Root River Citizen Conversations Winter – Spring 2013

Question Number 1: What do people know about water quality of the Root River

watershed?

Chatfield #1

Field run off. Erosion. Would not drink from the river. Springs might be okay.

Flood - muddy. Flood – cleaning up trees and debris. Springs. Draught.

Poluted. Population increase puts more pressure on river. Flooding problem may not be addresses

corrected. Bank eroded – sharp drop offs. Beauty attracts people.

Muddy water. Downed trees. Fertilizer.

Generaly accepted it is fairly polluted, is large, floods a lot. Shallow. Slowly improving.

Know when river is active with people. Know water level.

Water diversion I community have improved water run off in last 40 years. Has witnessed farming

practices that have improved water retainment. A lot of folks know very little – more education .

Measurable purity – made known to public.

Limit overuse of the river by people, particularly the numbers of tubers and canoes. Prevent over

fertilization and soil disturbance of the riparian zone.

Farming practices. Dimentions. Clarity – Lack of. Water level. Beauty. Reduced livestock – farms.

Higher concentrations.

Not much. Concerns/knowledge around their activities. Spills, etc. newsworthy events focus their

attention. We were asked questions about drainage for our building permit.

Better than it used to be. Has improved. Flooding is increasing. Less trash. Less livestock.

Barn yard run off. Field run off. Erosion. Has been more field set backs.

People focus according to their interaction: farming, activities. Most believe it is clean – of chemicals.

Yet see it carrying off topsoil.

Trash in water. Muddy. Smelly (dead fish). Downed trees. Livestock in river.

1. Lots of sediment, nitrates, down trees, rocks. Gotten wider and shallower. He’s lost 15 ‘ of

shoreline. Banks used to slope, now straight down. Son used to catch and release bass, now only carp

and whitefish. Spring – green black frogs lots, past year saw 1.

I think people know it – the quality of the water is clear and cold. People know it’s impacted by

agriculture. I think they know the quality is good for trout and other cold water fish.

Beauty of area. Varied scenery.

Not much it is all heard through the word of mouth. Stories for Newsprint and Media TV.

That the watershed is affected by human activity: Crops, Livestock, Construction, Roads. Weather

geology biology affect the WS. and vice versa. Fish.

A lot of people need to be better informed. Those living in the water shed are more informed.

Beautiful area. People appreciate that beauty. The want to see that in the future. People are aware of

challenges in using watershed.

High nitrate – fertilizer run off – manure. More row crop is damaging watershed. Not enough interest

or concern – life style.

Not as much as they should. I was interested to learn from placemat.

People know very little except that it floods and trout fishing. People probably assume water quality is

good.

More erosion from flooding. Quality has improved. More frequent flooding. Less fertilizer runoff.\

Quality has decreased over last 40 yrs. No clams any more! Conservation Reserve has helped to

decrease run off from some areas. Less livestock, so less grazing on stream banks.

That there is an area with that title, and that it has everything to do with what goes into it. Some

people know that there are monitors. Some people know about the clean H2O act. Most people don’t

know how watersheds are organized.

Everyone is pretty much in agreement there is too much run off + to many nitrates and esp near

Lanesboro when you are using it for recreational purposes.

Gayle is not sure. She doesn’t feel that a lot of people know a lot about the river. Fishermen, canoists,

residents know there are issues. The majority of people know very little.

It’s all hearsay because we haven’t seen any studies showing the effects of the water quality and

having to talk to anybody involved in the studies.

Rushford #1

Not enough.

There’s faster runoff than in 1976 – more sediment.

Better water quality since 1972. More variety in fish besides. Rough fish.

Impaired, bacteria problems, sediments, nitrate problems caused by runoff.

Very little. Lot of silt. Getting worse. Prone to flash flooding. Farm run-off.

Deteriorating. Nice – high quality in Fall. Affected by farm activities.

Some people know what the quality is and some don’t.

They assume – the RR has good water quality.

Impairments: sediment, nitrates, erosion caused.

Limited knowledge. Why is it important?

They are more concerned than people from the Twin Cities.

A lot of run off – soil erosion. People know nitrates in the water. Drainage tiles upstream contribute to

flooding.

People don’t know. Don’t think about it or not involved in it. What things contribute, make it better or

mess it up. Like frac sand mining - sand is a filter for aquifer.

Most are oblivious because they believe it doesn’t affect them. Exceptions would be people who use

it. I.E. FisherFolk, canoists.

Know it’s degraded. Color of choc. milk. High sediment load. Flashy system (goes up and down

quickly).

People know little about water quality, a big weather event can increase awareness.

Rick made no sound.

Not much. Varies depending on water quantity. Get info by driving by and looking. People pay

attention to water level. Understand everyone is in the watershed.

Should know more about the Area. What changes the water quality.

Should know more about it. What changes the water quality.

People know very little about the water quality of the Root River. People think about it when there is a

flood or a drought.

Not much.

Information is available. Affects quality – run off within the watershed.

Contour of farm land to protect water quality is good.

Most people think the water quality is good (fish – clean looking- Rec.).

Water is unpredictable (floods). Contaminants.

Lanesboro #1

Big floods after significant ran events. Clumps of foam floating down the streams. When dry spells,

water is clear. Nice areas to catch trout and other species.

