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.

Report shows gain in Minnesota's wetland acres
Wetlands play a key role in improving water quality, storing floodwater, preventing erosion and providing habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife. The recent gains are tiny compared to Minnesota’s historical wetland losses.
Hold the salt: 67 Minnesota waterways now 'impaired' due to chloride
Road salt is the biggest source of chloride pollution in lakes, streams and groundwater. It only takes one teaspoon of salt to permanently pollute five gallons of water.
Researchers find a massive number of plastic particles in bottled water
Researchers found roughly 240,000 detectable plastic fragments in a typical liter of bottled water. Most of them were nanoplastics — particles less than 1 micrometer in size.
Lawmaker: Raise fertilizer fees to help pay cost of nitrate pollution
DFL Rep. Rick Hansen says farmers should pay higher fees for nitrogen fertilizer, the source of the majority of nitrate contamination in southeast Minnesota. Farm groups oppose the idea.
Dakota women leading two Twin Cities nonprofits aim to be catalysts for change 
The Twin Cities are at the epicenter of a dynamic shift in the world of land stewardship and restoration work. Leading the charge are two nonprofit environmental organizations —Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi and Owámniyomni Okhódayapi — now both led by Indigenous women.  
Minnesota Farm Bureau seeks to engage urban ag producers
The Minnesota Farm Bureau is hosting its first urban agriculture conference this month in St. Paul. The century old ag organization is expanding efforts to advocate for farmers of all sizes.
Deteriorating ice creates dangerous conditions on Minnesota lakes
Ice conditions are deteriorating across the state because of warm temperatures and recent rainfall. Law enforcement officials and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources are urging caution when venturing onto frozen lakes.
Along the North Shore, sleepy Silver Bay embraces development to put itself 'on the map'
Construction is set to begin on a nearly $25 million development of townhomes and vacation rentals in Silver Bay, the first of several projects to reinvent the city originally built as a mining company town.