Fish Contamination Assessment
The DNR works with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota Department of Health to determine the level of contamination from mercury and other harmful chemicals in fish from Minnesota's lakes and rivers and to track the success of efforts to reduce mercury pollution. Clean Water Legacy funding is being used to significantly increase (more than double) the number of lakes and rivers that are assessed for mercury contamination on an annual basis. Fish are collected during DNR fishery surveys, processed for laboratory testing, and analyzed for contaminants. The data are processed by the DNR, shared with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota Department of Health, and long-term trends are summarized in the Clean Water Fund Performance Report.
Many outdoor recreationists enjoy fishing and eating the fish they catch. Unfortunately, much of the fishery is contaminated with chemicals, primarily mercury. This has resulted in the issuance of a number of fish consumption advisories. Fish contaminant data provide the basis for these advisories. They also provide some measure of the threat to other fish-consuming species, including mink, otter, and loons. In addition, the measurement of mercury levels in fish provides an important indicator of progress in attempts to decrease the release of additional mercury into the environment.
M.L. 2023, Ch. 40, Article 2, Section 5(c): $455,000 the first year and $455,000 the second year are for assessing mercury and other fish contaminants, including PFAS compounds, and monitoring to track the status of impaired waters over time.
M.L. 2024, Ch. 106, Article 2, Section 5: $90,000 the second year is for assessing mercury and other fish contaminants, including PFAS compounds, and monitoring to track the status of impaired waters over time. This appropriation is added to the appropriation in Laws 2023, chapter 40, article 2, section 5, paragraph (c).
In FY25, the DNR will collect fish from 130 waterbodies. Resulting sampling data will be used to determine fish consumption advisories, impairment status, and long-term statewide trends.
- 30 of the FY25 waterbodies were selected to overlap with a MNDNR study of zebra mussel infested walleye fisheries. Overlap of contaminants sampling with this study will help investigate the potential for increased mercury bioaccumulation in infested waters which is an emerging concern.
- The remaining 100 waterbody samples will consist of multiple fish species of size classes relevant to human consumption.
- 50 of the FY24 waterbodies will also be analyzed for PFAS.
- 9 river sites will also be analyzed for PCBs.
$455,000 the first year and $455,000 the second year are for assessing mercury and other fish contaminants, including PFAS compounds, and monitoring to track the status of impaired waters over time.
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In FY24 the DNR will collect fish from 130 waterbodies. Resulting sampling data will be used to determine fish consumption advisories, impairment status, and long-term statewide trends.
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In FY24, the DNR collected and tested fish samples from a total of 130 waterbodies for contaminants testing.
- Each waterbody sample consisted of multiple fish species.
- Fish species and size classes’ samples were relevant to human consumption.
- An average of 20 fish were sampled for each waterbody with a total of 2,205 fish tested for mercury, 40 fish tested for PCBs, and 493 fish were tested for PFAS.
- Contaminant data were collected, processed, and delivered to MPCA partners to determine fish consumption advisories, impairment status, and long-term statewide trends.
$175000 the first year and $175000 the second year are for assessing mercury and other fish contaminants including monitoring to track the status of impaired waters over time.
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The remaining 122 waterbody samples will consist of multiple fish species of size classes relevant to human consumption.
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In FY23 the DNR collected and tested fish samples from a total of 120 waterbodies for contaminants testing.
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$175000 the first year and $175000 the second year are for assessing mercury and other fish contaminants including monitoring to track the status of impaired waters over time.
In FY22, the DNR will test another 80 lake and river sites for fish mercury contamination to collect information other agencies use to determine fish consumption advisories, impairment status, and long-term statewide trends. This is in addition to the approximately 70 lakes normally tested every year for mercury and other fish contaminants using Game and Fish Funds.
In FY22, the DNR collected and tested fish samples from a total of 116 waterbodies for contaminants testing.
- Each waterbody sample consisted of multiple fish species.
