The Minnesota Legislature recognized the need to protect the state’s environment even before there was an Earth Day or even a federal environmental agency. The Legislature gave authority to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to begin controlling pollution problems in the state three years before the first Earth Day and the creation of the EPA.

Protection of water resources actually started in 1945, when the Legislature established the Water Pollution Control Commission to encourage communities to build wastewater treatment plants because too many communities dumped raw sewage into lakes and rivers, 

Then in 1962, Minnesota witnessed two of the most catastrophic oils spills in the history of the state:

• In December, sub-zero temperatures caused a pipeline break at Richards Oil in Savage. The ruptured line released a million gallons of oil into the Mississippi River. Shortly thereafter, a storage tank at the Honeymead plant in Mankato burst, releasing more than 3 million gallons of soy oil onto the ice of the Minnesota River. Oil from both spills slowly traveled downstream. 
• With the spring thaw, tragic results were evident. Governor Rolvaag activated the National Guard to coordinate cleanup (a project known as Operation Save-a-Duck), and citizens volunteered to rescue and rehabilitate oil-covered ducks. Unfortunately, it was not enough. The survival rate of oil-covered ducks was dismally small. Despite everyone’s best efforts, more than 10,000 waterfowl and countless beaver, muskrats, turtles, and fish died.

In 1967, to address the variety and complexity of environmental problems, the Legislature replaced the Water Pollution Control Commission with the MPCA and added authority over air pollution and solid waste disposal.

It was also a spill that led to the first Earth Day. In 1969 U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin conceived the idea of Earth Day after witnessing the ravages of a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, Calif., according to the Earth Day Network. Inspired by the student anti-war movement, he marshaled forces – including a Republican – to launch a national “teach-in” on the environment in 1970.

“As a result, on the 22nd of April, 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment in massive coast-to-coast rallies. Thousands of colleges and universities organized protests against the deterioration of the environment. Groups that had been fighting against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife suddenly realized they shared common values,” the website reads.

“Earth Day 1970 achieved a rare political alignment, enlisting support from Republicans and Democrats, rich and poor, city slickers and farmers, tycoons and labor leaders. The first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts.”

Today, citizens are again taking to the streets, parks and auditoriums, this time to support science, important safeguards already in place, and existing funding levels:

• Letter: MN anti-environment bills put politics ahead of science by MPCA Commissioner John Linc Stine in the West Central Tribune
• On Water Action Day, a flood of citizens washes through the Minnesota Capitol on MinnPost
• Why Former U.S Chief Data Scientist, D.J. Patil, Is Marching and You Should Too on the March for Science website

As the MPCA celebrates 50 years, the variety and complexity of environmental problems has changed; however, our vision remains the same: Clean water, air and land support healthy communities and ecosystems, and a strong economy in Minnesota. As the stories below attest, the agency and its partners work to solve environmental problems every day.

Proposals for funding 2018-19 projects are due May 26 at 4 p.m. to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council which recently issued its request for 2017-‘18 funding proposals. The council expects about $100 million to be available for projects that protect, restore and enhance wetlands, prairies, forests, and habitat.

The minimum request is $400,000. (Proposals less than $400,000 should be submitted to the Conservation Partners Legacy Program, which opens Aug. 1.) Council staff are available to assist applicants. For help with writing proposals, contact Sandy Smith by email or phone at 651-297-7141 to set up an appointment.

The council makes annual recommendations to the Minnesota Legislature on appropriations from the Outdoor Heritage Council, which is funded by the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.

Meanwhile, some legislative proposals that affect the Lessard-Sams council are causing controversy, as reported by the StarTribune:

• Anderson: Legislature waging assault on vital public lands
• Anderson: House-passed Legacy bill deserves a governor's veto if not modified

Lakes and streams in the Pine River watershed in north central Minnesota are considered very healthy, though some work is needed to protect water quality and restore two lakes, according to recent studies by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).

The Pine River begins at Pine Mountain Lake in Cass County, and flows southeast into Crow Wing County, where it drains into the Mississippi River, about 10 miles north of Brainerd.

The agency and local partners is seeking comments from the public on the two reports through May 10.

The first report, known as Total Maximum Daily Load, or a TMDL, establishes the amount of each pollutant that a waterbody can accept and still meet water quality standards. The TMDL report identifies phosphorus runoff as a major contributor to water quality impairments in Jail and Kego lakes.

The second report, known as a Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy, or WRAPS, summarizes past efforts to monitor and improve water quality, and identifies future strategies for restoring and protecting water quality in the watershed. Some of the recommended strategies include:

• Protecting existing forestland
• Creating buffers in existing agricultural and developed areas
• Restoring wetlands that have been altered
• Promoting agricultural practices to reduce livestock waste in lakes and streams
• Ensuring septic systems are compliant throughout the watershed

Comments, which must be in writing, may be submitted to Scott Lucas, MPCA, 7678 College Road, Baxter, MN, 56425, or by email to, scott.lucas@state.mn.us by 4:30 p.m. on May 10. For more information, contact Lucas at 218-316-3874, or toll-free at 800-657-3864.

