Land of 1,475 impaired lakes: State agency releases water quality report

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved the Minnesota Pollution Control Authority’s list of impaired waters in Minnesota. The list of "waters that are not meeting one or more water-quality standards" contains 1,475 impairments on 336 rivers and 510 lakes throughout the state, though only a small fraction of Minnesota’s bodies of water have been assessed. A total of 2,575 impaired waters have been identified, but many already have plans for rehabilitation in place and others are naturally impaired.

The Clean Water Act requires states to publish a list of impaired waters and update it bi-annually. The 2008 totals reflect a reduction from 2006 when 2,250 bodies of water were listed. This is mainly due to the increase in allowable mercury levels.

To check your favorite lake, river or stream, visist Conservation Minnesota’s  Check My Lake, a searchable database of impaired waters in Minnesota.