U of M survey finds Minnesotans concerned about water

A new survey by the University of Minnesota found that an overwhelming majority of Minnesotans are concerned about the state’s lakes and rivers and support scientific research to address threats to clean water.

The university’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences conducted the survey of 1,000 Minnesota adults from July 31 through Aug. 5. 

The study asked respondents how they use Minnesota lakes and rivers and surveyed their views on water issues and funding for scientific research.

A vast majority of respondents – 97 percent – said Minnesota's lakes and rivers are important to their quality of life. Nearly as many, 93 percent, said they’re concerned about pollution in those lakes and rivers. 

Eighty-five percent of those surveyed said they support public funding for water-related research. And an equal share said science can address challenges like habitat loss, invasive species, climate impacts and overdevelopment of shorelines.

Associate U of M professor Gretchen Hansen, who researches water issues, said she's pleasantly surprised by those numbers, given recent cuts and freezes of federal funding for scientific research.

"In some ways it's not surprising, given how critical water is to the identity of our state, and so many things that we do here culturally, recreationally, economically center around and rely upon clean water,” Hansen said.

Three-fourths of the survey respondents said they believe state and federal governments should be leading water-related action and research. 

But more than half of the respondents said those governments aren't doing enough.

Statewide, one-quarter of Minnesota lakes don’t meet water quality standards due to high levels of phosphorus and algae, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Phosphorus comes mainly from water running off farm fields and lawns carrying fertilizers or manure, or stormwater draining from urban areas.

In southern Minnesota, many lakes don’t meet standards for aquatic recreation due to high levels of nutrients and sediment from farm runoff. And some lakes in the Twin Cities metro area have high levels of chloride from road salt.