The watery home of Duluth’s retired ore carrier William A. Irvin is one step closer to being cleaned up: The MPCA has selected a remedy that caps the Minnesota Slip’s contaminated sediment.

All options considered by the agency and the public were weighed against four goals:

1. Minimize exposure to sediment contaminants that contribute to fish-consumption advisories
2. Minimize exposure of aquatic organisms to contaminated sediments
3. Preserve water depth to enable the current use of the slip
4. Enhance deep water aquatic habitat where possible

The selected remedy, with an estimated $1.6 million cost to complete, met those goals. It was also the least expensive because it moves 2,500 cubic yards of contaminated sediments to the slip’s deeper areas, covers the leveled sediment with a 3-foot cap and requires no offsite disposal.

In partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Detroit district, MPCA staff has begun the design process. This effort will include a more extensive environmental review and allow for additional public comment. Funding for the construction portion of the cleanup depends on the Minnesota Legislature passing the bonding bill which contains money for this and other St. Louis River Area of Concern cleanup projects. Barring unforeseen design or funding delays, construction could begin in 2018.

The slip’s contamination is the result of a century of industrial and shipping activities in the Duluth-Superior harbor that left “legacy pollutants” likely destined for cleanup. The site is one of 10 identified in Minnesota for cleanup as part of the St. Louis River Area of Concern Remedial Action Plan.

The Minnesota Slip is located within the St. Louis River Area of Concern, one of 43 so-designated Great Lakes basin locations where historic shoreline alterations and industrial contamination caused impairments affecting its ability to support wildlife habitat and aquatic life. Successful completion of the Minnesota Slip remediation project would contribute to a healthier St. Louis River.

For more information, visit the MPCA’s Minnesota Slip cleanup webpage, or contact Project Manager Heidi Bauman at heidi.bauman@state.mn.us, 218-302-6607 or 800-657-3864.

Following public meetings last fall and in Feburary, the Minnesota River Valley Recreation Area Master Plan is expected to be completed later this spring. The plan, being developed by the Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources with Redwood and Renville counties, will leverage natural, recreational, cultural, historical and agricultural assets located within 2 miles either side of the Minnesota River in the two counties. 

The plan's objectives are:

• To develop an outdoor recreational destination that would promote regional economic growth, development, and tourism while respecting private lands and the agricultural heritage of the area.
• To address the conservation of the natural and cultural resources of the Minnesota River Valley area in Redwood and Renville counties.
• To provide for the shared use, enjoyment, and understanding of these resources through a broad selection of outdoor recreational opportunities and recreational travel routes that connect units of the outdoor recreation system in the river valley.

The plan will also address the impacts to the natural and cultural resources, interpretive services, recreational opportunities, and administrative activities in the area and provide recommendations on the unit designation of the area under the Outdoor Recreation Act.

In 2013, The Minnesota River Valley Citizen Advisory Committee report formalized a number of recommendations. In 2014 legislation was enacted directing DNR to develop a master plan. Chapter 290-H.F. No.2852, Sec. 65. In 2015, DNR partnered with Renville and Redwood counties to start a coordinated master planning process.

• Related media coverage:. West Central Tribune news story

Leech Lake River: Healthiest watershed in Upper Mississippi basin

The MPCA and local partners have developed a plan, called a Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies (WRAPS) report, to restore and protect water quality in the Leech Lake River watershed in north central Minnesota. 

The Leech Lake River watershed is in the northern part of the Upper Mississippi River Basin, and includes parts of Beltrami, Cass and Hubbard counties. The watershed also includes the Leech Lake Reservation (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe).

The Leech Lake River watershed is a healthy watershed, maybe the healthiest in the upper Mississippi River basin. This is partly because most of the very few impairments are the result of natural background conditions. Also, the high amount of forested land plays a role in preserving water quality throughout the watershed. Identified causes of impairments include low dissolved oxygen, excess sediment, altered hydrology and geomorphology, habitat loss and elevated phosphorus.

A WRAPS report summarizes:

• Physical, chemical, and biological assessments of water quality
• Identifies impairments and water bodies in need of protection
• Identifies biotic stressors and sources of pollution
• Proposes strategies and actions designed to achieve and maintain water quality standards

Comments may be submitted to Phil Votruba, MPCA, 7678 College Road, Baxter, MN, 56425, or by email to phil.votruba@state.mn.us. For more information, contact Votruba at 218-316-3901, or toll-free at 800-657-3864.

Nemadji River: Mixed results for stream and lakes in this northern watershed

The MPCA and partners found mixed water quality test results for 30 waterbodies in northern Minnesota’s Nemadji River watershed.

