Overview
St. Croix Watershed Research Station is an operational air monitoring station in Minnesota, United States. It reports to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and provides data on ambient air quality.
St. Croix Watershed Research Station is an air monitoring station located in Washington County, Minnesota, United States. It operates under the oversight of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Division of Air Quality, contributing to the state's ambient air quality monitoring network. The station is situated in a rural watershed area, providing representative data for regional air quality assessment. The station is part of the broader US EPA Air Quality System (AQS) network, which sets standards for criteria pollutants such as ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lead. Monitoring stations like this one typically measure a subset of these pollutants, along with meteorological parameters, to support regulatory compliance and public health protection. The station's last reported sample date is June 30, 2025, indicating ongoing data collection. Environmental monitoring at this station supports the understanding of air quality in the St. Croix River Valley, an area valued for its natural resources and recreational use. Data from this station helps inform local and state air quality management decisions, contributing to the protection of public health and the environment. The station's rural siting provides a baseline for regional air quality, complementing urban monitoring stations in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area.
Environmental context
The St. Croix Watershed Research Station is situated in a rural area of Minnesota, near the St. Croix River, a National Scenic Riverway. The local environment is characterized by forests, wetlands, and agricultural lands, with air quality influenced by regional transport of pollutants from urban and industrial sources. Monitoring at this station helps assess background air quality and the impact of regional emissions on a sensitive ecosystem. The station's data supports the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's efforts to meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and protect the ecological health of the watershed.
Frequently asked questions
The St. Croix Watershed Research Station is located on St. Croix Trail N in Washington County, Minnesota, United States, near the St. Croix River.
As an air monitoring station, it measures ambient air quality parameters, likely including criteria pollutants such as ozone, particulate matter, and others, as part of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's network.
The station is operated under the oversight of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Division of Air Quality, which manages air monitoring in the state.
The station operates within the US EPA Air Quality System (AQS) network, following the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for criteria pollutants and reporting requirements under the Clean Air Act.
Air monitoring in this rural watershed helps establish background air quality levels, assess regional pollution transport, and protect the ecological health of the St. Croix River Valley, a sensitive natural area.
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