Comments must indicate whether they pertain to the Pine River Watershed TMDL or WRAPS report. They should clearly state the action you wish the MPCA to take, including references to sections of the report that you believe should be changed; and provide specific reasons supporting your position.

According to a recent report from the MPCA and its partner, the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District (RWMWD), parts of this metro watershed are polluted as a result of stormwater runoff, internal loading, and streambank erosion. In two lakes and two streams, pollution may inhibit recreational activities, harm aquatic insects and fish, or cause high levels of E. coli bacteria, which can be harmful to human health.

The MPCA has published a set of two reports on the watershed, and is seeking comments from the public on both. The first report, known as a Total Maximum Daily Load, or TMDL, establishes the amount of each pollutant that a water body can accept without exceeding water quality standards, and pollutant load reduction goals.

The second, known as a Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy, or WRAPS, summarizes past efforts to monitor and improve water quality, and identifies future strategies for restoring and protecting water quality in the watershed.

The RWMWD is located in eastern Ramsey County and western Washington County and encompasses portions of a number of communities including White Bear Lake, Vadnais Heights, Gem Lake, Little Canada, Maplewood, Landfall, North St. Paul, St. Paul, Oakdale, Woodbury, Roseville and Shoreview. The MPCA, RWMWD and local groups are recommending a number of actions including:

• Reducing streambank erosion
• Reducing in-lake nutrients
• Improving stormwater management to restore and protect waterbodies

Comments on the reports should be submitted in writing by May 3 to Brooke Asleson, MPCA, 520 Lafayette Road North, St. Paul, MN 55155-4194, or brooke.asleson@state.mn.us. Asleson is available to answer questions at 651-757-2205.

Comments must indicate whether they pertain to the WRAPS report or TMDL study. They must include a statement of the action you wish the MPCA to take, including specific references to sections of the report that you believe should be changed, and specific reasons supporting your position.

Yellow Medicine: Most of streams, lakes impaired for swimming, fishing

Generally, most of the streams and lakes in the Yellow Medicine River watershed do not safely or adequately support swimming or fishing. Streambank erosion and stormwater runoff are having a negative effect on water quality. Agricultural activities in the watershed have resulted in runoff that carries excess phosphorus, sediment and bacteria into bodies of water.

These pollutants degrade water quality and are harmful to fish and other aquatic life.

In the watershed’s TMDL report, and also the WRAPS report approved by the MPCA in 2016, the agency, local watershed district, and other groups recommend a number of actions to restore and protect water bodies here.

The watershed is located in southwestern Minnesota in major portions of three counties: Yellow Medicine, Lincoln and Lyon, and smaller portions of Lac qui Parle and Redwood counties. The Yellow Medicine is a major tributary of the Minnesota River, entering about 8 miles southeast of Granite Falls.

Mustinka: Waters impaired by phosphorus, low dissolved oxygen and sediment

According to the TMDL report, lakes and streams in the Mustinka River watershed are polluted with excess nutrients (including phosphorus), low dissolved oxygen, and sediment that causes cloudiness in the water. In some areas, the pollution is severe enough to be harmful to aquatic insects and fish in the water bodies.

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 predominantly for agricultural row crop production.

The TMDL report and associated WRAPs (approved by the MPCA in 2016) outline several strategies to restore lakes and streams in the Mustinka watershed.

Redeye: TMDL report targets high bacteria counts

The TMDL report, developed by the MPCA and local partners, focuses on restoring and protecting water quality from high bacteria levels in the Redeye River watershed in central and west central Minnesota. 

The Redeye River watershed covers nearly 900 square miles and includes all or parts of Becker, Otter Tail, Todd and Wadena counties.

The TMDL report and WRAPS (approved by the MPCA in 2016) include strategies such as nutrient management, protecting existing riparian habitat, and increasing forest acreage.

As irrigation for cropland has increased in central Minnesota, so too has the need for educating producers on managing irrigation and nitrogen. The groundwater in this part of the state is sensitive to pollution, making irrigation and nitrogen management crucial to prevent contamination of drinking water. Nitrate in drinking water can be harmful to humans, especially infants and the elderly. Nitrate can also be toxic to fish and other aquatic life.

To meet the educational needs, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the East Otter Tail Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) have partnered to offer irrigation and nitrogen management seminars to local producers. Since 2011, more than 450 producers have attended 11 winter seminars. The response from participants has been positive and attendance to the annual event has grown each year. In 2017, more than 100 producers attended.

The successful partnership is funded in part by the Clean Water Fund, and is providing educational opportunities to both new and experienced producers in the region. 

The Central Minnesota Irrigators group and area SWCDS have also helped to make these seminars successful. Past seminars have included presentations from MDA, University of Minnesota Extension, North Dakota State University, Oklahoma State University, University of Nebraska, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, as well as local Natural Resources Conservation Service and SWCD staff. Topics have included regional groundwater resources; irrigation scheduling; soil moisture assessment; crop nitrogen use recommendations; and review of the state’s Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Plan.

The next seminar will be held in February 2018 with more details announced closer to the event.

For more information, contact Luke Stuewe, MDA Soil Scientist, at 218-850-9454 or luke.stuewe@state.mn.us.