- Fish species and size classes’ samples were relevant to human consumption.
- An average of 25 fish were sampled for each waterbody with a total of 2,538 fish tested for mercury, 44 fish tested for PCBs, and 333 fish tested for PFAS.
- Fish samples from an additional 61 surplus waterbodies were sampled and samples archived for testing in FY23.
- Contaminant data were collected, processed, and delivered to MPCA partners to determine fish consumption advisories, impairment status, and long-term statewide trends.
135000 the first year and $135000 the second year are for assessing mercury and other fish contaminants including monitoring to track the status of impaired waters over time.
The May 2020 budget forecast required agencies to reduce Clean Water Fund spending by $17.6 million dollars. Funding for supplemental fish contaminant testing was eliminated for FY21 due in part to the inability to collect fish in as many lakes as normal.
The May 2020 budget forecast required agencies to reduce Clean Water Fund spending by $17.6 million dollars. Funding for supplemental fish contaminant testing was eliminated for FY21 due in part to the inability to collect fish in as many lakes as normal.
135000 the first year and $135000 the second year are for assessing mercury and other fish contaminants including monitoring to track the status of impaired waters over time.
In FY20 the DNR will test another 80 lake and river sites for fish mercury contamination to collect information other agencies use to determine fish consumption advisories impairment status and long-term statewide trends. This is in addition to the approximately 70 lakes normally tested every year for mercury and other fish contaminants using Game and Fish Funds.
In FY20 the DNR tested another 80 lake and river sites for fish mercury contamination to collect information other agencies use to determine fish consumption advisories impairment status and long-term statewide trends. This is in addition to the approximately 70 lakes normally tested every year for mercury and other fish contaminants using Game and Fish Funds.
$135000 the first year and $135000 the second year are for assessing mercury and other contaminants of fish including monitoring to track the status of impaired waters over time.
In FY19 the DNR will test another 80 lake and river sites for fish mercury contamination to collect information other agencies use to determine fish consumption advisories impairment status and long-term statewide trends. This is in addition to the approximately 70 lakes normally tested every year for mercury and other fish contaminants using Game and Fish Funds.
FY19 the DNR tested another 80 lake and river sites for fish mercury contamination using the Clean Water Fund to collect information other agencies use to determine fish consumption advisories impairment status and long-term statewide trends.
$135000 the first year and $135000 the second year are for assessing mercury and other contaminants of fish including monitoring to track the status of impaired waters over time.
In FY18 the DNR will test another 80 lake and river sites for fish mercury contamination that will be used by other agencies to determine fish consumption advisories impairment status and long-term state-wide trends. This is in addition to the approximately 70 lakes normally tested every year for mercury and other fish contaminants using Game and Fish Funds.
FY18 the DNR tested another 80 lake and river sites for fish mercury contamination to collect information other agencies use to determine fish consumption advisories impairment status and long-term statewide trends.
(c) $135000 the first year and $135000 the second year are for assessing mercury and other contaminants of fish including monitoring to track the status of impaired waters over time.
(d)
In FY17 the DNR will test 80 lake and river sites for fish mercury contamination to collect information to be used for determining fish consumption advisories impairment status and long-term state-wide trends trend markers for those sites. This is in addition to the approximately 70 lakes that are normally tested on an annual basis for mercury and other fish contaminants.
In FY17 the DNR tested another 80 lake and river sites for fish mercury contamination that is used by other agencies for determining fish consumption advisories impairment status and long-term state-wide trends. This is in addition to the approximately 70 lakes normally tested every year for mercury and other fish contaminants using Game and Fish Funds.
(c) $135000 the first year and $135000 the second year are for assessing mercury and other contaminants of fish including monitoring to track the status of impaired waters over time.
(d)
Every year the DNR will test 80 lake and river sites for fish contamination to collect information to be used for determining fish consumption advisories impairment status and trend markers for those sites. This is in addition to the approximately 70 lakes that are normally tested on an annual basis.
