Cindy
Potz
Works in
the Yellow Medicine River
Watershed
Office Manager, Yellow Medicine River Watershed District
Ten
years ago, I think the water quality of the river looked unhealthy, murky,
and green. I would not have wanted to swim in it, or use it for watering
pets, horses, or myself. I don’t see a lot of improvement today,
due to the continued problem of erosion, and the pollutants that are
introduced into the river and streams due to the erosion. I do anticipate
changes, due to some implementation practices along the Yellow Medicine
River, that our watershed will be
establishing through its CWP’s.
During these past ten years, the Yellow Medicine River Watershed District
has completed diagnostic studies and is now involved in an implementation
plan to address the priority sites and problems detected in the studies.
We have found some areas with excess phosphorus, excess nitrites- nitrates,
and excess suspended solids. We are planning to survey the entire Yellow
Medicine River with a GPS unit, and determine where filter strips exist,
and where they do not. And then, in the case of where they do not, we
plan to use our CWP implementation funds to establish filter strips in
those locations, by working with the landowner to provide incentive payments
to establish the filter strips.
The Minnesota
River s a tourist attraction for fishermen, hunters, canoeing, and various
other forms of recreation. I want to do my part to improve the water quality
of the Minnesota river, to show these tourists, many from out of state,
the real beauty of the river, and the quality of the waters that provide
a quality ecosystem for the wildlife and aquatic life, so that the fish
that are caught are safe to eat, and tourists will be impressed with the
efforts of so many, in restoring and maintaining the water quality of
the Minnesota River. I don’t like to see problems such as the recent
issue with deformed frogs to the quality of the water, or the pollutants
in the water.
I think that
75 % of the general public is interested in the quality of the water of
the Minnesota River. The other 25% think that there is not a problem,
or that we should leave it alone and let mother nature deal with the problem.
Some of the people have told me that they don’t see any changes
from the way it was 30 years ago, and that our efforts are a waste of
time. However, with the positive and progressive 75% of the general public,
and high school students in particular, they do sense a need to act now
on ensuring the healthy future of the River. I grew up on the banks of
the Blue Earth River, and hope to someday return there to reestablish
a home on those same banks. I have a strong love for rivers and lakes,
and feel so strongly that Minnesota has so much to be proud of, and yet
so much to protect, which of course requires adequate funding to save
and protect all of the waters of Minnesota.
I think that we have a lot of issues to face in the areas of disposal
of trash, feedlot runoff, septic systems, and erosion from high open and
eroding banks. We find dumped in our river, various forms of appliances,
agriculture waste, such as fertilizer and insecticide containers, as well
as tires, axles, etc. People have to come to the realization that a river
is not a waste disposal site, mother nature cannot repair the damage caused
by careless, thoughtless humans.
I feel that my efforts in water quality monitoring, and working with partners
in assessing the ecosystems environment for healthy aquatic life, and
in educating the public about the importance of protecting our rivers,
have been instrumental in ensuring the future of improving water quality,
and that I have already made a difference. Our watershed goal of lowering
the amount of pollution in the Yellow Medicine River, before it enters
the Minnesota River, by at least 25%, can be obtained with absolute diligence
on my part and the residents of the Yellow Medicine River Watershed.
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This
page was last updated 11/06
Minnesota River Basin Data Center
Minnesota State University, Mankato Water Resources Center
184 Trafton Science Center S, Mankato, MN 56001
Phone: (507)389-5492 FAX: (507)389-5493
Email: mrbdc@mnsu.edu