Dayton Seeks 25 Percent Water Quality Improvement By 2025

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ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Mark Dayton wants to improve Minnesota's water quality by 25 percent by 2025.

It's the latest step in his ongoing quest to improve the state's water quality. Those efforts became more difficult this year as Republicans took full control of the Legislature.

Dayton said Friday he would propose legislation that would set the bar at 25 percent improvement, working with local governments to implement their own measures. More than 40 percent of Minnesota's lakes, rivers and other waterbodies are considered polluted or impaired.

But the governor is also playing defense on his marquee water quality measure. Republicans have proposed eliminating the buffer strip legislation that requires setbacks between cropland and public waterways.

Dayton says he won't retreat from that law.