In FY16 the DNR tested 80 lake and river sites for fish mercury contamination to collect information to be used for determining fish consumption advisories impairment status and long-term state-wide trends trend markers for those sites. This is in addition to the approximately 70 lakes that are normally tested on an annual basis for mercury and other fish contaminants.
$135000 the first year and $135000
the second year are for assessing mercury
contamination of fish including monitoring
to track the status of waters impaired by
mercury and mercury reduction efforts over
time.
Every year the DNR will test 80 lake and river sites for fish contamination to collect information to be used for determining fish consumption advisories impairment status and trend markers for those sites. This is in addition to the approximately 70 lakes that are normally tested on an annual basis.
In FY15 the DNR tested 80 lake and river sites for fish mercury contamination to collect information to be used for determining fish consumption advisories impairment status and long-term state-wide trends trend markers for those sites. This is in addition to the approximately 70 lakes that are normally tested on an annual basis for mercury and other fish contaminants.
$135000 the first year and $135000
the second year are for assessing mercury
contamination of fish including monitoring
to track the status of waters impaired by
mercury and mercury reduction efforts over
time.
Every year the DNR will test 80 lakes and rivers for fish contamination to collect information to be used for determining fish consumption advisories impairment status and trend markers for those sites. This is in addition to the approximately 70 lakes that are normally tested on an annual basis.
FY14 the DNR tested 80 lakes and rivers sites for fish mercury contamination to collect information to be used for determining fish consumption advisories impairment status and long-term state-wide trends trend markers for those sites. This is in addition to the approximately 70 lakes that are normally tested on an annual basis for mercury and other fish contaminants.
$130000 the first year and $130000 the second year are for assessing mercury contamination of fish including monitoring to track the status of waters impaired by mercury and mercury reduction efforts over time.
Every year the DNR will test 80 lakes and rivers for fish contamination to collect information to be used for determining fish consumption advisories impairment status and trend markers for those sites. This is in addition to the approximately 70 lakes that are normally tested on an annual basis.
FY13 the DNR tested 80 lakes and rivers for fish contamination to collect information to be used for determining fish consumption advisories impairment status and trend markers for those sites. This is in addition to the approximately 70 lakes that are normally tested on an annual basis.
$130000 the first year and $130000 the second year are for assessing mercury contamination of fish including monitoring to track the status of waters impaired by mercury and mercury reduction efforts over time.
Every year the DNR will test 80 lakes and rivers for fish contamination to collect information to be used for determining fish consumption advisories impairment status and trend markers for those sites. This is in addition to the approximately 70 lakes that are normally tested on an annual basis.
FY12 the DNR tested 80 lakes and rivers for fish contamination to collect information to be used for determining fish consumption advisories impairment status and trend markers for those sites. This is in addition to the approximately 70 lakes that are normally tested on an annual basis.
$1240000 the first year and $2460000
the second year are for assisting in water
quality assessments in supporting the
identification of impaired waters.
Every year the DNR will test 80 lakes and rivers for fish contamination to collect information to be used for determining fish consumption advisories impairment status and trend markers for those sites. This is in addition to the approximately 70 lakes that are normally tested on an annual basis.
In FY11 the DNR tested 80 lakes and rivers for fish contamination to collect information to be used for determining fish consumption advisories impairment status and trend markers for those sites. This is in addition to the approximately 70 lakes that are normally tested on an annual basis.
$1240000 the first year and $2460000
the second year are for assisting in water
quality assessments in supporting the
identification of impaired waters.
Every year the DNR will test 80 lakes and rivers for fish contamination to collect information to be used for determining fish consumption advisories impairment status and trend markers for those sites. This is in addition to the approximately 70 lakes that are normally tested on an annual basis.
In FY10 the DNR tested 80 lakes and rivers for fish contamination to collect information to be used for determining fish consumption advisories impairment status and trend markers for those sites. This is in addition to the approximately 70 lakes that are normally tested on an annual basis.