April 2025: St. Louis River Area of Concern Updates
The St. Louis River (SLR) was designated as one of the 31 Areas of Concern (AOC) on the Great Lakes. It was designated as an AOC under the U.S. – Canada Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement in 1987 because of significant impacts that occurred before modern environmental laws were in place. Following the SLRAOC Remedial Action Plan, state and federal agencies have been implementing management actions to address the legacy impairments. If you look, you can now see the work in progress throughout the SLRAOC: contractors are busy each construction season, plant and animal populations are rebounding, water is cleaner, and lost habitat is being restored.
Continue reading for April St. Louis River Area of Concern project updates.
Photo: Potential project elements courtesy of MNDNR
Mud Lake
In the April 22nd issue of the EQB Monitor, the notice for the 4/22-5/22 public comment period for the Mud Lake Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) will be published. As of April 22nd, you can go to MNDNR’s Mud Lake EAW webpage for instructions on how to submit written comments.
For more information about the project, click here.
Graphic: Management Action Status as of 3/31/25 courtesy of MPCA.
Progress Update
As of the 3/31/25 tally, 65 of 80 (81.3%) management actions have been completed. What’s left? Five contaminated sediment remediation projects & 4 habitat restoration projects should be completed by fall 2027. Six “other” tasks will follow those.
For more information, click here.
SLRAOC Celebration of Progress
Mark your calendars! This year’s event will be May 8, 5:30-7:30 pm at Clyde Iron Works. Several speakers & tabling guests will help us explore the links in the estuary food chain – from the river bottom to the kitchen table.
