Fish kills and other lake problems in the Albert Lea area this summer are a reminder that we need to do more to clean up our water.

According to the state Pollution Control Agency, approximately 40 percent of Minnesota lakes tested are polluted. And for every lake the MPCA has tested, there are four more that the agency hasn’t tested. Minnesota families who want to know if their favorite Minnesota lake is clean enough for swimming and eating fish caught in that lake have an easy way to find out – www.CheckMyLake.org.

The new Web site, created by Conservation Minnesota, is a user-friendly way that Minnesotans can find out whether their favorite lakes are clean or polluted — or haven’t been tested yet. By going to the site, users can either type in the name of a favorite lake or type in a county name and choose from among a list to find out whether lakes have been tested and what the results show.

Information on the health and safety of our lakes empowers all of us. We want Minnesotans to enjoy these summertime sports based on the best data and advice.

Paul Austin

executive director

Conservation Minnesota

Minneapolis