2026 Minnesota Water Resources Conference Takeaways

Hosted in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the 2026 Minnesota Water Resources Conference brought together water engineers, academics, and agency professionals from across the Midwest to share engineering solutions, scientific innovations, and managerial insight. Read on for my key takeaways from the conference as a first-time attendee.

1. A History of Minnesota Sulfate Regulations

In the 1930s and 1940s, a biologist working for the Minnesota Department of Conservation found that wild rice struggled to grow in sulfate-rich waters. As a cultural and economic resource, the state sought to protect wild rice in 1973 by adopting a sulfate standard limit of 10 milligrams per liter in waters used for wild rice production. However, the energy and mining industries struggled to meet the 10 milligrams per liter standard, prompting looser enforcement from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) until the 2010s.

Meanwhile, scientists discovered more nuance regarding sulfate pollution impacts on the naturally low-sulfate lakes of Northern Minnesota. Studies showed that sulfate pollution can affect methyl mercury production in bodies of water, causing mercury accumulation in fish and increasing toxins in fish for human consumption. Additionally, studies of Minnesota lakes found that wild rice is impacted more by sulfide concentration in the soil water matrix than sulfate in surface water. The bacterial process that converts sulfate into sulfide is dependent on the presence of iron and organic carbon in the lakebed. However, iron and organic carbon can vary widely across lakes, creating logistical barriers to monitoring their levels in every lake that produces wild rice. While sulfate pollution impacts naturally low-sulfate lakes, it is very difficult to determine broad, scientifically backed sulfate regulations.

The 1973 standard is still in place today, but water professionals continue to work toward better understanding and management of sulfate pollution in Minnesota.

Takeaway: Complex biological processes and numerous stakeholder tradeoffs make regulating sulfate pollution in Minnesota water important but extremely difficult.

2. Minnesota and Iowa Water Differences

In Iowa, agriculture powers the economy and row crops and pastureland dominate the landscape. Agriculture is directly or indirectly connected to nearly every water resources conversation in Iowa. In recent years, the topic of water quality, specifically nitrate pollution linked to agriculture, has become an increasingly popular subject across the state. Beginning my water resources career in Iowa, most of my previous experience with agricultural water best management practices (BMPs) focused on water resources to limit nutrient pollution, such as nitrogen and phosphorus. As a result, I have had the opportunity to see Iowa develop several innovations, including saturated buffers, prairie strips, and multipurpose grassed waterways.

Agricultural water BMPs are a relevant topic in Minnesota as well, and I have expanded my knowledge of them since joining ISG. However, the Minnesota Water Resources Conference exposed me to other water resources conversations happening in Minnesota. Overall, Minnesota’s approach to water differs from Iowa because forested lands, large natural lakes, mining, and a relatively large metropolitan area play significant roles in the state’s water resources. With more natural lakes, Minnesota prioritizes enhancing and protecting water recreation activities more strongly than Iowa. Differences in land use across each state create different water resources problems, solutions, and priorities.

However, as neighbors, Minnesota and Iowa share similarities. Ideas from one state can be implemented in the other, leveraging each state's strengths to improve water management across the region.

Takeaway: While water resources priorities vary between Minnesota and Iowa, each state can learn from the other’s strengths to advance water quality.

3. Reframing the Mississippi River

With the headwaters of the Mississippi River located in northern Minnesota, the state has a unique relationship with the river. How we treat the river in Minnesota can have impacts on everyone downstream. In the early 1900s, raw sewage from the Twin Cities was dumped in the river, causing some river stretches to be devoid of fish. While the Mississippi River still faces challenges in Minnesota today, the increased implementation of water quality BMPs and sanitation standards have improved the overall health of the river throughout the last 100 years. As the river flows south, commercial activity with the riverbanks and river basin increases, and water flowing from urban areas, agricultural lands, and industrial facilities reaches the river. With thousands of communities connected to the Mississippi River, urgent concerns today include balancing barge traffic, wildlife, water quality, flooding, drought, and the ecosystem health of the river. Solving these diverse challenges will take diverse solutions. According to speaker Beaux Jones, there may be no silver bullet, but there is silver buckshot. Water industry professionals across Minnesota are seeking to enhance water quality in the Mississippi River not only for Minnesotan communities, but for all communities downstream.

Takeaway: Minnesota’s water quality BMPs affect the entire Mississippi River, making it imperative that professionals work together to consider the river’s downstream health and communities.

4. Collaboration in the Water Industry

Faced with complex challenges that affect communities, wildlife, and shared resources, it is critical for water industry professionals to collaborate with one another. Although environmental, industrial, agricultural, and urban development interests may conflict with one another, transparency, open communication, and early collaboration between all stakeholders help to determine options that leverage sustainability and functionality. While disagreements early on in a project can be uncomfortable, addressing them upfront becomes an opportunity to find new solutions and prevent large issues from occurring later in the project. Conferences like the Minnesota Water Resources Conference are channels to build connections, discover new ways to refine our work, advance the water industry, and benefit our communities.

Takeaway: Networking, sharing insights, and working together, regardless of industry or geography, will help improve water resource management.