Environment

Minnesota Information

Government

• Environment - Resources from the University of Minnesota Extension Service; includes both practical guides and policy information.
• Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources - The LCCMR makes funding recommendations to the legislature for projects to help maintain and enhance Minnesota's natural resources.
• Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council (LSOHC) - As a result of the constitutional amendment passed by the voters in the November 2008 election, the Outdoor Heritage Fund will receive 33 percent of sales tax revenues. The LSOHC makes recommendations to the Legislature on how the funds should be allocated.
• Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts - A map leads to directory information for all the watershed districts.
• Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources - Extensive background on wetlands and water management.
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Includes information on Regulations, Licenses, Permits and News Releases.
• Minnesota Environmental Quality Board - Draws together ten state agencies with environmental protection responsibilities.
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Includes a Legislative Priorities section, and an interactive Environmental Data Access database.
• Minnesota Water Research Digital Library - The Water Research Library is is a user-friendly, searchable inventory of water research relevant to Minnesota, with emphasis on publications from 2000 forward.
• SEEK - Sharing Environmental Education Knowledge - Resources on environmental education, environmental organizations, and learning centers.

Non-government

• Belwin Conservancy - A coalition of citizens and organizations committed to developing long term conservation strategies, funding sources and policy tools to preserve Minnesota’s outdoor traditions for future generations.
• Clean Water Action: Minnesota - Empowering people to protect America's waters.
• Clean up the River Environment (CURE) - A nonprofit focusing on the Upper Minnesota River Watershed, to protect its water quality, biological integrity and natural beauty.
• Conservation Minnesota Voter Center - This group's mission is to make environmental protection a top priority with the state's voters, elected officials, and political candidates. Senate Voting History and House Voting History sections cover key votes on environmental issues.
• Do It Green! Minnesota - A site to educate Twin Cities Metro area residents about environmental issues and help them identify local green businesses and organizations.
• Friends of the Mississippi River - Protecting the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities Metropolitan area.
• Fresh Energy - Formerly ME3, the group focuses on clean energy and energy efficiency.
• Izaak Walton League of America, Minnesota Division -- The group focuses on conservation issues and improving access to outdoor recreation activities; there are several regional chapters.
• Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy - A private, nonprofit organization; MCEA uses legal and legislative action, business collaboration, and research to improve Minnesota's environment.
• Minnesota Environmental Partnership - A network of over 70 non-profit environmental and conservation groups.
• Minnesota Forest Industries (MFI) - An association representing the state's forest products companies.
• Minnesota Waters - A merger of the Minnesota Lakes Association and the Rivers Council of Minnesota.
• Mississippi Headwaters Board - A joint powers board made up of the first eight counties on the Mississippi River, mandated by the Minnesota Legislature to protect and preserve Mississippi River's first 400 miles.
• Sierra Club North Star Chapter - Includes the full text of environmental reports and online access to their newsletter, the North Star Journal.

Regional, Federal and International Information

• ECOLEX - A database of environmental law covering treaties, national legislation, court decisions, and literature.
• The Great Lakes - From the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Includes information on invasive species in the Great Lakes.
• U.S. Department of the Interior - Includes home pages for each of their bureaus, including the Fish and Wildlife Service.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Includes a section on state climate programs of global warming and Envirofacts, a data warehouse searchable by topic or by geographic area.
• U.S. Forest Service - Includes information on Minnesota's two national forests, Chippewa and Superior.

Climate Change Issues

• Center for Climate Strategies (CCS) - A nonprofit service organization working with the states to build consensus and forge comprehensive action plans.
• Climate Change and Air Quality - Information on state activities provided by the National Conference of State Legislatures.
• Climate Change in Minnesota - Data and links provided by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
• Climate Change Indicators in the United States - From the Environmental Protection Agency. 
• Global Warming Solutions - Minnesota-based Fresh Energy promotes state and national policies that lead to deep, permanent reductions in global warming pollution.
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - A scientific intergovernmental body set up by the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme.
• Mayors Climate Protection Center - Created to guide and assistance U.S. mayors as they lead their cities' efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• National Association of Clean Air Agencies (NACAA) - Information on state greenhouse and climate change activities.
• Center for Climate and Energy Solutions - A clickable map guides users to lists of climate change initiatives in U.S. States and Regions.
• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - International efforts to understand and address climate change.
• University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) - Advancing understanding of the atmosphere and Earth system.

Organizations

• Environmental Defense Fund - Includes a scorecard that provides a pollution report for your community. See also the state environmental issue list for Minnesota.
• Environment and Natural Resources - From the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). A focus on environmental issues from a state level; includes full-text of many publications.
• Environmental Working Group - Using the power of public information to protect public health and the environment.
• League of Conservation Voters - Includes the National Environmental Scorecard, ratings of members of Congress.
• National Caucus of Environmental Legislators - NCEL is a project of the Edmund Muskie Foundation; the Web site covers several environmental and conservation issues of interest to state policy makers.
• Natural Resources Defense Council - Detailed coverage arranged by issue.
• Resources for the Future - An independent, nonprofit group covering a range of environmental topics.
• Defenders of Wildlife - This organization researches state environmental policies and assembles information and tools to help legislators and activists make important decisions on key environmental issues.

Other Information

• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry - Search for information on hazardous substances, many of which have useful overviews called ToxFacts (example: mercury).
• ENN: Environmental News Network - Breaking environmental news stories.
• Indigenous Environmental Network - Grassroots indigenous peoples protecting the sacredness of Mother Earth from contamination and exploitation; describes environmental issues facing Native Peoples.

See also Land Use.

The sites listed on this page are not created, maintained, or endorsed by the Minnesota Legislature.