There are very few people who don’t value clean water. Consistently 90% or more of people surveyed rate water quality as a primary concern when it comes to environmental issues. In 2014 the State of Minnesota developed a Nutrient Reduction Strategy to guide Minnesota in reducing excess nutrients in waters so that in-state and downstream water quality goals are ultimately met.
A Look Back
The history of conservation in America is one to be proud of, and particularly that of Minnesota’s conservation ethic. In the early years of our history, sewer in Minneapolis and elsewhere was dumped directly into the rivers and streams. By the 1920s the water quality of the Mississippi River was on decline. Accelerated by the development of lock and dam systems, sewage was forming large mats in pools above the dams. Some of the earliest water quality testing on the Mississippi River took place in the 1920s. One study, conducted in 1926, found three physical fish in the entire stretch of river from Minneapolis to Red Wing, leading to the Minnesota Department of Health declaring the river a threat to public health.
To address this, the first sewage treatment plant in Minnesota was brought on line in 1938 to treat effluent from Minneapolis and St. Paul, and within two years fish populations began to rebound. What followed was a century of reforms, regulatory mandates and technological innovations. Currently the metro area has nine wastewater treatment facilities with 634 miles of sewer pipes, serving three million people in eleven communities.
In 1972, following a series of environmental disasters across the US, the Clean Water Act was passed into law, requiring the government to set and meet water quality standards. The Clean Water Act also created a plan to control the discharge of dredged or fill materials into wetlands and other waters of the state. In 1991, the Minnesota Legislature passed the Wetland Conservation Act which created a no-net-loss policy for wetlands.
In 2008, in the midst of a worldwide recession, Minnesota voters passed the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment to the Minnesota constitution, increasing the state sales tax by three-eighths of a percent until 2034. These funds are used for clean water projects, outdoor heritage projects, arts and culture, and parks and trails.
Results of Conservation Efforts
With all the rules, regulations and dollars spent on protecting water quality, how are we doing?
Since 1976 the Metropolitan Council has been doing weekly or bi-weekly water quality testing at 15 sites on large rivers in the metro region. In addition the MN Pollution Control Agency, in partnership with local government units, monitors 200 sites throughout the state, and the US Geological Survey does testing of various ecological parameters in the entire Upper Mississippi River Basin. The bottom line: we do a lot of testing of water quality in our lakes and streams.
While results vary dramatically across the State, testing at two sites on the Mississippi River tell a somewhat encouraging story. Nutrient loading at the Red Wing testing station showed a 33% decline in total discharge of phosphorus, showing a downward trend compared to baseline data taken from 1980 to 1996.
Much of this reduction is attributed to improved municipal wastewater treatment, but also to improved septic system design and maintenance, better treatment of urban stormwater runoff, and adoption of agricultural conservation practices and improved soil health. Testing results also show a 9% reduction in total nitrogen over the same baseline period, with a minor downward trend.
Even though these numbers are just a small piece of the overall picture of water quality in Minnesota, for me it’s encouraging that all the money and effort appear to be paying off. I saw a meme the other day that said the economic indicator of a nation should be whether or not you can drink the water.
While it appears we are seeing an overall reduction in nutrient pollution, much work still needs to be done before all lakes and rivers in Minnesota are fishable and swimmable. Many local water bodies are still seeing declines in water quality trends, and new threats like PFAs chemicals are now on the radar.
Efforts for the Future
As we address more of the “end of pipe” solutions, dispersed nonpoint source pollution plays a larger role in restoring and protecting water quality. Nonpoint source pollution comes from many small impacts: increased runoff from impervious surfaces, sediment and erosion loss from farm fields, reduced soil quality, and manicured lawns. All of these lead to greater streambank erosion from increased streamflows. After a decade of work, the Minnesota Nutrient Reduction Strategy is being updated to guide how we can best address these difficult issues.
Public participation began in June 2024. State agencies will regularly update Minnesotans on the Nutrient Reduction Strategy revision process through web postings and informal information sessions. The draft revision is expected to take more than a year, with the revised strategy available for public comment in the second half of 2025.
Stay informed by signing up for email updates when the project’s webpage is refreshed or attend an informal information session to learn more about specific parts of the revision. For more information about this report on the project, check out this webinar.
Restoring and protecting Minnesota’s water quality takes all of us. Here are some steps to consider:
Find ways to capture and hold water high on the landscape, plant and maintain buffers around lakes and other waterways, and reduce your lawn by planting native grasses and forbs (herbaceous flowering plants).
Eat food that is raised in healthy soil that can infiltrate and hold water in the soil profile. This food also takes fewer chemical inputs to grow, is more nutrient-rich, and just tastes better.
Vote with your wallet and vote at the ballot booth, because we all benefit from clean water.
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