Clean Water Blog

We all have a special lake.  Maybe you have a cabin next to it, maybe it’s in the city and you visit it all the time, or maybe you’ve only been there once but your memories are fond.  Whatever your reason, we want to know what lake matters to you and why. 

How the This Lake Matters Contest works:

Photographs and videos (the “Images”) will be collected from May 13 through September 6, 2010. All submissions must legibly include the words “This Lake Matters,” and feel free to get creative!  After September 6, we’ll pick 5 finalist Images. When making our selections, we’ll consider the number of Flickr comments.

The finalist Images will be posted on the Conservation Minnesotta website.  Web visitors will then have a chance to vote for their favorite finalist Image (photograph or video) from September 15 through September 30.   The finalist Image (photograph or video) with the most votes will be awarded a Flip Camera.

To enter the contest and for more information, please visit Conservation Minnesota at:   http://www.checkmylake.org/lake/what/?subsec=237

Showering is one of the leading ways we use water in the home, accounting for nearly 17 percent of residential indoor water use, or about 30 gallons per household per day. That’s nearly 1.2 trillion gallons of water used in the United States annually just for showering, or enough to supply the water needs of New York and New Jersey for a year! By retrofitting your entire bathroom with WaterSense labeled fixtures, you can save even more.

The average household could save more than 2,300 gallons per year by installing WaterSense labeled showerheads. Since these water savings will reduce demands on water heaters, households will also save energy. In fact, a household could save 300 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, enough to power its television use for about a year. If every household in the United States installed WaterSense labeled showerheads, we could save more than $1.5 billion in water utility bills and more than 250 billion gallons of water annually, which could supply more than 2.5 million U.S. homes with their water needs for a year. In addition, we could avoid about $2.5 billion in energy costs for heating water.

Whether you are replacing an older, inefficient showerhead or simply looking for ways to reduce water use and utility bills in your home, look for the WaterSense label on showerheads along with faucets, faucet accessories, and toilets to help you identify models that save water and perform well.

The St. Cloud Arts Commission and the St. Cloud Park and Recreation Department  will be hosting the screening of “The River Is Life” at Wilson Park on Wednesday, August 18 at 8:30 pm, as part of The River is Life Tour.

The River is Life Tour, a first in independent filmmaking history, will be movie makers Ryan Jeanes’ and Phillip Hullquist’s second trip down the entire length of the Mississippi River. The creative pair is showing their documentary The River is Life, which depicts their real-life adventures down the Mighty Mississippi - to audiences north and south along America’s Great River.

Jeanes and Hullquist departed in two inflatable Sea Eagle kayaks from Lake Itasca, Minnesota (the source of the Mississippi) in June of 2009 and filmed their exploits - staying in people’s homes, camping along the riverbanks, and contending with windswollen lakes, barge traffic, and massive boat wakes.

Jeanes and Hullquist plan to bring the same sense of fun and adventure they relished on the river to their 42-stop movie tour, where they will present their film in many of the same cities and towns they stayed in almost a year ago. ”The shows will also be outdoors!” Jeanes explains. “This is a first for independent movies. We want to give people a real-life Mississippi experience, so we’ve arranged to show the movie in parks all along the banks of the Mississippi! It’s going to be a festival like atmosphere where, if we do our jobs right, the whole family will have the time of their lives!”

The movie will debut in Minnesota where the duo started their journey. Over the course of three months they will make their way to New Orleans entreating audiences to “share in the adventure” and enjoy a heart-warming film not only about the majesty and wonder America’s most recognizable waterway but also the people that make this nation and this river so great. ”It’s a family piece,” Hullquist says, “it really is. Without the people we met along the way, who shared their lives with us, this film would never have been possible. It promises to be an immensely enjoyable,immensely inspiring film.”

Their ninety-minute film will be presented outdoors, free of charge, at Wilson Park along the Mississippi River. For more information about this event, please visit their website at www.facebook.com/theriverislife or call 320.650.3052.

Backyard composting of certain food scraps and yard trimmings can significantly reduce the amount of waste that needs to be managed by your local government or put in a landfill. When properly composted, these wastes can be turned into natural soil additives for use on lawns and gardens, and used as potting soil for house plants. Finished compost can improve soil texture, increase the ability of the soil to absorb air and water, suppress weed growth, decrease erosion, and reduce the need to apply commercial soil additives.

