Kiera Jefferson
Minnesota is home to over 10,000 lakes, and the quality of these lakes is a growing concern. While the state's lakes are predominantly healthy, with 75% meeting water quality standards, 25% are polluted, with high levels of phosphorus and algae. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has been working to protect and improve the state's lakes, and their efforts, in collaboration with farmers and other agencies, have resulted in 15 lakes being removed from the impaired waters list in 2024. However, a recent survey of 50 lakes found that all contained at least one chemical contaminant, raising concerns about the impact on aquatic life and human health.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of polluted lakes and rivers in Minnesota | 40% |
| Number of polluted lakes and rivers in Minnesota | 300+ |
| Number of polluted bodies of water in Minnesota | 5,100+ |
| Number of polluted bodies of water in Minnesota according to 2021 data | 3,000+ |
| Percentage of polluted lakes with excess mercury in fish tissue | 31% |
| Percentage of polluted lakes with excess nutrients | 14% |
| Percentage of polluted lakes with excess bacteria | 14% |
| Percentage of polluted lakes with poor fishery health | 13% |
| Percentage of polluted lakes with poor aquatic macroinvertebrates health | 12% |
| Percentage of polluted lakes with excess sediment pollution | 7% |
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What You'll Learn
The Clean Water Council and conservation efforts
Minnesota is home to over 10,000 lakes, and the health of these lakes is of great importance to the state. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has been working to protect and monitor the state's lakes, and their data shows that 75% of the lakes meet water quality standards, while 25% do not, mainly due to high levels of phosphorus and algae. The MPCA's data also reveals that lake health corresponds to ecoregions and factors such as geography, soils, climate, lake depth, and watershed size.
The Clean Water Council, comprising 28 representatives from various organizations, plays a crucial role in advising the state legislature and governor on allocating the Clean Water Fund. This fund, totalling nearly $1.5 billion since 2010, is used by seven state agencies to protect and enhance water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams and safeguard groundwater. The Council's efforts are complemented by those of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and local farmers, who have successfully restored and improved the quality of several lakes, leading to their removal from the Impaired Waters List.
Soil Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) are another vital component of conservation efforts in Minnesota. These local government units manage natural resource programs and collaborate with landowners and other governments. Their work includes keeping sediment out of Kohlman Lake, ensuring the water quality of the North Fork Crow River, and partnering with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to encourage farmers to adopt practices that protect soil and groundwater.
Additionally, the Minnesota LakeBrowser, developed by the University of Minnesota, provides valuable satellite-derived data on lake clarity, chlorophyll concentrations, and CDOM levels for over 10,000 lakes. This tool assists in monitoring lake health and identifying areas requiring conservation efforts.
Overall, the Clean Water Council, in collaboration with state agencies, local farmers, and conservation districts, has made significant strides in protecting and improving the water quality of Minnesota's lakes, ensuring their enjoyment for recreational purposes and preserving the state's natural resources.
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Eutrophication and harmful algal blooms
Minnesota's lakes are particularly susceptible to eutrophication due to various factors. One of the primary contributors is agricultural runoff. The state has a significant amount of cultivated land, with 78% of its prairie region converted into cropland. Fertilizers used in agriculture contain high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen, which, when washed into lakes, contribute to eutrophication. Additionally, the drainage of wetlands and artificial drainage installation have increased sediment and nutrient levels in the region's naturally shallow lakes.
Climate and weather conditions also play a role in eutrophication and HABs. Blue-green algae, a type of cyanobacteria, thrive in warm, calm, and sunny weather with water temperatures above 75°F. They prefer warm, shallow, nutrient-rich waters, which are common in Minnesota during the summer and early fall. However, blooms can occur at other times of the year if the conditions are favourable.
The impacts of eutrophication and HABs on Minnesota's lakes are concerning. High levels of phosphorus and algae are significant contributors to the impairment of lakes, with 25% of the state's lakes not meeting water quality standards due to these factors. The consequences of HABs can be severe, as certain varieties of blue-green algae produce toxins linked to illnesses in humans and animals. Exposure to these toxins through skin contact, ingestion, or inhalation of airborne water droplets can lead to vomiting, diarrhoea, rashes, eye irritation, cough, sore throat, and headaches.
To address these issues, various conservation efforts and initiatives have been implemented. The Clean Water Council, comprising 28 representatives from organizations dedicated to protecting and improving Minnesota's water quality, advises the state legislature and governor on appropriating the Clean Water Fund. Since 2010, nearly $1.5 billion has been appropriated to seven state agencies working to protect and restore water quality. Additionally, partnerships between the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) have resulted in the successful delisting of lakes from the Impaired Waters List. Local farmers have also played a crucial role in restoration activities, collaborating with state agencies and organizations to improve lake health.
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Chemical contaminants and their effects
Minnesota's lakes are cherished for fishing, swimming, and boating, but these activities are threatened by the presence of chemical contaminants in the water. A large 2017 study of Minnesota's lakes found that 55 out of 163 chemicals tested were present in at least one of the 50 lakes sampled. These chemicals included antibiotics, nicotine breakdown products, antidepressants, medications for various conditions, the insect repellent DEET, the hormone estrone, and detergent breakdown products.
Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) are also widespread in Minnesota's lakes and rivers. CECs include pharmaceuticals, fragrances, fire retardants, detergents, insecticides, and industrial chemicals. These contaminants enter water bodies through stormwater runoff, municipal wastewater discharges, septic systems, runoff from animal agriculture, and even precipitation. While the risks posed by many CECs have not been fully evaluated, those with endocrine-active properties can disrupt the normal functioning, growth, and reproduction of organisms, even at very low concentrations. This has already been observed in several aquatic species, including fish and alligators.
