When it comes to our stretch of the prairie along the South Dakota-Minnesota boundary waters, a river runs through it.
And the water quality in that river is pretty disgusting.
That's an unavoidable conclusion from a new study posted at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), The Minnesota River: Evaluating its health:
A recent study by the MInnesota Pollution Control Agency shows there's still much work to be done for the health of the Minnesota River. The monitoring and evaluation work encompasses most of the river, from Big Stone Lake to where it meets the Mississippi in St. Paul. The study led to these primary conclusions:
- Overall, the Minnesota River is unhealthy. Sediment clouds the water, phosphorus causes algae, nitrogen poses risks to humans and fish, and bacteria make the water unsafe for swimming.
- Too much water flowing into the river plays a big part in all these problems. There’s more rain, more artificial drainage, and not enough places to store this water.
Much of this pollution is caused by industrial strength agriculture, so we're sure to be told often in the coming months about how we shouldn't point our algae-covered fingers about anyone along the Little Minnesota River in Roberts County, South Dakota, on its way to Big Stone Lake and the Minnesota River. Pity.
Here's an overview of the data from the MPCA:
Our Minnesota River posted by Sally Jo Sorensen on Scribd
Map: The Minnesota River Watershed, with the highlighted. Credit: By Kmusser - Self-made, based on USGS data., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4168533.
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