The following is a news release from Hennepin County:

According to the Hennepin County’s Environmental Quality report, the local environment is facing new challenges. 

The report, recently published by the county’s Department of Environmental Services, provides a brief assessment of the quality of Hennepin County’s water, air and land resources. This report also describes county efforts to improve the environment and provides tips for residents to protect their home and work environments.

Environmental indicators suggest improvements in our environmental quality. Many lakes have shown improvement in water quality compared to 30 years ago. The water quality of approximately 90 percent of Hennepin County’s lakes is improving or has remained consistent.

Contaminated land sites are being closed faster than new sites are being identified. The majority of known contaminated sites are now classified as closed. The air quality trend over the last 25 years has improved.

Air quality has been stable in recent years, but fine particulates and ground-level ozone need to be monitored closely to keep this region in compliance with the federal Clean Air act. The impacts of increasing population, energy consumption and changing land use patterns are putting pressure on the environment.

The report finds that the best opportunities for reducing future pollution and environmental contamination will be in the everyday choices made by county residents. Where to live, the modes of transportation used, the products purchased and how waste is managed -- all have environmental consequences. 

Indicators also reflect a need for focused improvement in several areas. Stream water quality has declined. Only 18 percent of streams in the county received a “B” grade or higher. Protection efforts are needed to preserve critical natural resources corridors before the best of the remaining areas are lost to development.  

To read the full report and submit comments, visit www.hennepin.us [2] and search: Environmental Quality Report.