DNR says Strait River aquifers stable; MPCA links rising nitrate to increased irrigated crops, irrigators dispute conclusion

DNR hydrologist Jason Mekel told the Subcommittee on Minnesota Water Policy on Oct. 24 that extensive monitoring shows Strait River groundwater levels and summer stream flows have been generally stable and resilient, and that the river receives about 93–97% of its flow from groundwater.

"I can say with a high degree of confidence that the Strait River may be or probably is the most intensely monitored...aquifer system that we have in the state," said Jason Mekel, summarizing the department's April 2024 report and noting the monitoring network includes seven continuous stream gauges, 59 groundwater monitoring wells, two climate stations and multiple lake and wetland sites.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency presented separate nitrate results for the same watershed. Kevin Stroom of the MPCA summarized three multiyear river-monitoring datasets (2004–10, 2015–16 and 2020–22) and…