Vast # don’t think about the water quality. PPL blame ag for lot of the problems. Lack of knowledge

on their part. Media powerful tool – bias.

Know a problem w/ Ag runoff, soil erosion, fert, pesticide. Know feedlots are a problem. Know after a

rain the River rises.

Confusion- some think it is a matter of stages. Accessabile for recreation. Questions about chemical

runoff. Fishing is good in places.

Nothing wrong. Gullies in fields indicate soil loss.

People know flooding is becoming a regular thing and to expect it. People think the quality is fine that

anything that goes into the river will be diluted and go downstream.

Sedimentation. Nitrate threat. Quality fishing. Garlic mustard infestation. Japanese hopps infestation.

Misinformation. Uncontrolled runoff. Questionable sewage treatment. Poor erosion control. Amazing

that river supports as much life as it does. Rivers can clean themselves with time, rain, etc.

Turns brown in spring; so brown @ the Dam; not enough about relationship to sink holes and springs;

don’t understand need for foliage to control quantity and quality; benefit to leaving wetlands; if

affordable.

People know there are problems with nitrates. They know that when it floods they can’t go down

certain roads. They now that erosion is a problem.

Not sure. Water healthy – by same some do not. Activity done, people do not know how it affects the

water shed.

Gets totally mucky with rain. Problem with manure runoff. Well known for trout fishing and canoeing.

Tourist attraction.

Nasty water. Wonderful for trout. Great for canoing, tubing.

Most think pretty good. Polluted when flooded. Low period of water in the River during drought.

Most think quality better than it is. Most say quality bad because of others. Most think less runoff

than in reality because of topography. Very few know actual quality. Know used for recreation.

Brown after the rain.

Wonder about more pollution from runoff. Water turns brown after big rains and the spring.

People know it floods. It is picking up soil and farm pollutants. In Lanesboro concern about radium in

wells. All wonder if clean drinking water will stay affordable. We know level of water fluxuates - that

affects activities. We know there is a potential of harvesting power from the water but the education

to do that is lacking.

One person told Rita that the Middle Branch of Root River is the safest. Fish can be eaten without

limit. Info from about 5 yrs ago.

People don’t recognize polluted water. Too many people accept the erosion as natural. Half of people

understand Karst. Special clean places for fishing. Atrazine pollution everywhere

Preston #1

How much pest and fert in water. How sink holes affect the water (in fountain).

Looks better than 55 years ago. Probably not as many clams? Stays clear longer during the year. More

bass (possibly?). Possibly not as many carp. Crawdads? Floods not as severe? Not as much erosion?

Less springs.

Bottom muddy (kayak). TN summer some places. Good trout fishing. More Bull Heads. Lot of cattle.

Worried that quality is not so good, but seems like it has improved the last decade. Questioning

framing practices that could be detrimental to the watershed.

Must be good because we have a big fish hatchery (trout) in Lanesboro.

A lot of progress has been made in care of water quality.

Some people are not paying attention are ignorant. Need more long term monitoring. People do not

seen serous about making it better.

The river used to “stink” in spring from chemicals better today. Used to take 2-3 weeks to clear, now it

takes a week. CRP has changed a lot of this. Stewartville Munic water improved.

When it rains – lots of sediment. When it rains water enters river too fast. Many farmers say – used to

be worse. Bacteria a concern. Floods – bring in municipal waste.

Comes from many sources. ie rain, ground water, etc. Creeks water level rises fast (because of rolling

hills – landscape). Improved manure run off (less) – due to better management practices and more

regulation. Valuable, precious resource.

Quality has detiorated in last 30 years. Town and farm runoff of chemicals and temperature is heating

up. Ground water level lower due to drought. DNR says don’t worry there’s plenty of water.

Water level is low. Some area very dirty. Foamy – why? In area where there is no row cropping water

quality is good.

Well water in town contains Radium. Water very dirty over falls. Lot of trees in river. Chemicals –

insect – herb in water. Length of good quality water. “Frac sand” operation. Concern of row cropping

– corn on corn, soybeans on soybeans.

As long see in streams is ok. Town people think water is free in country.

Abandoned wells need filled in. Need to conserve.

It is better then it used to be.

Excess floods - Turns it brown. Clear water often considered pristine by others. Snowplows etc add to

pollution. Some supposed solutions cause more problems.

Excess water floods. Farming gets a bad rap for pollution. Don’t think road salt gets enough credit for

damage. No matter what they do it won’t make it perfect, shoot for improvement.

Seeing suds in the Root River after rains. Brown water. How does lower water in the river affect

aquatic life.

Spring Valley #1

I think most people don’t know about the water quality. Apathy.

Know water quality of fishing effect. Know water quality affects fishing, sep. tasting. Most people

know all they want to know. Choose not to know. Harm of pesticides.

People know that Land Practices are important. During heavy rains the erosion is easy to see ie. Brown

water. Trout are in it.

People have a bog effect on it. People know they can’t drink from the streams.

Lack of water ways leads to poor quality of water.

Most people don’t know about the watershed.

Rain causes water levels to rise in rivers. They probably assume there is no chemicals in water.

I think that people are too concerned about the water quality. People afraid to drink tap water? Other

water could be contaminated too.

