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.

Enbridge, Fond du Lac Band reach deal to route Line 3 through reservation
The financial terms of the deal are confidential. But the agreement provides Enbridge with easements through 2039 for the six existing oil pipelines that cross the reservation.
Quiz: Can you identify the invasive?
Can you identify the invasives — and their near-doppelganger native species counterparts?
As lake invaders dig in, Minnesota worries what comes next
Millions are spent every year to control the spread of aquatic invasives, but countless new species pose a future threat to Minnesota's lakes and rivers.
Four things that need to happen before PolyMet mine's future can be written
The PolyMet proposal -- and the prospect of a new copper-nickel mining industry amongst the forests and lakes of northeast Minnesota -- is the most divisive environmental issue the state has faced in decades.
In Minn., Gulf shrimpers meet farmers trying to save their catch
Two shrimp fishermen from the Gulf Coast traveled to Minnesota last weekend to spread the word about how the dead zone of the Mississippi River is affecting their livelihood.
Measuring the impact of invasives in Minnesota lakes is complicated, inconclusive
Are aquatic invasives primarily a nuisance, or do they cause serious damage to lakes? Are invasive species going to destroy the fisheries, as predicted? And, if not, does the impact justify all the money going into it?
'We don't close our lakes': In battle against aquatic invaders, it's protection vs. access
In a pilot program that began last fall, Wright County has become the first in Minnesota to require mandatory inspections at a central location before boats can enter four of its lakes. It's been getting a lot of attention as a possible model for other Minnesota counties.
What’s on MPR News – 8/23/18
Here are the stories, topics, and guests you'll hear today on MPR News.
Activists have a new strategy to block gas pipelines: state's rights
Oil and gas pipeline opponents have a new legal strategy. They're encouraging states to exercise rights granted in the Clean Water Act to stop new pipeline construction.