1. Learn how to compost food scraps and yard trimmings http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/wycd/catbook/compost.htm 
2. Participate in local or regional programs that collect compostable materials. If no program is in place, contact public officials and community leaders about setting one up.
3.  If there’s no room for a compost pile, offer compostable materials to community composting programs or garden projects near you.
4. If you have a yard, allow mown grass clippings to remain on the lawn to decompose and return nutrients back to the soil, rather than bagging and disposing of them.

http://www.iisd.org/publications/pub.aspx?pno=1225  
 
The interesting December 2009 report Peak Phosphorus: Opportunity in the Making was published by the Manitoba-based nonprofit International Institute for Sustainable Development (www.iisd.org). It is subtitled “Why the phosphorus challenge presents a new paradigm for food security and water quality in the Lake Winnipeg Basin.” The 18-page report is available for free downloading from the web site above or directly from http://www.iisd.org/pdf/2010/peak_phosphorus.pdf
 
Peak phosphurus is defined by the authors as “a moment in time when demand for rock phosphate will exceed supply.” The report notes that peak phosphate production was reached in the US in the late 1980s, and that it is possible that peak world extraction could be reached as early as 2030. It also states
that, in recent decades, data show that more phosphate is being extracted than is being discovered.
 
According to the report:
 
“The long-term security of our global food and water supplies may be impacted by the mismanagement of our phosphorus nutrient resources. Essential to plant growth and all life, phosphorus is mined from rock phosphate deposits and synthesized into mineral fertilizers destined for agricultural fields. Easily mined rock phosphate reserves are dwindling, and the contraints this could place on fertilizer production pose risks to our long-term ability to feed the planet.”
 
The authors consider how impending peak phosphorus can actually provide an opportunity for using new approaches to address current environmental problems in Lake Winnipeg’s watershed (the second-largest drainage basin in North America, which includes significant portions of North and Northwest Minnesota as well as portions of three other states and four Canadian provinces). 
 
The report notes how runoff of excess phosphorus from agricultural fields (as well as from urban areas and other sources) is causing serious pollution problems for waters and aquatic ecosystems - because too much phosphorus can lead to rapid algal growth and eutrophication (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eutrophication for general information about eutrophication). Lake Winnipeg, the world’s tenth-largest freshwater lake, is actually the most eutrophic large lake in the world according to the report and is experiencing massive algal blooms.
 
The authors argue that limited supply and a higher price for phosphorus may have a positive side, possibly stimulating more efficient agricultural and other practices that will limit runoff and improve plant uptake of this critical nutrient, as well as leading to greater phosphorus recovery from manure and human and food wastes through advances in wastewater treatment and waste management.  Several options for phosphorus reduction and recovery are noted, which include using struvite to precipitate phosphorus in wastewater, using composting toilets, separating and collecting urine through waterless urinals for use in fertilization, reducing food waste, treating sewage sludge for phosphorus recovery, adopting site-specific nutrient management in agriculture, recovering phosphorus from livestock waste, and other actions. 
 
For those interested in learning more about the broader topic of “peak phosphorus”, see also a recent collection of a range of articles on the topic posted at http://www.energybulletin.net/node/52550  (The comprehensive and frequently-updated Energy Bulletin web site www.energybulletin.net is an excellent source for tracking this issue, as well as others related to resource depletion.) 

MDH has established a new initiative called the Drinking Water Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC) program (made possible by the Clean Water Fund from the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment). The CEC program protects drinking water by identifying contaminants of emerging concern that have the potential to occur in Minnesota drinking water sources. The CEC program also investigates the potential for human exposure to these contaminants and develops guidance values, as applicable. 

Contaminants evaluated under the CEC effort may include industrial chemicals, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and other contaminants that have been released or detected in Minnesota waters (surface water and groundwater) or that have the potential to migrate to or be detected in Minnesota waters. The CEC program seeks to provide health-based guidance for ten contaminants during the current biennium and has identified three contaminants—metribuzin degradates, 1,2,3-trichloropropane and triclosan for evaluation during the current fiscal year.

MDH staff are coordinating outreach efforts regarding the CEC program and have conducted meetings with partners from various state and federal agencies and the University of Minnesota. Additional meetings with various non-profit organizations and industry and stakeholder groups will also be conducted. Those wishing to provide input on the contaminant selection criteria and to participate in upcoming meetings may contact Michele Ross at 651-201-4927 or via e-mail at michele.ross@state.mn.us.

There’s a world of fun an adventure awaiting you and your family on the Mississippi River at Stearns County ‘s Mississippi River Park (seven miles north of Sartell on County Road 1), along with guided tours of Benton County’s Bend in the River Regional Park on Saturday, August 14.  A coalition of local and state organizations encourages Stearns and Benton county residents to “Take a Day OFF” on the Mississippi River. 

Take a Day O(utdoor) F(amily) F(un)* is a day-long sampler of outdoor recreational opportunities for those new to canoeing, archery, geo-caching, or nature hikes. ALL EVENTS ARE FREE, EQUIPMENT IS PROVIDED AND NO EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY. 

The day is organized by the Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District, Stearns County Parks, Benton County, MN DNR and St. Cloud State University. 