People don’t know. People are not too clear on what water shed is.

14 bacteria riddled streams. We don’t know much. Isn’t someone suppose to tell us. We assume the

best. Someone is taking care of it.

Most assume poor water quality. Rivers are being degraded. Pessimistic about long term outlook.

I don’t know. It is not very clean water.

I think water quality is better here than in some other areas. People are concerned and care. What is

not drinkable now may never be drinkable in the future despite the improvements we may adopt.

There are more floods – increased turbidity.

Sediment level is increasing. Water temperature is rising.

Poor quality due to runoff from towns as well as from fields.

Many sources of water. I really don’t think people aware of the “Root River Watershed” – drawing :

beginning X – you are here…. Sideways 8 in the center …. Mississippi at the end.

Water runs into the Mississippi – comes from towns and cities, comes from roads and ditches (has salt

from roads).

Better than it used to be.

Takes some sort of grassed area to slow flow of water before entering rivers : (to prevent erosion.)

Houston #1

People don’t know a lot about it.

Trout streams must meet water quality standards for nitrates. Water quality is dependent on the

geology (?) of the area (that the stream flows through). _____ urban and agri. areas can affect water

quality.

Very little. What they read in the paper.

It’s clean-up a lot. It’s better than it was. It was awful.

I don’t know anything.

An impaired water by the MPCA(?). Quality of Root River is important to our economy – recreational

tourism. The water shed is imperiled by industrial frac sand mining and other activities. The quality of

the water shed is a reflection of how seriously WE take the responsibility of the stewardship of our

land.

Too Much Erosion. “a happy face” – in red ink.

Improved in past 40 years, no longer graze along banks. Some places better than others. Lanesboro an

example of better quality. More filtering with rocks.

Recent manure spill. Warming water and turbidity kill fish. Tourists won’t come if water quality is

poor. Air pollution comes down into the watershed from rain. High capacity wells can deplete the

tributaries and springs. It’s better to keep pollution out of the water then to try to clean it up after the

fact.

It seems cleaner than it used to.

Water quality changes by amount of run off.

Root River is cleaner than in the past. Construction practices, ponds for run off.

I don’t know what people know. Lots of farm runoff. Good quality water impacts tourism, fishing,

outdoor activities. Economy based on good water. Water is a finite resource. We treat it like there’s

an endless amount. Marshlands filter water. Unique bluff ecosystem.

I do not kn much about the water quality. I know there’s a lot of silt and sand. Ag practices are

affecting the water. Also, from and aerial view, there’s a h___ of silt where the Root empties into the

Mississippi.

Know what they see! From the news – something goes wrong.

They have no idea.

Very little in general.

Impaired waterway with a lot of problems. High sediment- High nitrogen = poor water quality which

effects the Mississippi River.

Destruction of natural habitat for native species (ie fish).

Very little (smilie face). In danger of contamination by various activities: farming, industrial businesses,

people personal activities, lawn and garden, ATV’s.

There are things we don’t know all the time.

Water quality on effect health of people and the ecosystem. Water quality seems to be diminishing.

Many factors can affect water quality.

Don’t know shit!

Grand Meadow #1

What is on the news. Some don’t care. Fishing isn’t as good as it could be – needs improvement. Gets

dirty after rain – nothing to hold the dirt back.

Varies from branch to branch. Can support trout.

Can support trout. Some sediment.

Concerns about water quality. Flooding gets att. Some think things are getting better and some think

its worse. People don’t realize what there efect is on water quality.

Not much. Don’t know what watershed we are.

Most people don’t know what water shed we are. Know when it looks/smells funny (direct

observation).

Know when Grand Meadow dumps the sewer ponds.

Question Number 2: What actions are needed to improve water quality in the Root River

watershed?

Chatfield #2

Better control of run off from farm yards. Make a law for field set backs or enforce existing laws.

Encouraging grass borders. Strip cropping / terracing. Not pasturing river bottoms. Regulating

forestation and manage. Encourage community interest and participation (cleanups).

Everyone can help a. Raingard one and control runoff b. In country, use buffer strips. Need up-to-

date septic systems. Roles for ___. Mix of gov’t / individuals – reduce water use, encourage water

conservation to prevent run-off.

Clean process for trash pickup. Education of users/public. Encourage friendly use of rivers, streams.

Run off (farm). Run off (city). Improve stream banks. Trash pick up.

Moniter (on going). Pollution control. Run off issues.

If testing is being done, share with the public. Farmers need adequate info. from fertilizer and seed

companies. Consulting on best practices.

Know when it is Muddy. Know when littered. Know when fish are biting. Know when low or high

levels of water. Know when “green”. Know the wildlife.

Cost-share conservation programs. Education. Awareness. Reduce erosion. Slow flow of water.

Manure management.

More no till farming. Awareness of caused of erosion and addressing of these causes. Education and

publicity.

Education of the people using the river.

Septic system inforcement. Where does the water run – neighbors knew septic running – didn’t know

going into river. More set aside (more crep) on banks of river.

Worry that people will put pressure on streams from building too close. Erosion issues of concern

consider buffer strips.

More volunteers picking up trash. Less live stock.

