Mercury levels going down in Minnesota lakes

In 2020, the MPCA removed Forest Lake, Tanners Lake (Oakdale), Owasso (Roseville/Shoreview), Johanna (Arden Hills) and eight lakes in northern Minnesota from the state’s impaired waters list. This was the first time in Minnesota history that any lake or river recovered from a mercury impairment.

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Fifty-three Minnesota lakes and streams to be de-listed in 2022

Local lakes scheduled to be delisted next year include East Boot (May Twp), Echo (Mahtomedi), Hay and Jellums (Scandia), Lily and South Twin (Stillwater), and Plaisted (Hugo).

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St. Croix River impairment underscores need for continued work

Three weeks ago, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announced its intention to declare a stretch of the St. Croix River from Taylor’s Falls to Stillwater impaired due to excess phosphorus. In the wake of this news, many local residents have asked who is to blame and what can be done to restore our treasured…

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Statewide Feedback on Water Issues Echoes Local Concerns in East Metro and St. Croix Valley

Data shows that 40% of Minnesota lakes, rivers and streams are classified as impaired, and the East Metro and St. Croix Valley are no exception.

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Recent unhealthy air a reminder that air and water don’t follow political boundaries

It turns out that atmospheric deposition (mercury in the air that falls down onto the land and water) supplies more than 99.5% of the mercury getting into fish.

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How’s the Water Minnesota? (Part 2 – Rivers and Streams)

In the Twin Cities metro area, development has impacted most of the rivers and streams and only 37% are meeting water quality standards for aquatic life.

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How’s the Water Minnesota? (Part 1 – Lakes)

Deeper lakes fare better than shallow ones, and the lakes in less developed portions of the metro are doing better than those in cities or adjacent to farms.

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In Search of Hardwood Creek

Unique plants and animals that have long since disappeared from our area due to farming and development still find home in the groundwater fed wetlands surrounding the creek.

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Ten Things You Might Not Know About Water Resources in Washington County

Brown’s Creek, which originates near Withrow and meets the St. Croix River just north of Stillwater, is stocked annually with yearling brown trout.

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