The Nemadji system is well known as the primary source of sediment to Lake Superior from Minnesota’s North Shore streams. Restoration activities lie ahead for 12 of 22 streams and two of eight lakes that do not meet water quality standards for sediment, bacteria and nutrient levels, and fish and invertebrate populations. The remainder meet all criteria for healthy conditions and future actions will focus on protecting them from future impairments. 

The first report discusses the Total Maximum Daily Load, or the amount of pollutants that water bodies can accept and still meet water quality standards. It also identifies pollution sources and proposes ways to bring water quality back to acceptable levels. Lac La Belle, Net Lake, and Deer, Elim, Mud and Skunk creeks are examples of waterbodies listed as “impaired,” or polluted by high levels of phosphorus, sediment or bacteria.

The second report, known as WRAPS, summarizes efforts to monitor and improve water quality and identifies future strategies for restoring, improving and protecting the watershed’s water quality.

The MPCA, the Nemadji River Watershed stakeholders group, and the Carlton County Soil and Water Conservation District have recommended several related restoration and protection actions to help maintain or improve the watershed’s water quality. These include assessing culverts and septic systems and replacing those found ineffective, limiting livestock/animal stream access, streambank and lakeshore buffer improvements, restoring natural stream channels where appropriate, improving forestry management, and designing low impact developments to maintain natural hydrology.

Comments should be submitted in writing by March 15 to Karen Evens, MPCA, 525 Lake Avenue South, Suite 400, Duluth, MN 55802, karen.evens@state.mn.us or 218-302-6644.

Long Prairie River watershed: Waters impaired by nutrients, bacteria

The MPCA and local partners have developed a WRAPS report on restoring and protecting water quality in the Long Prairie River watershed in central Minnesota. 

The Long Prairie River watershed is located in the central part of the upper Mississippi River basin in central Minnesota, and covers all or parts of Douglas, Morrison, Otter Tail, Todd, and Wadena counties. The watershed includes more than 240 lakes and 884 miles of rivers and streams, and empties into the Crow Wing River, just south of Motley.

The dominant land use in this watershed is agriculture at 57%. The rest is a combination of grasslands, forests, surface waters, and urban areas. Biological, chemistry, and flow monitoring began in 2011, and results indicate at least 10 lakes and 13 stream/river sections have pollution levels that fail water quality standards, most notably phosphorus in the lakes and bacteria in the streams.

A WRAPS report summarizes physical, chemical, and biological assessments of water quality; identifies impairments and water bodies in need of protection; identifies biotic stressors and sources of pollution; and proposes strategies and actions designed to achieve and maintain water quality standards.

On a related note, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently approved the TMDL report for the Long Prairie River watershed that addresses excess nutrient levels in lakes and high bacteria levels in streams.

Comments may be submitted to Anna Bosch, MPCA, 7678 College Road, Baxter, MN, 56425, or by email to anna.bosch@state.mn.us. For more information, contact her at 218-316-3929, or toll-free at 800-657-3864.

The Water/Way exhibit is now open at the Becker County Historical Society in Detroit Lakes through April 9.  The exhibit will be open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. The Becker County Historical Society & Museum is located at 714 Summit Ave. in Detroit Lakes.

Water/Ways is a traveling exhibition and community engagement initiative of the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum on Main Street program. In Minnesota, Water/Ways is led by the Minnesota Humanities Center in partnership with MPCA, Minnesota Historical Society, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota section of the American Water Works Association, and six greater Minnesota communities.

The MPCA is seeking volunteers for its Citizen Stream and Citizen Lake Monitoring Programs. More than 1,200 Minnesotans participate in the Citizen Monitoring Programs, but in order to reach all water bodies across Minnesota, more volunteers are needed. Equipment and training are provided by the MPCA and no experience is necessary.

Laurie Sovell, coordinator of the MPCA’s Citizen Stream Monitoring Program, says “105,000 miles of rivers and streams, and 12,200 lakes is a lot of water to cover. We are looking for people curious about local water bodies and passionate about protecting our state’s water resources.” 

For some lakes and streams, volunteer-collected data are the only data available, making citizen involvement critical to ensuring the lasting health of Minnesota’s waters. Find out if your favorite lake or stream needs monitoring by using the MPCA’s interactive map. To become a volunteer or learn more about the program, visit the program’s website, or call 651-296-6300 (Twin Cities) or 800-657-3864 (Greater Minnesota).

• Related video story: Cook County citizen volunteers share passion for their waters