Reduce live stock run off. Remove downed trees. Rip rap inside curves. Reduce speed, wing dams.

Community involvement.

Farm animals – manure regulations (management). Town run off monitoring. Monitor quality of wells

– well issues. Enforce current regulations.

Watch city sewers and effect. City rain water disposal including parking lots. Control amount of

fertilizer and kind of fertilizers used. No clear cutting of trees. Campgrounds.

Soil conservation - tillage practices. Better city sewer systems. Stream bank control practices. Septic

systems up to code. Control storm sewer run off.

Cost share conservation prog. Education awareness – reduce erosion – slow the flow of water.

Improve quality of Urban Runoff. Manure Mgmt.

Better education on conservation effort to urban and agriculture. Funding needed for conservation

practices. Tours of best practices, IE U of M Discovery Farms.

Methods of farming to match specific land and land use.

Colective effort between urban and rural needed. Different water and soil conservation practices

needed. Need more perennial grasses grown.

Control run off, especially manure. Watch land being tilled especially by river banks. Watch over feed

lots especially where streams run right through. Gas station spills – down drain directly.

Reforestation of land. Epa be more rat____ and science based.

Stream bank stabilization. Sink hole controls (dumping).

More forestry land practices need to be encouraged to improve watershed. More minimum-till and

no-till practices should also be encouraged.

If needed do additional research on the part that Karst topography plays. Look into the effect of RV

and camping facilities and their septic disposals.

Keep livestock out of river. More conservation projects along river.

Education. County or State regulations enforced. Feed lot runoff. Old farm site. Septic systems.

Animals not considered farm animals. Learning about where water runs.

More no-till methods. More water retension like terraces/tile lines.

Rushford #2

Less planting fence row to row.

More buffer around the shoreline.

Improve quality of water in runoff- can control quality of runoff more that control the amount.

Change management practices to control run-off – both farm and urban. More careful fertilizer

application.

Provide best practices for farming. Conduct more tests. Hold back water to prevent silt and large

volumes of water/flooding. Urban areas need to be educated on the ways that they affect water

quality.

Enforcement of rules of land use. Enticements to encourage people to do the right thing. Educate.

Education. Public awareness. Changing certain farming practices.

Retaining ponds. Terraces. Contour farming. Waterways.

Conservation practices. Limit run off from field.

Keep all the people in the Twin Cities.

Contour farming. Buffer strips and not plowed. Ed. urban res. on pest. and fert. of lawns. Run off

nitrogen control to river by land management.

Education on effects of i.e. frac sand mining etc. Ag effects on streams (feed lots).

More grass areas. Waterways in cropland. More trees on water shore. Let people know what they do

affects water conditions.

Better farming practice’s in the flood plain. Contour farming. Winter covercrops. Up grade sewage

systems. Manure management.

Increase in hay acres with contour strips and buffers.

No tilling the land.

Education. Slow down the flow of water by various methods: terracing, retention dam, water ways,

grassed. More filtration.

With commodity prices high hay or grass should be put in for buffer strip to slow down erosion.

More studying and learning about the watershed.

Flood mitigation projects. Awareness of benefits of waterways and contours. Greater public

awareness of chemical use.

Less planting fence row to fence row. Education.

More conservation practices.

More wastewater treatment. Plant monitoring. (Give raise to PW superintendent! YES)

Need more enforcement of certain practices/regulations regarding run off.

Limit certain practices. Erosion control.

Lanesboro #2

Plant more buffer strips to prevent soil erosion and run-off. Reduce dependence on Ag in puts.

Buffer strips. Good communication to watershed populations to make them aware about what’s

happening and how they can help. Upland water retention areas.

Ed. Ag sector of better management practice. Buffer strip. No till. More perennial crops. Feed lot

zoning (open) lots.

Citizen and community acknowledgement of issue. Clarify reality vs perception. Identify non-point

pollution sources. Incentives to implement change. Discourage non-biodegradable materials for

recreational purposes.

Education, education, education. Education to get people to buy in. Instill an environmental ethic at an

early age.

Whole-sale ag reformation with focus on conservation, fert. Application, soil prep. Should buy up large

tracts of land in floodplain (take out of private ownership) – create a buffer. Create watershed based

organization.

More awareness by the general public. Need to show people how it can be improved. More citizen

involvement. Technical solutions.

Erosion control. More barriers/buffers between ag and the river. Closer monitoring of sewage

discharge from municipalities.

Buffer strips. Educate farmers on monitoring inputs – quantity, placement, timing. Plant more forages

– reduced row crop monoculture. Cleanup spills near springs/sinkholes/creeks. Outhouse

maintenance.

Cultivated fields need to have 10% - 25% buffer strips. Limiting erosion runoff and providing habitat

for wildlife and pollinators.

Education – using other watersheds as models of what can happen. Incentives – give people a reason

to change. Get more people involved (want to be involved).

Control runoff/weather and ag. Protect natural springs and fresh water sources. Buffers from crop

and grazing.

Educating local population about actual current condition. More measurement and publish

information to inform public. Promote public interactions and discussions with diverse groups (not just

those concerned with water quality. Social incentive that promotes water cool “not cool to pollute”.