Mercury is another significant contaminant in Minnesota's lakes and rivers, with 1,400 water bodies in the state exhibiting dangerously high levels of mercury contamination. Once in the water, bacteria convert mercury to methylmercury, which is then absorbed by fish. Mercury accumulates in the tissue of larger, older fish that feed on other contaminated prey. There is no method of cooking or cleaning fish that can reduce mercury levels in a meal. PFAS, a type of stable chemical that does not break down in the environment, may also build up in fish.
The sources of chemical contaminants in Minnesota's lakes vary. Industrial facilities dump over 1.4 million pounds of toxic chemicals into Minnesota's rivers and streams annually. The metals mining industry is a significant contributor to water pollution, and the proposed PolyMet mine in Minnesota is predicted to cause 500 years of water pollution. Microplastic pollution, originating from personal care products containing microbeads, has also been detected in the Great Lakes, including Lake Superior.
Despite these challenges, efforts to improve water quality in Minnesota's lakes are underway. The Clean Water Council, comprising 28 representatives from various organizations, advises the state legislature and governor on allocating the Clean Water Fund to protect and enhance water quality. Since 2010, nearly $1.5 billion from the Clean Water Fund has been appropriated to seven state agencies working towards this goal. Local farmers and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) have also played a crucial role in restoring lakes, leading to the delisting of 15 Minnesota lakes from the impaired waters list for 2024. Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) have successfully kept sediment out of Kohlman Lake, contributing to its delisting. These collective efforts provide hope for the ongoing protection and restoration of Minnesota's lakes.
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Sediment and nutrient runoff
Minnesota is home to over 10,000 lakes, and the health of these lakes varies depending on factors such as ecoregions, geography, soils, climate, lake depth, and watershed size. The quality of the lakes is also influenced by human activities, such as land use and alterations.
Agricultural and urban runoff are significant contributors to the impairment of Minnesota's lakes. In particular, the conversion of prairie land to agricultural use and the installation of artificial drainage have led to high nutrient and sediment levels in the region's shallow lakes. This has resulted in poor lake health, with only 14% of lakes in some watersheds meeting water quality standards for aquatic recreation.
Soil Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) play a crucial role in managing and directing natural resource management programs at the local level. By partnering with organizations like the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), they have successfully improved the quality of Minnesota's lakes. For example, the Ramsey County SWCD's efforts to keep sediment out of Kohlman Lake led to its delisting from the Impaired Waters List.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has been actively monitoring and studying lake water quality in the state. According to their reports, watersheds heavily impacted by agriculture or development tend to have high levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and suspended solids. These pollutants contribute to algal blooms, murky water, and the decline of aquatic life and recreational opportunities.
Overall, while Minnesota's lakes face challenges due to sediment and nutrient runoff, collaborative efforts between state agencies, farmers, and conservation organizations are making progress in improving water quality. As a result, several lakes have been removed from the Impaired Waters List, and funding and collaboration have been key factors in these successes.
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Water quality standards and impairments
Minnesota's lakes are monitored by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), which assesses the state's lakes and streams in each of its 80 or more major watersheds on a 10-year cycle. The MPCA works with many partners to identify the sources of pollutants and stressors to aquatic life, and determine reductions in pollutants and other changes needed to restore waters to meet water quality standards.
The federal Clean Water Act requires each state to adopt water quality standards to protect waters from pollution. These standards define how much of a pollutant can be in the water and still allow it to meet designated uses, such as drinking water, fishing and swimming. A water body is designated “impaired” if it fails to meet one or more water quality standards. The MPCA creates a list of impaired waters in the state that do not meet water quality standards every two years. This list includes waters that fail to meet water quality standards and uphold that water body’s designated use. The listings are based on intensive water quality monitoring of major lakes and streams in Minnesota’s watersheds, along with data from partners.
The MPCA defines three designated uses for streams and rivers: aquatic consumption, aquatic recreation, and aquatic life. An overall major watershed score is calculated by including results for all affected uses. The percentage of assessments that fail to meet water quality standards is calculated relative to the total number of assessments for each watershed.
The Clean Water Council advises the state legislature and governor regarding the appropriation of the Clean Water Fund, a pool of money used by seven state agencies to protect, enhance, and restore water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams and to protect groundwater from degradation. The NRCS’s partnerships with Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) across the state have also proven effective in improving the quality of Minnesota’s lakes and rivers.
The MPCA has fully assessed 54% of the lakes in the watersheds for aquatic recreation, with 95% meeting water quality standards. Statewide, 75% of lakes meet water quality standards, while 25% do not due to high levels of phosphorus and algae. In the last two decades, overall lake quality trends have stabilized, with the majority of lakes’ water quality measures staying about the same.
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Frequently asked questions
There are over 10,000 lakes in Minnesota.
25% of Minnesota's lakes do not meet water quality standards due to high levels of phosphorus and algae. In watersheds fully assessed by the MPCA, 54% of lakes meet water quality standards for aquatic recreation.
Phosphorus is the contaminant of greatest concern in Minnesota lakes. Phosphorus concentrations are so high that the aquatic ecosystem is no longer in balance, leading to algal blooms and excessive aquatic plant growth.
The Clean Water Council, made up of 28 representatives from various organizations, advises the state on protecting and improving water quality. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency collects water quality data and works to protect and enhance Minnesota's lakes, rivers, and wetlands. Local farmers and organizations like the Natural Resources Conservation Service are also collaborating to restore and improve water quality.
