Report: Water pollution persists in Mississippi River

St. Cloud Times, Minn., 2012-11-29

By Kirsti Marohn, St. Cloud Times, Minn.

Nov. 29--Many of the St. Cloud area lakes and rivers that drain into the Mississippi River continue to have pollution problems including too many nutrients and bacteria, according to a new report.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency released the water-quality monitoring and assessment report for the 1,080-mile watershed, which includes 907 miles of river and 374 lakes. It covers parts of Benton, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Sherburne, Stearns and Wright counties.

The MPCA began an intensive monitoring effort of the St. Cloud watershed in 2009. Water samples were collected between 2009 and 2011 from more than 70 rivers, including the Elk, Clearwater, St. Francis and Mayhew Creek; and 69 lakes, including Clearwater, Elk, Cedar, Clear and Pleasant.

The water was tested to determine whether it can support fish and macroinvertebrates. Elevated nutrient and bacteria levels were common concerns throughout the watershed, the report states.

The MPCA recommends ways to improve water quality in the watershed, including reducing runoff from farms, protecting remaining forests, controlling storm water runoff and planting buffers.

The watershed has a diverse landscape, although farming is the predominant land use. It's home to more than 160,000 people and includes the population centers of St. Cloud, Sauk Rapids, Elk River, Monticello and Otsego.

The St. Cloud watershed report is one of 80 the MPCA is developing throughout the next decade for all of the state's major watersheds with funding from the Legacy Amendment.

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