Limit access pts. on the river (campgrounds canoe landings bldgs and development). Enforce ban on

manure spreading on frozen ground. Expand the shoreland zone 300’ now ---- 500-1000’. Stop

expansion of sand mines. Removes filter.

Improved education so citizens know ways to improve quality. Resources for funding of

improvements. More involvement by watershed citizens. More examples within watershed so people

can see results.

Better control of urban runoff. Erosion control. Soil health acts as a buffer – nutrient leaching less

need for pesticides and herbicides. Better mgnt of land can make land more productive. (Cover crops

no-till) Better ability to hold water in the land.

More awareness of the imprortance of the quality of the watershed. More accountability to citizen of

the watershed. More incentives to improve the watershed. More knowledge of the results of existing

practices.

Soil conservation practices including erosion control. Emphasis planting native species. Create

economic incentive to change farming practices. Educating visitors about importance of water quality.

Move stockyard away from river.

Less row crops. More forage. Limit development along river. Limit access points to control usage (ie.

garbage). A personal moral ethic.

Require implementation of nutrient plans. Quadruple CSP enrollment. Enforce (revise) erosion control.

Continuous cover on croplands. Enforce clear cutting ordinance. Keep livestock on pasture. Regulate

atrazine.

Preston #2

Don’t farm up to the river. Use the least amount of fertilizer possible- Town and country. Keep in

mind the growth of town and country.

More water retaining structures. More inspectors of Point source (cities, etc.).

More education (rain barrels, rain gardens, etc. for city people). Subsedies for conservation practices.

(CSP cost shear water ways and pond structures). Opportunity for youth education.

More cattle, fewer row crops. More water control. Structures leading to the rover. Plug the tile lines.

Sinkhole buffers. Continue subsidies for good conservation programs (SWCD, NRCS). Manure mgmt

plans for all. Closer look at city waste treatment systems along Root River. More education for city

residents (lawn fertilizers, etc.).

Continued involvement by state and fed and individuals.

Continue CRP of highly erosive land. Not farming up to river bank. Make cities aware of problem, of

hoe much lawn fertilizer to into river.

Slow movement of water in town and country. We all need to minimize disposed of chemicals into

waste water stream, esp. municipal. Compost veggie scraps instead of garbage disposals.

More alfal./hay/grass grown on step hills (highly errodeable). Better water way practices in fields.

Control contour stripping. Continued improvement of manure app. (timing and application).

Funding to study monitor, enforce regulations. Buffer strips and Raporian vegetation. Careful study

with Frac sand in Karst geology. Incentive programs toward sustainable ag.

Gov needs to fix problems. Schrink the buffer on sink hole. Follow and enforce weed control.

Diversity crops. More farm visits vs hand out items.

Better and more regulation of land use around rivers, for better set backs (larger and more regulated).

Decrease use of chemicals, (pesticides, herbicides). More diverse cropping (veg), not just corn and

soybeans. More contoured strip farming.

More rotate crops and legums. DNR needs to do better job in maintaining land.

Have a buffer zone. Educate. Keep livestock out. Rotate crops. Contour strips. Keep cover crops on

fields.

Think alot of improvements have been done. Having these meetings help! Monitoring runoffs

(chemical and animal). Education!! Physical assistance (DNR burn?) in improvements.

Educating people who live on the watershed about risks of using herbesides and monitoring runoff.

Education.

Tie program payments to compliance. Help pay for it. Educate young on Facebook.

Farmers and their practices with fieldwork. Livestock management practices. Runoff from the towns.

Monitoring (volunteers).

Spring Valley #2

Teach farmers less pesticides and herbicides. Swamplands remain or restored. No dumping in sink

holes. Interest in old iron mine (history) and landfill.

Encourage people not to use so many herbicides on their lawns. Need rain gardens! Plenty of hills!

Raise the urgency! S.V. flood control – and Grand Meadow … commercial composter back.

Run off control. Manure management. Encourage retention ponds. Cover crops.

Check fertilization qualities. Water filtering system.

Flat land also. Leave waterways.

Better land conservations, better waterways. Enforcing erodible acres to have waterways put in.

Plant grasses along streams. Create sediment basins for all windmill projects.

Be more careful where are waste goes - water treatment plants. Restrict trapping because carcasas

biodegrade in the water.

Filtration system of chemical pesticides? Awarness/meetings.

Change Ag practices. Manages manure. Controll city run off. Organic Ag practices.

Need change ag practices. We need to be conscious of where our waste goes. City/town rain runoff

should be pretreated.

First test the water. Use less fertilizer. Produce more organic food. Water treatment facilities.

A. Respect 50’ buffer at streams and rivers. B. Conservation tillage. C. Best management for nitrogen

application and other pesticide applications. D. Utilize “Equip” dollars. E. Control tile outlets.

More buffers. No and reduced till. Additional grasslands. More wetlands.

Towns control salt runoff. Partly caraful where they dump snow.

More waterways and grass strips. Plant more trees on hillsides.

Stop direct runoff from feedlots. More no till farming.

Leave more grass by streams.

Buffer zones along streams and sinkholes.

Insure large enough grass areas along the river banks. Ensuring water ways are large enough to handle

the runoff.

Houston #2

Community has to work together – rural vs. urban: ie farmers and urban people have to work

together for solutions.

