Photo Courtesy of Stearns County 

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency will be monitoring Mississippi River-Sartell Watershed in the summer.

MPCA Pollution Control Specialist, Tony Dingmann, says evaluation of the body of waters allow them to have a better picture of the watershed. He says there will be 60 stations across the area to measure the condition of rivers, streams and ditches. It studies the biology of fish, aquatic invertebrates, the habitat, flow and water chemistry.

Dingmann says crews will also evaluate lakes that are greater than 500 acres. It helps to assess the water clarity, nutrient concentrations and other water chemistry standards to support recreational uses like swimming.

He adds crews would restoration activities if they see water samples are impaired. Stearns County will have an open house Wednesday in Rice County at the Lions Club Building to inform people of the project. It will be from 4-7 p.m. and is open to the public.