impaired waters list

FMR urges MPCA to develop long-overdue nitrate standards

update

February 13, 2025

How much nitrate in our surface waters is safe for plants and animals? We don't know, because the MPCA still hasn't established standards. Read more

An MPCA staffer in waders reaches down to get a sample from shallow waters.

Explainer: How jet fuel from crops can help (or hurt) water quality

update

January 2, 2025

Sustainable aviation fuel has the potential to significantly impact water quality. Here are some of the factors that will determine whether those impacts are for the better, or for the worse. Read more

A worker refueling an airplane while standing beneath its wing.

Is it safe to swim in the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities?

by sue rich

update

July 1, 2023

As an organization focused on the river’s health, we get asked this all the time. Read more

Bare feet standing on the sand along the shores of the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities.

Our comments on Minnesota's 2022 Impaired Waters List

by Trevor Russell

update

January 10, 2022

On January 7, FMR was one of eight environmental organizations (led by the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy) that provided comments to the State of Minnesota on the state's 2022 Impaired Waters List on behalf of the Minnesota Environmental Partnership. We focused on three key pollutants: sulfate (in wild rice waters), "forever chemicals" and nitrate contamination. Here's our letter. >>

Nutrients down(ish), salts up in U.S. rivers

by Peter LaFontaine

update

April 8, 2020

A new report from the U.S. Geological Survey has found some disturbing — but uneven — trends in American rivers over the last generation. >>

More than half of Minnesota’s waters don’t meet water quality standards

by Trevor Russell

update

November 26, 2019

Every two years, the state publishes a list of “impaired” waters that do not meet water quality standards. This year’s list shows that 56% of Minnesota’s lakes, rivers and streams fail to meet standards. >>