“Since 92% of the Minnesota River Basin area is occupied by production agriculture, most attention is being focused on reducing pollution from this source.” -Regents of the University of Minnesota

Land In Farms 2007 MRBDC; Rick Moore “78% of the land in the Minnesota River Basin is agriculture.”- MRBDC

In 1999, the middle branch of the Rush River was straightened and drainage tiles were installed creating a system that flushes water from nearby fields.

Chetomba Creek after heavy rain (June 2007). Notice the color of the water, heavy with sediment, traveling towards the MN River. Chetomba Creek 2007 MRBDC Sediment Run-off Examples

Tillage drains (run underground from farm fields to MN River). Examples of Agricultural Drainage practices Before the 1970s, agricultural drainage practices were not highly regulated. It was not until the Clean Water Act of 1972 that people really became aware of how our waters were being affected by run-off, drainage and human neglect.

Impaired Waters TMDL List in the Minnesota River Basin The Minnesota River Basin has 336 impaired waters on the 2008 TMDL list. Pollutants include: bacteria from cow manure, chloride, mercury, fish bioassessments, ammonia, Nutrient/Eutrophication.

Farmland only a few feet from River MRBDC

What else is impacting the Minnesota River?

“Ask-an-Expert about the Minnesota River” profiles scientists and citizens answering questions about the health of the Minnesota River. Produced by the Water Resources Center at Minnesota State University, Mankato To learn more, visit the Minnesota River Basin Data: mrbdc.mnsu.edu/learn