Education is important to teach w.s. residents about BMPs. Research info development of BMPs.

Better use of conservation dams to slow waters as it moves off the land. More extensive use of soil

t____. Fertilizer won’t be over-applied. More use of GPS – grid- sampling to test for nutrients on crop

land.

Reducing chemicals and pesticides and silt run-off (farms vs res.). Buffer between farm and river.

Education.

Encourage grass based farming. Nitrate fertilizer control/education for farms, lawns, golf courses.

Education about sustainable gardening farming practices. Erosion control. Enforcement of existing

Regs. More stringent Regs ie set backs, floodplain, mining, Industrial, Agricultural. Increase penalties

for violations.

Better manure mgmt.

Zoning regulations on manure handling. Knife instead of top spreading. No tiling fields directly into

rivers or streams. More sediment/retention ponds to control water run off.

Education. Legislation to adequately protect water quality. Enforcement of good regulation and

legislation – buffer of trees and grass along waterways and move away from chemical use.

Control ag run off. Limit ag chemicals. Also lawn and garden.

More regulations push up ponds.

More conservation practices.

Soil, water, air research; good quantifiable data. Local involvement in habitat restoration. Move away

from heavy chemical use. Explore integrated past management and use of organics. Find a way to

make this economical.

Soil conservation practices – water ways, strip till, fencing out streams where cattle are. Grass buffers

next to river.

Better manure containment and storage. Making sure there are grassed waterways and they’re

maintained.

Only reason I’m here is very poor drinking water. I have 2 animals (cat, dog). I won’t even give them

water from tap.

Citizen input. Citizen involvement. Evaluate existing regs and potential new ones. BASED ON SCIENCE.

Courageous lawmakers and rulemaker. Coordination of regulating agencies.

Variety of tools to curb runoff – eg buffer strips. Wise use/education on fertilizer application. Look at

de-channelizing the lower Root River. Explore opening up the old channel.

Enforce existing laws on land use. Educate each other.

Increase – buffer zones next to rivers and streams. More emphasis on no till farming and less use of

chemicals. More education to members of the public.

Stop pollution. Have laws and enforce them.

Reducing chemicals, pesticides, silt, runoff. Establish buffer zones to help prevent runoff.

Management enforcement of best practices. Education. Conservation.

Widen channel from 60 ft to 80 ft.

Grand Meadow #2

Public meetings about water quality. BMP more incentive programs. Government enforcement pro

water quality.

More buffer strips along rivers. Water clarity for mussles.

All protected waters should have 50’ buffer by law. More meetings about water quality.

Keeps water where it falls. Control run off. Bufferstrips. No till. Cover crops. Rain barrels/gardens.

Education/watershed concept.

Monitoring the businesses – more consistent buffer strips. More public awareness of what can be

done. Teach things in school programs. River clean up.

Buffer strips. Monitor water.

Question Number 3: What are the challenges preventing people from taking action to

protect water quality?

Chatfield #3

Contacts. Money. Time. Education. Neighborhood relationships.

Too many agency decisions that may not be as helpful and are yet burdensome both time and money.

Ignorance – what to do. Money/time. I worry about apathy – people are ok with status quo. Buffer to

river beds but economic issue. Whole agricual system awray.

Lack of the problem’s that can arrise. Provide more financial resource’s. Apathy – people not caring.

Peer pressure from farming community – business – town. Don’t know correct way of doing it.

$. Permission - permiting process, too many rules. Knowledge about what to do. Time.

Financial restrictions are a slowing fact for some people. Looking at the long term picture is a

challenge.

Individual’s philosophy towards water quality. Local jurisdiction, knowledge about the other people

involved. Education level – literate or not. Hobbies related to water use.

Conflicting government policies. Shortage of money. Lack of knowledge. Lack of awaress of need for

conservation.

$. Gov regulations. Doing it the right way.

People not following rules. Campers leaving trash.

Education – lack of knowledge. Affordability re: new septic systems. Social pressure, peer pressure.

1. People expect other people or government to solve the problems. 2. People will assign liability to

other groups i.e. farmers vs city people. 3. People don’t know as individuals what they can do!

Too busy to protect. Resistance to new ways.

Government restrictions. Local financing. Committed people. High and low water levels. Short

season. Masterplan.

Apathy. Keep animal out of water. Peoples knowledge of chemical, fertilizers. People dont feel

ownership in water shed.

Cost. Ingrained habits. Ignorance.

Time. Permit process. Fertilizer Recommendations. Feedlot regulations.

Crop prices. Mortage payments. Financial. Not everyone feels tied to the river.

Funding. Consulting – people need to know what it is they can do and how to achieve it. Limited

policy without strict requirements – or not enough.

Money, time, education.

Current farm economy. High commodity prices. Tilling up the land. Lack of understanding. Apathy.

Farm economy/crop prices do not promote conservation. The area is so beautiful that the natural

resource itself brings in new people/uses that don’t quite understand. COST, gov’t programs/lack of

funding.

Knowledge – don’t see benefit, don’t know how easy it might be. Inconvenient – no value.

High cost of meanfull action. People not taking ownship of water quality.

Habit among residents, prevent open-mindness to change. People looking for quick profit.

Not taking time to think about it! Landowners that have the drainage problem need to take care of it.

