Water Quality

A bipartisan appropriations bill included $10 million in federal funding toward Northland infrastructure projects, $1 million of which will fund Hib-WATER.

The Hibbing Gas Manufacturing Plant was torn down in 1980, but the industrial processes of the past left contamination in the soil, groundwater and nearby surface water.

A conservation easement will protect the property spanning forests, wetlands, cliffs and streams. Half of the protected acreage is considered to be "high biodiversity."

As the U.S. Senate prepares to vote on reversing a 2023 mining ban in the Superior National Forest, Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith spoke on the Senate floor April 14, 2026.

The bill seeks to integrate wild rice waters into the ag department's pesticide management plan, developing better practices to monitor pesticide distribution, use and disposal.

The Republican from Hermantown authored the American Water Stewardship Act, and it passed March 24, 2026, with bipartisan support.

Getting an earlier start on targeted removal gives them a stronger chance to effectively manage invasive weeds over the course of an open-water season, professionals say.

Little progress has been made despite 40 years of cleanup on Leech Lake Reservation. Locals fear for the health of surrounding lakes and the Mississippi River downstream.

The free test kits from the Beltrami County Soil and Water Conservation District check for bacteria, nitrates, lead, arsenic and manganese in private wells.

Elevated lead levels are not citywide and vary based on individual service lines and plumbing materials. The event is 6 p.m. at the Memorial Building.