Minnesota 2013-2017 Nonpoint Source Management Program Plan

The United States Congress enacted Section 319 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) in 1987, establishing a national program to control nonpoint sources (NPS) of water pollution. Rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground carrying natural and human-made pollutants into lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands and ground water causes nonpoint source pollution. Atmospheric deposition and hydrologic modification are also sources of nonpoint sources of pollution. The State of Minnesota Nonpoint Source Management Program Plan (NPSMPP) is a requirement for Minnesota to remain eligible to receive NPS funding from the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) under Section 319 of the CWA. However, the NPSMPP is intended to reach beyond this purpose by setting Minnesota's Statewide NPS goals and laying out a statewide multi-year approach for addressing water quality problems from NPS pollution. Also, the NPSMPP provides guidance on NPS issues for consideration by federal, state and local governmental units in other NPS planning efforts.