Minnesota and Wisconisn shake hands over St. Croix
According to a story (States to sign deal protecting St. Croix) in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Minnesota and Wisconsin have agreed to a voluntary goal for the reduction of phosphorous in the St. Croix River. Quotes from the story--an assistant commissioner from the MPCA is quoted:

[S]tudies have shown that agriculture and increased development in the river's 7,760-square-mile watershed over the past half-century have funneled more phosphorus to it. A 2004 report predicted the river's water quality would continue to decline unless regulatory practices in the watershed change.

Population in the river's watershed is projected to increase 40 percent from 2000 to 2020, with St. Croix and Washington counties showing particularly strong recent growth.

Agricultural runoff and wastewater treatment plants already have been identified as key culprits.

"This isn't something that is required; it's something that's trying to get ahead of the game to keep waters from becoming further polluted,'' said Lisa Thorvig, assistant commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

The St. Croix River, Somerset Township
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