It's not often you see the words 'fishers' and farmers' used in the same context, unless you are familiar with the Fishers and Farmers Partnership. Its website describes it as "a self-directed group of non-government organizations, tribal organizations, and state and federal agencies united to add value to farms while protecting, restoring, and enhancing the 30,700 miles of rivers and streams of the Upper Mississippi River Basin." 

Fishers and farmers will team up on a field day Sept. 16 at the Roger Helgeson farm on Rice Creek, 9821 Decker Ave., Northfield. Organized by Al Kraus of the Cannon River Watershed Partnership and Rice County SWCD, the field day will explore the watershed connections between agriculture, conservation, water quality, and habitat. There will be a farmer panel on cover crops and conservation tillage, electro fishing demonstration and habitat discussion, stream table, and aquatic insect demonstration.

Since 2009 Minnesota has been represented on the Fishers and Farmers Partnership steering committee by Steve Sodeman and Jack Lauer. Steve is a farmer, crop consultant, and former Minnesota Corn Growers Association director; Jack is DNR Southern Regional Fisheries Manager in New UIm. Fishers and Farmers has helped fund several projects in Minnesota over the past 10 years, such as 7-Mile Creek, Rice Creek, Rush-Pine, Whitewater, and Root River.

"Fishers and Farmers puts landowners in the lead for better farms and fish habitat," says Heidi Keuler of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office in La Crosse. "I'm excited to see the energy from farmers in Minnesota and I hope Fishers and Farmers Partnership can keep adding to it. Our steering committee members tell me over and over again that they can accomplish so much more together than they can individually in their own organizations."

Last fall, eight farmers planted cover crops on about 800 acres of land in the Rice Creek watershed just west of Dundas in southeast Minnesota. In 7-Mile Creek, a tributary of the Minnesota River north of Mankato, they have worked with farmers to complete 65 conservation best management practices, and planted more than 100 marginal acres to perennial vegetation. Several farmers are incorporating conservation drainage, strip and no till, and cover crops. It also helps support the LeSueur River Watershed Network.

Minnesota River reports draw crowd July 31

More than 75 people attended an open house July 31 in Mankato to launch the public comment period through Sept. 20 for several Total Maximum Daily Load reports in the Minnesota River basin. One study concerns the major portion of the Minnesota River, focusing on total suspended solids, and calls for decreasing sediment in the river by 50%. TMDL studies for the Lower Minnesota River, Minnesota River-Mankato, and Watonwan River watersheds are also open for comment. Together, these three studies look at dozens of river segments impaired by bacteria, sediment, nutrients, and/or chloride as well as 50 lakes with nutrient levels high enough to cause algae. The MPCA and partners have prepared watershed restoration and protection strategies (WRAPS) reports for the three watersheds, also open for comment. More information is available on the Minnesota River Basin web page. Photo: Wayne Cords of the MPCA gives an overview of the reports July 31.

Next Minnesota River Congress set for Nov. 21 at Kato Ballroom

Meeting Aug. 15 in Henderson the Minnesota River Congress board approved Thursday, Nov. 21 for the next full Congress event at the Kato Ballroom in Mankato at the Kato Ballroom. The main focus will be on water storage. Planning is continuing for the “Spirit of Water” event set for Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020 at Riverfront Park in Mankato. The next planning team meeting will be Saturday, Sept. 7, 9:30 a.m. at the Design Center, 1711 Premier Dr., Mankato. All are welcome to attend the meetings and offer input. The board also heard about the new book by Darby Nelson, “For Love of a River, the Minnesota”.  It will be available from the publisher by Sept. 13 and will be on display at a state-wide book fair in Henderson. Another event showcasing the book will be at the Bell Museum in St. Paul.

BWSR board tour visits Pomme de Terre Watershed

The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) visited parts of six Minnesota counties (Big Stone, Stevens, Swift, Grant, Otter Tail, Douglas) that are part of the Pomme de Terre Watershed during its annual board tour August 28. The tour gives board members and staff an opportunity to see  how partnerships between local conservation staff and landowners are making a difference in communities across Minnesota. Board tour destinations rotate each year to highlight different regions of the state. Photos from the tour can be found on Facebook.