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Water

Water shortages and problems around Minnesota — and the country — have many wondering what is the true cost of clean and reliable water. This reporting is supported in part by The Water Main, a project of American Public Media.

Slowing demand for frac sand changes the landscape in southeast Minnesota

Slowing demand for frac sand changes the landscape in southeast Minnesota

Sand is the crucial ingredient in the oil and natural gas extraction process known as fracking, and there are large deposits of it in the steep bluffs along the Mississippi River. But demand for sand has dropped.
by Elizabeth Baier

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Superior National Forest taking comments on Twin Metals study

Superior National Forest taking comments on Twin Metals study

The Superior National Forest is accepting public comment this week on a study related to a major proposed copper nickel mine.
by Dan Kraker

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State's top elected officials approve mineral leases, with reservations

The mineral leases are auctioned off periodically to companies interested in discovering minerals like copper, nickel or gold. The DNR held an auction for these leases a year ago, but the state's Executive Council decided not to sign off on them because of a court challenge.
by Elizabeth Dunbar

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Stalled SW Minn. water project up for vote

The Lewis & Clark Regional Water System is supposed to deliver Missouri River water to southwest Minnesota. But construction ended when Congress failed to deliver promised funding.
by Mark Steil

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DNR to review proposed taconite mine expansion in northeast Minn.

Northshore Mining wants to expand its Peter Mitchell Mine south of Babbitt, Minn. Environmental groups, arguing the expansion could cause acid mine drainage, petitioned the Department of Natural Resources for an environmental assessment.
by Dan Kraker

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Algae fixes may trigger more lake pollution

According to a new University of Minnesota study published online Thursday in the journal Science, reducing phosphorus can result in less of the microbial processes that eliminate another unwanted nutrient: nitrogen.
by Elizabeth Dunbar

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Mississippi River's 1926 dead zone holds lessons for Gulf of Mexico today

Mississippi River's 1926 dead zone holds lessons for Gulf of Mexico today

Here in the land of 10,000 lakes, zebra mussels and Asian carp have generally topped the list of recent marine environmental concerns. But in the 1920s, before wastewater treatment plants were built, there were far bigger problems.
by Elizabeth Dunbar and Matt Sepic

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Guideline or law? Confusion over frac sand mining standards

Guideline or law? Confusion over frac sand mining standards

State officials want public input on frac sand mining guidelines now in their final stages. But opponents of the practice have not given up hope for an outright ban.
by Stephanie Hemphill

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