New waters join states Impaired Waters List
Every two years, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency announces its biennial update of Minnesotas Impaired Waters List. The list details lakes and stream segments in Minnesota that are considered polluted and need further study to determine how they can be restored.
This years draft update adds 396 new polluted waters to the existing list. Minnesotas 2008 list shows 1,469 impairments on 336 rivers and 500 lakes.
The MPCA collects water quality data from state, local and federal agencies, as well as citizen monitors, and then uses this and other information to assess waters for compliance with Minnesotas water quality standards.
So far, weve only assessed a small portion of our states waters. However, of those waters assessed, about 40% are determined to be exceeding the standards for at least one pollutant.
This years lists show phosphorus, turbidity (cloudiness) and mercury (in fish tissue) as Minnesotas top three impairments. Others include Fecal Coliform Bacteria, PCBs in fish tissue and fish bioassessments, low dissolved oxygen, and PFOS, a contaminant in the Perfluorochemical family. (Perfluorochemicals [PFCs] are a family of man-made chemicals that have been used for decades to make products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease and water. Common uses include nonstick cookware, stain-resistant carpets and fabrics, as components of fire-fighting foam, and other industrial applications.)
If a water body fails to meet one or more of its water quality standards, that water body is considered impaired and is added to Minnesotas Impaired Waters list. Once a water body is listed as impaired for a certain pollutant, the Clean Water Act requires states to create clean up plan. The main tool for completing this is a process called the Total Maximum Daily Load, or TMDL.
The MPCAs 2008 list contains target schedules to address listed waters through TMDL projects.
Learn more
Check out our Impaired Waters 101 page to find out more about impaired waters in Minnesota.