release the plan for a 45-day public comment period. Following this, the MPCA board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will review and approve the plan. We anticipate this review and approval process to be completed in mid-spring 2010. After, we will begin the process of implementation planning and getting clean-up projects up and running.

What to expect

FMR members will be strongly encouraged to participate in the plans public comment period. Because the plan targets pollution sources in heavily agricultural areas in the Minnesota River Basin, we expect a number of industrial agriculture groups to continue to fight against the clean-up plans.

Fortunately, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is responsible to all of the people of Minnesota, who continue to make clean and safe waters a priority for our communities. Nevertheless, its up to us to speak up for a clean and healthy Mississippi River!

FMR members will receive notification when the public comment period opens in the coming weeks. At that time, well ask you to lend your voice to the growing chorus of Minnesotans asking for a clean Mississippi River. So stay tuned, lets get ready to protect our river!

For more information

• Read the Executive Summary of the Draft South Metro Mississippi River TSS TMDL,
• Read the complete Draft South Metro Mississippi River TSS TMDL,
• Visit the Minnesota Pollution Control Agencys South Metro TMDL webpage,
• Read FMRs Impaired Waters 101 for a more general overview.

— Trevor Russell, Watershed Program Director