People don’t see the whole picture. People think the clean water act will take care of it. The

Government can handle it!

1. Money 2. Just don’t care attitude 3. We always have done it this way.

a. money – septic systems are extremely expensive. b. education (people) c. time – to learn about

to problem d. garbage collection – one of use, time e. lack of resources

State, Federal, County, Twsp. Laws and Regulations. Money. Need for more research.

Rushford #3

Apathy.

Economics of production. Habit of doing things a certain way.

Economic challenges. Lack of caring by some. More educations.

Finances. Knowing what’s wrong. Rules and regulations.

Education. Costs. Some people just don’t care.

Education. Expense for prevention. Local paradigms.

Education. Resources to make changes.

People are reluctant to help due to personal opinions. Cost - $$.

Money – cost. It’s easier to go to square fields. Go to row crops for greater return.

Cost. Neighbors so-operation. People think it won’t work.

It always effects profitability.

Small profit margins for farmers forcing push capability of land. Steep topography is a challenge.

People don’t want to tick-off friends and neighbors, relatives. Expense involved. People don’t see

long-term pay-off.

Lack of Education. Economic – Ag Programs.

They don’t have knowlege about it and where to get it.

Don’t know where to go for help or information.

People are not aware that their are water quality issues. Tough to compete with the high prices for

corn and beans.

$$$! Rules and regs. Never Ending. Not just one time.

Financial. Having everyone on board.

Money. Rip wrap. Ponds – cost. Waterways.

Financial. 1 person can’t make a difference.

The cost of doing.

Financing. Cost of farm products result in larger farms.

Afraid to cause problems with neighbors – don’t want to challenge farming practices.

Good relation are needed to be able to keep the water shed safe. Work together.

Lanesboro #3

Better education of people on the problem. Financial aspect of ag issues. Cultural issues (resistance to

change).

Finances. Certain regulatory agencies – being able to qualify to improve practices – have to meet

certain criteria to get funding. Time constraints.

Money: to implement practices eg. ag practices, contours, etc. Awareness by all of the realities.

Incentives, eg. tax breaks to encourage efforts.

Awareness – people need to be aware of the issues. People need understand and know that we can

make a difference. We have to “own it” and realize it is our problem. We often don’t know what we

can do.

Price of corn, lack of environmental accountability leads to much sedimentation. Look at the fields

today (spring) as you drive through country. Lack of focus and accountability on non-point sources …

too much focus on point sources. Shouldn’t have stopped clean water act at point sources only.

Not strongly personally impacted. Unable to see how their actions directly impact the river. Tradition –

past history of how something was done. Overwhelmed. Don’t care. Economic challenge.

Ignorance of the importance/magnitude of the problem; don’t recognize this as an issue. Don’t know

what to do. They think it is someone else’s issue. Not important to most people. Don’t even think

about it.

Educating public about the problem. Ag/municipalities who can make a difference – how?

Getting them to understand the water pathways (kust runoff. rain.) People are busy. Make it a priority.

Ag community needs $ incentives (csp e.g.)

Updating antiquated septic systems. Economic pressure to produce higher yields.

The pressure of economics.

Economics and laziness easy not to change. Willful ignorance on watershed. Don’t want to have to

take responsibility. Lack of opportunity to collaborate.

Lack of education on issue. Social intertion - not popular. Economic reasons not to change. Unwilling

to change.

No one wants to complain about their neighbors. Easy to say what I do doesn’t matter. Before you can

do anything you have to recognize there’s a problem.

Financial: citizens not aware of available funding to protect water. Understanding the magnitude of

the problem. Rural and urban citizens working together for solutions. Local constituents see non-

residents as major contributers to pollution. Get state and local representatives on board and active.

Time to understand issues of water. Time to plan new strategies of new processes. Resistance to

change – generational.

CRP rates not competitive with corn prices. Bigger machinery.

Preceived cost of prevention. Fear that agricultural changes will increase food and operation costs.

Economic challenge – make more money with corn and soybeans. Don’t know the impacts their

behaviors are having. Don’t care. Lack of stewardship.

People don’t recognize pollution as something that is changeable. Re: Ag: because there are a lot of

good farmers there is a reluctance to go after bad actors. Not figure out how to talk about it without

insulting farmers – they need to learn to hear it without being defensive first. Our problems also

national problems, but we need to act locally first to influence the larger picture.

Preston #3

Costly process to be environmental sound.

State vs government. DNR. Nosey neighbors. Ignorant politicians.

Lack of knowledge. Indifference. Financial plus and minus (crops vs CRP). More support for locally

grown sustainable products.

People don’t know the problem. Worried about expense.

$7.00 corn. Special environmental challenges of Karst region. Water events can overwhelm practices.

Money or lack of.

Lack of public will. Afraid of change of how they farm.

Economics. Not aware – lack of exposure.

Good information for average people in munancipalities to reduce contaminants. Good information

for farmers to create profitable rotations.

Lack of knowledge “ of the problem and how to fix it”. Too Expensive – little return. No incentives.

Lack of care.

Too big of a job to tackle. The caution of hurting others feelings and habits and lively hood / way of

life. Low funding of programs to educate and persuade to take action. Lack of political will. Long term

instead of long term so we are easily distracted. Karst geology --- makes studing difficult. Most people

have reliable drinking water.

