Lake Superior Coastal Nonpoint Program
What is Nonpoint Pollution?
Nonpoint pollution is also known as polluted runoff or stormwater pollution. It refers to the pollution that comes from many small sources throughout a watershed. Nonpoint pollution occurs when soil particles, nutrients, bacteria or chemicals are washed off the land and into waterways by rain or melting snow.
Many different land uses contribute to nonpoint pollution, including roads, parking lots, lawns, farm fields, logging operations and failing septic systems. Each small pollution source may not seem important, but together they add up to the leading cause of water quality problems today.
How do we implement the Coastal Nonpoint Program in Minnesota?
Minnesota’s Coastal Nonpoint Program is a partnership and is administered through Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program (facilitated by the Minnesota DNR) and the Lake Superior Basin Plan (facilitated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency). The Coastal Nonpoint Program is being developed jointly by both agencies, in cooperation with numerous public and private partners.
We support implementation of Coastal Nonpoint Management Measures by distributing pass-through (1 page 281kb) grants to Lake Superior watershed partners to help achieve the goals of Soil Water Conservation District Plans, Local Water Plans, and the Lake Superior Basin Plan. Our partners focus mainly on urban/rural pollution prevention, forestry, riparian areas, wetlands, and watershed protection.
Program Approval
From left to right:Pat Collins MLSCP Program Manager, Kent Lokkesmoe, Director Division of Waters MN DNR, John King Chief Coastal Programs Division, OCRM/NOAA, Thomas Davenport Region 5 U.S. EPA.
On July 27, 2006, Minnesota was awarded final approval of its Coastal Nonpoint Program. A celebration event for local, state, and federal partners was held October 6, 2006 at the Park Point Lafayette Square Community Club in Duluth, MN.
Final Approval Document (8 pages, 65kb)
Minnesota gained conditional approval for its Coastal Nonpoint Program in March of 2003. The responses to the conditions applied to Minnesota's program are compiled here (83 pages, 2.2mb)
Background materials
Minnesota's Lake Superior Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program (83 pages, 2.3mb) Documentation on Minnesota's laws, programs and policies dealing with nonpoint pollution meet federal guidelines..
NOAA (National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration) Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Program.
EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) coastal nonpoint pollution page.
Contacts
DNR Coastal Nonpoint Specialist:
Mindy Granley
(218) 834-6625
1568 Hwy 2
Two Harbors, MN 55616
mindy.granley@dnr.state.mn.us
MPCA Coastal Nonpoint Coordinator:
Brian Fredrickson
(218) 723-4898 or (800) 657-3864
525 S. Lake Ave., Ste. 400,
Duluth, MN 55802 Brian.Fredrickson@state.mn.us
