Protecting rivers from algae is the goal of water quality standards now being implemented by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).

These standards – approved by the federal government – are designed to protect fishing and swimming from excess nutrients, particularly phosphorus that causes nuisance algae.

The new standards will allow the MPCA to identify waters where excess phosphorus is causing problems, and to develop strategies for reducing that phosphorus. One strategy involves requiring reductions in phosphorus in wastewater discharges.

Minnesota began addressing the problem of excess phosphorus in wastewater discharges the 1970s, with requirements to reduce phosphorus discharges to lakes. Since then significant progress has been made, but additional action is needed to protect Minnesota’s rivers and downstream waters, particularly in areas where no phosphorus reduction is currently required.

The agency will use a new custom approach to implementing the river standards. For each facility discharging to a river, the agency will examine the river’s health when that facility’s permit expires. Based on water monitoring data and other information, agency staff will determine if:

• Downstream rivers meet standards and no stricter limits are needed in order for the river’s health to be maintained
• Downstream rivers meet standards but the facility discharge has potential to trigger algal blooms and thus needs stricter limits
• Downstream rivers fail to meet standards and already grow nuisance algae, meaning the facility needs to further reduce phosphorus to help restore the water’s quality

For some communities, these standards will not change anything. For other communities, the standards may result in to the need to upgrade their wastewater treatment.

Of the 714 municipal wastewater treatment facilities in Minnesota, 462 discharge to a river, 115 to a lake, and the rest to land.

These standards are part of Minnesota’s efforts to reduce phosphorus pollution. Statewide, municipal wastewater phosphorus discharges have decreased by 70% over the past 15 years.

See the full story on the MPCA website. Photo above: Brenda DeZiel of the MPCA shows a trout to a young boy and his dad during intensive water monitoring of the Cannon River watershed. Data from intensive water monitoring across the state is being used in identifying rivers that need phosphorus reduction.

The MPCA invites comments on a watershed restoration and protection report for the Mustinka River watershed. The report, known as Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies (WRAPS), summarizes monitoring and water quality improvement projects completed during the past several years, and identifies strategies to restore and protect the water quality of streams and lakes in the watershed. Comments on the report are being accepted March 28 through April 27.

The Mustinka River Watershed lies within the headwaters region of the Red River Basin. Encompassing an area of 909 square miles, the watershed lies within a flat area of west central Minnesota used predominately for crop production. Required by Minnesota’s Clean Water Legacy Act, a WRAPS report is a document that summarizes scientific studies of a major watershed. These studies:

• Assess the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of water quality in the watershed;
• Identify impaired water bodies and those in need of protection;
• Identify conditions that stress fish, aquatic insects and other organisms;
• Identify sources of pollution; and
• Propose strategies and actions designed to achieve and maintain water quality standards and goals.

The WRAPS report includes a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) study. A TMDL study establishes the maximum amount of a pollutant a water body can receive on a daily basis and still meet water-quality standards. More information about WRAPS reports and TMDL studies can be found on the MPCA website.

The Mustinka River TMDL Study identified pollution resulting from excess nutrients, bacteria, turbidity (reduced light penetration of water due to suspended solids), and low dissolved oxygen. In addition to these impairments, the study identified locations where conditions make it difficult to support aquatic insects (macroinvertebrates) and fish. The TMDL study is also available for public review and comment.

Written comments should be sent to Cary Hernandez, MPCA, 714 Lake Ave., Ste., 220, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501.

If you wish to comment, please indicate clearly whether your comment(s) pertain to the WRAPS report or the TMDL study.

Written comments on the WRAPS report or TMDL study must include: a statement of your interest in the WRAPS report or TMDL study; a statement of the action you wish the MPCA to take, including specific references to sections of the WRAPS report or TMDL study that you believe should be changed; and specific reasons supporting your position.

Groundwater contamination is a growing concern that should be on everyone’s radar, according to MPCA scientists. Three out of 4 Minnesotans get their drinking water from groundwater sources. Up to 60% of groundwater monitoring wells sampled in central Minnesota are contaminated with nitrate well beyond the safe drinking water standard. Drinking water contaminated with nitrate can lead to illnesses such as Blue Baby Syndrome, a fatal blood disorder in infants.

Nitrate enters groundwater from sources like animal manure and agricultural fertilizers. Some of the affected cities include Becker, Clear Lake, Cold Spring, Hastings, Goodhue, Adrian and Park Rapids. City officials in those areas have explored treatment options, including distributing bottled water to residents, drilling new wells, and building new reverse-osmosis water treatment plants. Many small cities are spending millions to address the problem.

The Groundwater Protection Recommendations report highlights the current state of Minnesota’s groundwater and provides recommendations for ways to reduce and prevent groundwater contamination. Minnesota lawmakers requested the report during the 2013 legislative session.

Some Minnesota cities have already experienced the cost burden of treating contaminated groundwater.  A 2014 Drinking Water report from  the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) put cost estimates for treating contaminated drinking water in Minnesota in the billions of dollars. The estimated cost for cleaning up contaminated water in Hastings was a staggering $9 million while estimated costs for Park Rapids were upwards of $11 million.

Many harmful groundwater contaminants are caused by human activity. Those contaminants come from sources like urban runoff, road de-icing salt, antibiotics, pharmaceuticals, viruses, and agricultural practices.

With several different partners and 200 sites across Minnesota, the Watershed Pollutant Load Monitoring Network strives to ensure consistency and accuracy in its water monitoring. Staffing often changes on the local level, meaning monitors may have not been trained on equipment or many months have passed since they conducted monitoring. To help partners learn and stay current on techniques, including the basics, the MPCA has produced the following training videos, available on YouTube:

• How to collect a water sample using a Van Dorn sampler 
• How to collect a water sample by wading
• How to collect a water sample using a telescoping rod 
• How to take a wire weight gage measurement
• How to take a bridge to water or tape down measurement
• How to obtain the stage reading from a DNR datalogger
• Repairing and Maintaining a Van Dorn sampler

• DNR to host PolyMet public information meeting in advance of permit application on the DNR website.
• Gov. Dayton administration wants $4 million set aside for PolyMet legal costs in the StarTribune
• MPCA commissioner announces creation of environmental justice advisory group on MPCA website
• Inquiry: State 'fundamentally accountable' for Flint crisis in the StarTribune
• Wipes clog pipes on the MPCA website (photo at right)
  
• Meet the Mud Doctor, Judy Crane on the MPCA website
• Supreme Court ends challenge to the Chesapeake Bay cleanup plan in the Washington Post
• Nibi walk for MNi'sota along the Minnesota River, March 25-April 1, on the Nibi walk website
• The State of Water Conference April 14-15 at Alexandria on the Conservation Minnesota website