MPCA to hold public information meeting

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency announced last week its update of the federally required list of the state’s polluted lakes and stream segments.

The draft update adds 287 new polluted waters to the existing list, bringing the current total to 1,469.

The listed waters, also known as “impaired waters” under the federal Clean Water Act, do not meet water-quality standards. the waters contain pollutants at levels above acceptable limits designed to protect public uses. The listed waters need further study to determine how they can be restored to a healthy condition.

The Littlefork River is included on the impaired waters list because of its turbidity.

The proposed 2008 Impaired Waters list is available on the MPCA’s Web site at www.pca.state.mn.us/water/tmdl/tmdl-303dlist.hmtl.

The list is formally on public notice from Oct. 8 to Nov. 7. A public information meeting is scheduled for 1-3 p.m. Oct. 2 at Rainy River Community College. Questions, comments or requests for additional information can also be submitted to Howard Markus at the MPCA.

Only a small fraction of Minnesota’s lakes and streams have been assessed so far for impairments. As the agency gathers more data, other waters may be added to the list.

In recent years, public concern about the number of waters on the list has risen. To help address issues related to impaired waters in our state, lawmakers passed the Clean Water Legacy Act in 2006.

In 2007, Gov. Tim Pawlenty proposed and the Legislature passed additional funding for water assessment, monitoring, clean up and protection activities.