The local government units which reside in the Blue Earth River Watershed joined together to create the Blue Earth River Initiative (BERBI) Comprehensive Plan. The goals of this plan are to improve the water quality of the Blue Earth River Basin through the use of best management practices and to share water quality improvement strategies with others. It lists a series of objectives and actions BERBI plans to implement. Data collected during the Minnesota River Assessment Project and historical information is also included.

350 wetlands totaling 4,730 acres were destroyed by the installation of the Judicial Ditch 8 drainage system. This system, containing 135 miles of tile and 149 miles of open ditch disrupted much of the areas wildlife. It is estimated that the installation of the large ditch system reduced wildlife populations by 12,000 ducks, 9,000 muskrats and 8,000 pheasants. If a more modest approach were taken it is possible that much of the habitat and wildlife loss could have been prevented.

The goals of this research were to gain an understanding of what mussel species exist in the Minnesota River and compare the diversity and distribution to historical data. It was determined that about 46% of the mussel species that existed in the Minnesota River in 1908 no longer can be found in its waters. The research concluded that the distribution and community composition has gone through major changes a the Minnesota River has changed over time. This may be due to new human caused stresses augmenting the already present natural stresses.