Western Lake Superior Sanitary District records
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of minutes, reports, financial records, and policy and planning documents generated by WLSSD.
Dates
- 1971-1981
Creator
- Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
Open for use in the Kathryn A. Martin Library, Archives and Special Collections.
Conditions Governing Use
This collection may be protected by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code). It is the user's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and to obtain all necessary permissions prior to the reproduction, publication, or other use of any portion of these materials. Researchers may quote from the collection under the fair use provision of the copyright law.
Biographical / Historical
Beginning in the 1950's, citizens of Minnesota and the nation began to encourage lawmakers to find solutions to water pollution problems. 1972, the US Congress appropriated funds under the Clean Water Act to build and upgrade wastewater infrastructure around the country.
In response to citizen demands to clean up the St. Louis River, the Minnesota Legislature created the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD) in 1971. WLSSD's initial goal was to improve and protect the waters of the St. Louis River and its tributaries. In 1974, additional legislation was passed, giving WLSSD the added responsibility of solid waste management.
The treatment plant came on line in 1978, consolidating 14 old, inadequately treated discharges into one discharge point that met state and federal standards. Water quality in the St. Louis River rapidly improved. By the early 1980's, an increasing number of citizens returned to the river for fishing and recreation. Although the legacy of toxic materials in the river sediments remains, water quality today is dramatically improved.
Extent
2.50 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The collection consists of minutes, reports, financial records, and policy and planning documents generated by WLSSD.
Physical Location
This collection is located at the University of Minnesota Duluth Archives. For more information about this collection or to make an appointment, contact us at libarchives@d.umn.edu or 218-726-8526.
General
This collection is owned by the Minnesota Historical Society, but is housed at the University of Minnesota Duluth Archives.
- Duluth (Minn.)--Politics and government Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Financial records Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Lake Superior Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Minutes Subject Source: Local sources
- Publications Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Reports Subject Source: Local sources
- Sewage treatment Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- St. Louis River (Minn.) Subject Source: Local sources
- Water--Pollution Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Waterfront Subject Source: Local sources
- Western Lake Superior Sanitary District
- Title
- Guide to the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District records
- Author
- Finding Aid Authors: Staff.
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Collecting Area Details
Contact The University of Minnesota Duluth Archives and Special Collections Collecting Area
Kathryn A. Martin Library
University of Minnesota Duluth
416 Library Drive
Duluth MN 55812-3001
(218) 726-8526
libarchives@d.umn.edu
