But it acknowledged any headway in reducing the amount of the toxic metal in state fish must rely heavily on help from outside the state's borders, where 90 percent of the airborne mercury that drops here originates.

"We're going to need some significant reductions, both nationally and internationally, before we have a strong impact in Minnesota," said Marvin Hora, manager of MPCA's water assessment unit.

In the first statewide strategy to reduce mercury to acceptable levels in lakes and rivers, the MPCA said Minnesota should cut its mercury discharges from power plants, mining and other sources to 785 pounds a year. That's significantly less than the 11,272 pounds released here in 1990 and the 3,638 pounds released in 2000.

The levels have declined as mercury has been removed from commercial products and as controls have been placed on solid-waste burning. Energy-related emissions, however, have increased.

A potent neurotoxin, mercury is considered a problem because when it falls to earth some of it washes into rivers and lakes, where it collects in fish and, as methyl mercury, is consumed by people. It is especially harmful to pregnant women, infants and children.

In Minnesota, 1,239 lakes and river stretches already are considered polluted by mercury. As more water bodies are studied, that total almost certainly will increase.

Patience Caso, acting program director for Clean Water Action, acknowledged the need for outside help in reducing mercury emissions, but she said the state should play a stronger leadership role in that effort.

"I just think the PCA underestimates the opportunity it has to take a real leadership role to get the federal government to take a more active role to reduce mercury from power plants," Caso said.

Last spring, MPCA Commissioner Sheryl Corrigan offered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency a national and regional strategy that she argued would cut mercury pollution that drifts here or is generated here. The EPA, however, hasn't adopted her recommendations.

The report now goes through a process of public comment and meetings and an EPA review. Then the MPCA will identify how the state plans to reach the emissions target.