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From 53 feet above, water cascades over a limestone ledge, forming Minnehaha Falls in
Minneapolis.
The steady stream falls into Minnehaha Creek, which flows into the Mississippi, where
it eventually empties into the Gulf of Mexico.
While we all want to believe that water sent into the Gulf of Mexico is healthy, an emerging
trend shows Minnesota rivers and streams, in certain areas of the state, have increased
levels of nitrate.
"If we look over time the trends show a variety of patterns, but one of the more common trends
that we saw was along the Mississippi River where we saw continuous increases since 1976 in
nitrate concentrations. We also are seeing some varied concentrations and trends in south-central
Minnesota and more recently some improvements in nitrate levels in south-central Minnesota."
Along with being one of the lead authors of the Nitrogen in Minnesota Surface Waters report,
Dave Wall is a senior hydrologist with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
He says nitrate in Minnesota waterways contribute to the oxygen-depleted dead zone in the Gulf
of Mexico.
"This dead zone is an area where fish and other shellfish and aquatic life can't survive
because the oxygen levels are too low."
Elevated nitrate levels may harm fish and aquatic life right in Minnesota and since
nitrate moves primarily through groundwater, it can pollute drinking wells.
A priority of the Nitrogen in Minnesota Surface Waters study is to help develop state strategies
for reducing nitrogen in our waters.
Wall says, "This study is the first of its kind really, which is, it's a comprehensive
study looking at nitrogen getting into surface waters and we're looking at the conditions
in the water, we're looking at the sources, the trends over time and what we can do to
reduce nitrate-nitrogen from getting into our surface waters. "
Dave Wall had the opportunity to testify on the report today during the House Environment,
Natural Resources and Agriculture finance committee meeting.
You can see the whole committee meeting on House Public Information's YouTube channel.
For the Minnesota House of Representatives, I'm Sarah Alain.