Trouble in the Water: Random acts of conservation - Water quality depends on farmers' willingness, not regulation

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As part of MPR's “Trouble in the Water” series, MPR’s Dan Gunderson reports on farming as a big part of Minnesota's clean water problem, and the potential solution of environmental stewardship by farmers.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency estimates that 40 percent of the state's lakes and streams are polluted. Much of that pollution is from soil, fertilizer and other contaminants flowing off farm fields — and cleaning it up is almost solely reliant on the goodwill of farmers. Cropland isn't regulated as a pollution source.

Report is second in an eight-part series.

Click links below for other parts of series:

part 1: https://archive.mpr.org/stories/2016/05/16/trouble-in-the-water-can-minnesota-stop-polluting-its-lakes-rivers

part 3: https://archive.mpr.org/stories/2016/05/18/trouble-in-the-water-should-farmers-or-city-pay-to-clean-the-water-iowa

part 4: https://archive.mpr.org/stories/2016/05/19/trouble-in-the-water-northern-minnesotas-st-louis-river-comes-back-to-life

part 5: https://archive.mpr.org/stories/2016/05/20/trouble-in-the-water-saving-minnesotas-polluted-lakes-takes-science-political-will

part 6: https://archive.mpr.org/stories/2016/05/23/trouble-in-the-water-from-septics-to-sewers-on-rainy-lakes-south-shore

part 7: https://archive.mpr.org/stories/2016/05/24/trouble-in-the-water-dogs-as-sentinelsbluegreen-algae-brings-toxic-mystery

part 8: https://archive.mpr.org/stories/2016/05/25/trouble-in-the-water-in-battle-to-keep-lead-from-water-st-paul-digs-deep

Awarded:

2016 MBJA Eric Sevareid Award, award of merit in Series - Large Market Radio category

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Materials created/edited/published by Archive team as an assigned project during remote work period and in office during fiscal 2021-2022 period.

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