NCED Teams With MPCA to Release Report on Minnesota River Basin Turbidity TMDL

Many of the streams and rivers in the Minnesota River watershed currently exhibit high levels of turbidity, which impairs the ecosystem of the Minnesota River, as well as that of the Mississippi River and Lake Pepin. To address the issue, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is developing a turbidity Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) requirement for the Minnesota River Basin, which will guide management decisions throughout the basin. 

In support of that goal, NCED Stream Restoration Program Leader Peter Wilcock has worked with the MPCA to release a report that connects NCED research on sediment sources in the Minnesota River with studies complete or in progress by other Minnesota River turbidity stakeholders.  The report synthesizes and clarifies the current body of knowledge on the issue and will help guide future TMDL and management decisions for the watershed. 

 

More information on the MPCA turbidity TMDL project can be found on their website.