The Minnesota River is woven into the fabric of southern Minnesota.

For 330 miles, from the South Dakota border to St. Paul, the river valley provides stunning natural beauty, a unique setting for towns, homes and farms, an abundance of recreational activity and a haven for fish and wildlife.

As recounted in a 12-day series by Free Press staffers Tim Krohn and John Cross recently, there is an increased awareness and appreciation of the river.

Just a few decades ago, the river was widely viewed as an easy place to get rid of sewage and pollution and as a flooding nuisance that needed to be tamed.

Today, much of the worst pollution is gone. Cities all along the river have improved their municipal treatment plants, putting less phosphorus and other pollution into the river. No longer can companies run a pipe to the river to get rid of nasty by-products. Failing individual septic systems, while still an issue, are systematically being upgraded.

Still, pollution threats continue as development and agriculture put pressure on the river.

Nitrogen used in farm fertilizers still flows into the Minnesota (and other water bodies) too freely. Nitrates are extremely water soluble, meaning they are easily carried through field tile and runoff and into waterways. Those excess nutrients cause algae blooms and problems for aquatic life here in Minnesota. They also add mightily to the Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico.

There is some promising technology emerging that could reduce the problem. Automated water control systems can be installed that get surface water off farm fields but holds the water — and nitrogen — below the surface. That keeps nitrogen and moisture in the fields where it can be used by crops, particularly in the late, dry summer times.

Keeping more water on the landscape longer is, perhaps, the most important thing that could be done to help the river. Those who live along the river have watched as more water comes more quickly in after rains — a problem caused by more efficient pattern farm tiling and more impervious surfaces from development.

Those rapid fluctuations in river levels mean more flooding, more erosion and more sediment getting into the water. It’s an issue that cities, counties, the state and river groups should focus on in the coming years.

In spite of what man has thrown at the river over the past 150 years, the Minnesota still flows proud. Often, we take for granted that which is familiar. But more and more, valley residents are coming to realize the river is a gem that should be enjoyed and protected.