The fall Watershed Network meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 10 at the Pizza Ranch in Mankato. Topics being planned include a discussion with several independent crop consultants, update on the governor's 'Year of Water Action', panel of retired water quality professionals to share wisdom and experience, and preview of the Nov. 17 Minnesota River Congress. At the previous 14 meetings we have enjoyed a wide variety of interesting and informative topics. As always, the events provide a great opportunity to network and meet informally with water quality colleagues. If you have ideas for topics please contact Forrest Peterson, 320-441-6972, forrest.peterson@state.mn.us. 

Renville County, known for its abundant yields of corn, soybeans, and sugar beets, is also fertile ground for the growing cover crop movement. More than 50 local farmers attended a cover crop field day Sept. 23 south of Maynard, sponsored by the Hawk Creek Watershed Project, Renville County SWCD, and Renville County Water Management office. The test plots are located on the farm of Dean Dambroten, Hawk Creek Watershed Project technician. 

Holly Hatlewick of the Renville County SWCD described a variety of cover crop plants and test plot results. Jodi Dejong-Hughes of U of M Extension scrambled into two soil pits, one showing healthy soil beneath perennial vegetation, and the other showing dense, compacted soil below tillage. Eric Barsness, an agronomist with the NRCS in Brookings, SD, used a rainfall simulator to demonstrate the infiltration rates and runoff rates of different farming methods. Healthy soil structure from vegetation allows better infiltration of rainfall, compared with compacted soil with less organic matter. Seed vendors and aerial applicators provided information about how to get started using cover crops.

Farmers are encouraged to contact their local SWCD/NRCS office for more information. Research shows that cover crops help protect soil from rainfall impact, armor the soil from wind and water erosion, and build soil organic matter, increasing soil structure and water infiltration. Photo: Holly Hatlewick describes several varieties of cover crops at the test plot.

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The Smithsonian Water/Ways travelling exhibit has moved on to the Goodhue County Historical Society in Red Wing, through Nov. 16. A new, local companion exhibit will have four main themes: Cloudy Waters, Sacred Water, Consuming Water, and Protecting Water. Each theme will be anchored in a local story that will be conveyed through short films: the Jordan Creek, the Red Wing Brewery, and the Minnesota Mussel Survey. These focus stories will be a jumping-off point to discuss water-related events in our county’s history and concerns for our community’s future relationship with water. We will be installing “Cloudy Waters,” a multimedia project by Mona Smith, a Dakota artist born and raised in Red Wing.

Water/Ways is a traveling exhibition and community engagement initiative of the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum on Main Street program. In Minnesota, Water/Ways is led by the Minnesota Humanities Center in partnership with Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), Minnesota Historical Society, Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Section of the American Water Works Association. Previously, the exhibit visited New London-Spicer and St. Peter. Following Red Wing, it moves to Sandstone, Lanesboro, and Detroit Lakes.

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Following six regional meetings in August and September, the 7th Minnesota River Congress will take place Thursday, Nov. 17, in Mankato. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. with the networking fair. A meal will be served at 6:15 p.m. At 7 p.m. Scott Tedrick will give a presentation on the Granite Falls whitewater park plan, followed by the Congress business meeting at 7:30 p.m.

The agenda includes the presentation of the policy collection process to date, receiving any new policy submissions, discussion for each policy and potential modification considerations, and vote to prioritize the top four or five or incorporation into a public policy statement. At 8:45 p.m. there will be Interest Network Team reports and updates. The congress will adjourn at 9:15 p.m. For more information contact Scott Sparlin, sesparlin@gmail.com, 507-276-2280

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The MPCA is asking for your data to help assess the condition of lakes and streams and build a national database of water quality.

The MPCA is specifically interested in the following priority watersheds because the agency will be determining whether these water bodies meet state water quality standards in early 2017:

• Cloquet River
• Lac Qui Parle River
• Minnesota River - Headwaters
• Mississippi River - Grand Rapids
• Mississippi River - La Crescent
• Mississippi River - Reno
• Roseau River
• Upper Iowa River
• Upper Wapsipinicon River
• Vermilion River
• Winnebago River

The MPCA is also looking for data on the Red River from the headwaters to the Canadian border.

If you have data from outside a priority watershed or one of these areas, the agency will also accept it.

 The MPCA will use your data to:

• Help plan for future monitoring efforts including what to monitor for and where to monitor.
• Identify pollutant “stressors” that are causing or contributing to problems or threats to fishing, swimming, and recreational uses.
• Evaluate the success of ongoing activities to protect and restore water quality.

Deadline: Submit project, lab, and field data now through Nov. 1.

Deadline: By Dec. 15 you will need to review the data entered by the MPCA.

Find out more on the MPCA's surface water data website.

Your role in collecting these data is important to Minnesota’s effort to identify impaired waters, as well as those waters in need of additional protection. Thank you for your help.

For more information on submitting data:

• Nancy Flandrick, 651-757-2361 (St. Paul, Duluth, Rochester, and Mankato regional offices)
• Jean Garvin, 651-757-2378 (Brainerd, Willmar, Marshall, and Detroit Lakes regional offices) 

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LqP-Yellow Bank photo contest for 2017 calendar

The Lac qui Parle-Yellow Bank Watershed District is sponsoring a photo contest in the watershed. Selected photos may be published in a 2017 calendar and may be used on our website and brochures with credits given. Cash prizes are first place $50, second place $30, and third place $20.  Judging will be completed by the Lac qui Parle-Yellow Bank Clean Water Partnership TEAM which consists of partnering agencies from Lincoln, Yellow Medicine and Lac qui Parle counties. 

You do not need to live within the watershed to submit a photo. Digital photos are preferred. There is a maximum of three photos per person. Pictures from all seasons are needed. Ideas include scenic views of rivers and lakes, fun water activities, wildlife, or seasonal pictures. Contest entry form with map of the watershed can be downloaded from www.lqpybwatershed.org (click on Clean Water Partnership button). To have a form mailed contact Mary Homan at 320-598-3319 or mary.homan@lqpco.com. The deadline is Oct. 31.

EPA approves 12-Mile Creek dissolved oxygen TMDL

The 12 Mile Creek Dissolved Oxygen TMDL was approved by EPA on Sept. 26. The final TMDL is posted on the North Fork Crow River Watershed web page along with the EPA approval letter and decision document. The Approved WRAPS/TMDLs web page has also been updated. 

BWSR approves $1.7 million in One Watershed One Plan grants

The Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) approved $1.7 million in grants for seven watershed for the One Watershed, One Plan program.

• Cannon River watershed, in parts of Dakota, Goodhue, Le Sueur, Rice, Steele, and Waseca counties.
• Cedar River watershed, in parts of Dodge, Freeborn, Mower, and Steele counties.
• Lake of the Woods watershed, in parts of Lake of the Woods and Roseau counties.
• Leech Lake River watershed, in parts of Beltrami, Cass, and Hubbard counties.
• Missouri River Basin watershed, in parts of Jackson, Lincoln, Murray, Nobles, and Pipestone counties and all of Rock County.
• Pomme de Terre River watershed, in parts of Big Stone, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Stevens, and Swift counties.
• Thief River watershed, in parts of Beltrami, Marshall, Pennington, and Roseau counties. 

These follow a successful pilot phase in five watersheds: Lake Superior North, North Fork Crow River, Red Lake River, Root River, and Yellow Medicine River.  

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