Photo courtesy Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
The quality of water on the Rainy River is being identified as being good to excellent.
A review by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says the environmental controls put in place almost 70 years ago are having a positive impact today.
Research Scientist Jesse Anderson says the river was in terrible shape before action was taken on both sides of the border in the early 70s.
“Not that long ago, it was described in government documents as really unfit for recreation, swimming. It was really described as a menace to the public. Now it’s a world-class fishery and recreational area,” says Anderson.
“The two towns and the two paper mills really started cleaning up their wastewater and then the river really responded starting in the 70s and in the early 80s. Today the river is in great shape.”
The MPCA sees two key pieces of legislation as helping with the improved water quality: Canada’s Environmental Protection Act in 1971 and the United States’ Clean Water Act in 1972.
The forming of the International Rainy River Water Pollution Board in 1966 to assist the International Joint Commission in complying with government directives also played a role.