For more details about the Take the Day OFF* (Outdoor Family Fun) on the Mississippi River, visit www.stearnscountyswcd.net, or call Kimberly Thielen Cremers at 320-251-7800 ext 161 

By Angela Gupta, University of Minnesota Extension 

ST. PAUL, Minn. (7/19/2010) — Minnesota now has more ash trees than any other state, a claim held by Michigan until emerald ash borer (EAB) arrived there and destroyed millions of ash beginning in 2002.  

Ash is an important part of Minnesota’s forest environment and our communities. It is also very common in wind and snow fencing around the state.  

University of Minnesota Extension recognized the serious impact EAB would have when it helped fund and develop the EAB First Detector program in 2007. The program trains dedicated citizens to look for the first signs of this invasive forest pest, and trainees were involved in the first discovery of EAB in Minnesota last year.  

Since 2007, Extension’s EAB education has broadened to include Forest Pest First Detectors, EAB Community Preparedness and numerous other training opportunities. Additionally, Extension has begun to develop ash management recommendations for private forest landowners. 

If you have ash trees on your property, now is the time to plan for a future with fewer ash trees. If you live within 15 miles of known EAB infestations in St. Paul, Minneapolis or Houston County, consider insecticides for your trees. If you live anywhere else in the state, you need to start preparing for a future without ash.  

Here are some helpful tips for homeowners: 

·         Think outside the box. Contemplate a wider choice of tree species appropriate to your site and needs.

·         Underplanting. Consider planting shade-tolerant trees beneath canopies of existing trees.

·         Diversify the species you select. Tree and plant diversity will help prevent future large-scale mortality the next time we discover a major pest attacking a tree species. When Dutch elm disease killed the elms, for example, many communities planted ash. It would be unfortunate if we replanted with only maple (a tree already overplanted in many communities) and then found Asian longhorned beetle, an insect that kills maple.

Extension’s forestry website at www.extension.umn.edu/go/1027 features resources for identifying trees suitable for your location. To learn more about emerald ash borer, visit Extension’ EAB website at www.extension.umn.edu/issues/eab.

Contact Information: EPA Press Office, press@epa.gov, 202-564-6794

WASHINGTON – On August 4, top Obama Administration officials will hold a listening session in Minneapolis on President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative to hear the public’s ideas for building a 21st century conservation and recreation agenda and reconnecting Americans with the outdoors. The listening session will be held at the University of Minnesota’s Ted Mann Concert Hall. Additional details on the session will be released in the coming days.

President Obama inaugurated the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative at a White House Conference in April. The conference brought together leaders from communities across the country that are working to protect their outdoor spaces and focused on developing and supporting innovative ideas for improving conservation and recreation at the local level.

The secretaries of the departments of Interior and Agriculture, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and chair of the Council on Environmental Quality have been asked by the president to lead this effort and to listen and learn from people all over the country. Listening sessions will engage a full range of stakeholders including tribal leaders, farmers and ranchers, sportsmen, community park groups, foresters, business people, educators, state and local governments and recreation and conservation groups. 

WHO: Representatives from U.S. EPA, CEQ, USDA, DOI and DOD will be present to hear your thoughts and to participate in a conversation with you about America’s Great Outdoors.

WHAT: America’s Great Outdoors Initiative listening session

WHEN: Wednesday, August 4, 4:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: University of Minnesota
Ted Mann Concert Hall
2128 Fourth Street South
Minneapolis, Minn. 55455

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) WaterSense program today is kicking off its national “We’re for Water” campaign to encourage  Americans to make simple choices that save water. The program, in collaboration with its partner, American Water, will spread the word about saving water by traveling cross-country, stopping at national landmarks and educating consumers about WaterSense labeled products.

WaterSense products use about 20 percent less water than standard models.  “Whether by replacing an old, inefficient plumbing fixture with a WaterSense labeled product or adopting more water-efficient behaviors, together we can help save water for future generations,” said Peter Silva, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Water. “WaterSense offers consumers simple tips that can help the environment and keep money in their pockets.”  

Consumers can start saving water today with three simple steps: check, twist & replace.                                                  

·         Check toilets for silent leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank; if the color shows up in the bowl indicating a leak, fixing it may be as simple as replacing the toilet’s flapper.                                                                                          

·         Twist on a WaterSense labeled bathroom faucet aerator to use 30 percent less water without a noticeable difference in flow.

·         Replace a showerhead with a WaterSense labeled model that uses less water and energy, but still has all the power of a water-hogging model.  WaterSense, a partnership program sponsored by EPA, seeks to protect the future of our nation’s water supply by offering people a simple way to use less water with water-efficient products, new homes and services. In 2009, EPA’s WaterSense program helped consumers save more than 36 billion gallons of water and $267 million on their water and sewer bills.  

More information on the We’re for Water road trip:  http://www.epa.gov/watersense/wereforwater                                                               To take the “I’m for Water pledge:”  http://www.epa.gov/watersense/pledge                                                                                                       To learn about water-saving tips: http://www.facebook.com/EPAWatersense