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.

October 25, 2013 7:20 AM

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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October 20, 2013 4:00 AM

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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October 16, 2013 4:49 PM

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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October 10, 2013 4:42 PM

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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September 25, 2013 6:17 AM

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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September 19, 2013 7:02 AM

Ananya Dance Theatre takes on troubled waters with Mohona: Estuaries of Desire

This weekend Ananya Dance Theatre presents its final work in what has been a four-year investigation of systemic violence in women's lives.

by Marianne Combs

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September 18, 2013 4:00 AM

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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September 17, 2013 4:37 PM

Ely highway reroute bogged down by safety, environmental concerns

A long-awaited highway safety project by the Minnesota Department of Transportation to improve Highway 169 could make the road safer for drivers. But progress has been slowed by concerns over potential water pollution.

by Dan Kraker

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September 13, 2013 7:00 PM

Great Lakes program inspires rare bipartisanship

For all their indignation about government overreach, Republicans in the eight-state region are matching Democrats' enthusiasm for an array of federal programs benefiting the Great Lakes.

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September 10, 2013 4:00 AM

Fertilizer by-product an unhealthy, expensive risk to water quality

Fertilizer use in farming is so prevalent that at least two dozen Minnesota communities have unhealthy levels of its by-products in their drinking water supplies. Crop researchers say there is a proven solution: perennial crops which absorb nitrates. But not many farmers have adopted the method.

by Mark Steil

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