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.

Woman’s kayaking hobby brings delight, discovery at 106
Pat Marble, just a few weeks shy of 107, still spends her summers at the family lake house in Northome, about four and a half hours north of the Twin Cities where she lives. At the lake, she sleeps on the porch, and says she doesn’t do much housework anymore. But she has picked up a new hobby: kayaking.
A new old way to combat toxic algae: Float them up, then skim them off
Massive blooms of blue-green algae are choking Florida's waterways. On Lake Okeechobee, the Army Corps of Engineers is testing methods based on wastewater treatment to remove the green slime.
Surf's up on Minnesota's hottest lake sport, but not everyone's on board
Wakesurfing has been gaining popularity on Minnesota lakes — but it has plenty of detractors who say the boats used in the sport erode shorelines, affect water quality and disturb other lake users.
On the North Shore, many hands work to help a dying forest
Insects, invasives and hotter temps are laying waste to Minnesota’s northeastern forests. People are working now to rebuild the North Woods, making them more resilient to climate change without losing the grandeur Minnesotans know and love.