Financial. People living around river are not the ones farming it. Conservation practices learned by

elders is being lost in younger generations.

Lack of incentives to improve. Not enough regulation. Short-sighted. Worried about income loss if

changes are made.

Buffers around sinkholes are. Too large without financial reimbursement. Portion of property taxes

should be used to fund studies or solutions.

Regulations and (?) Money -- Finding someone who knows how to manage it.

REGULATIONS AND $. Finding competent – educated contractors.

Lack of knowledge. Needing physical assistance (pre-scribed burn equipment and people to help, etc.).

Financial barriers.

No fiscal incentive. Size of farm equipment prevents some (and farm size). Not one-size-fits-all

available = need more that 1 solution. Fear of enforcement/regulation. No organised leadership re:

what to do.

Too costly for farmers. Dilgent farming practices.

Spring Valley #3

Lack of money. What others think of your actions. Regulations of state. Giving up control. Don’t want

to change.

Time. Money. Don’t want to give up control. Pride in weed free fields and lawns. Farm subsidies for

corn. Don’t care. Don’t think it’s a problem.

Practice’s cost money. Some people do not care.

Fear. Easier to continue to do it the way it’s always been done. Too expensive. Some believe there is

nothing wrong with the water.

More convenient to skip good conservation practices. Sometimes, lack of knowledge.

D-R has too much power over private owned land.

Need of permits to do any work along streams. Pain staking foot. issues.

Not enough knowledge. Not being sure of effective actions.

Don’t care! Lack of money-- Need others to help—

Worried/fear of decreased yields for farmers (bigger waterway, no till) etc.). Decreased profits.

Unseen results – not seeing the benefits.

Technology. Lack of political will. Lack of personal attention. Challenges are large.

1. Money. 2. Education. 3. Technology. 4. Testing facilities. 5. Political influence. 6. Lack of public

interest.

Education. Fear of change - ave. age farmer 68. Agency led vs. Farmer led. Breach of confidentiality.

Because most of us are already doing good things.

Lack of information of 1. Issue of water quality 2. What’s needed to address it. Competing interests

– demand for ag production vs. land ethos. Not knowing what to do. Acknowledging/identifying role

in water quality/quantity. Lack of financial incentive or disincentive. State land vs. taxed land.

Cost in $.

Because corn for ethenal.

Uncooperative people.

Competition (economic).

Financial.

Lack of education. Need to know who to contact for help and advice.

Houston #3

Funding. Finding concerned people who can work together. Leadership is needed to get things done

in the watershed.

Better application of BMPs. A____ of the needs of better land uses. More research and better data –

what’s coming off Ag land, what is coming off urban areas. Funding and Time.

Money for conservation practices. Residential - Pesticides – Fertilizer. Obsession for weeds.

Part of problem is people don’t see it as their responsibility, they don’t own it. Someone else’s river.

Culture pushes chemical (short term) solutions.

Political pressures. Harassment. Lack of common views. Lack of education on water quality and how

to protect it. Time and Money.

Cost. Access.

People think it’s not economical to protect water. Easy to get rid of excess water/rain. Integrated

management plan.

Vested interests – farming and disrespectives the land and water. It’s cheaper in the short term. Agri-

industry, banks pollutes and protects bad practices – a lot of money on their side. If you challenge

people to protect the water and air, and the environment, people want to bill you.

Lack of information. Mis-information.

Priorities are different for different people. Money to implement practices.

Cost. Public access.

Think it will cost a lot of $. Don’t think there’s a problem. Aren’t aware of alternative options. Old

way is OK. Difficult to co-ordinate other communities.

$$. Ignorance. Independence. Politics.

Economics- if you can’t afford to do the recommended changes, you won’t do it-- You run the risk of

being at an economic disadvantage. Issues of practicality – not all conservation practices work equally

well on all farms.

Inability to reach executing authority – not knowing where / who to go to. “I is small and they is big” .

oops _________________________

Conflicting interests (environment versus commerce). Cost of protection (implementing cons.

practices) (cost to stakeholders). Apathy.

Economics of high commodity prices and inputs such as land rent ect. decrease the insentive to

establish buffer strips or other techniques. More education to explore alternative cropping systems,

use of fertilizer. Not aware of impacts personal or accumulative.

Not aware there is a problem. People don’t share concerns and observations. So allowed and

continue.

Laziness – don’t want to do what is necessary. Financial challenges. Lack of education on viable

alternatives.

Money issues. Don’t want to offend. Human nature. Resistance to act positively. Government

buraucry. Inability to break through “the system”.

Tradition. Money. Too busy.

Grand Meadow #3

High rental rates. Extra effort (too busy).

Lack of knowledge. Bad attitude. Financial. Land surface, where they are located. Local

critizim/family critizim.

Loss of profit from installing BMP’s. Some people don’t have opportunities to get attached to the river

– don’t realize the rivers are a valuable resource. Talking about impairments can scare people from

connecting to the river.

Financial cost vs. benefit of doing conservation. Fear of change. Lack of understanding. Results/data

not presented to people who need to hear it.

Lack of knowledge. Money. Poor attitude.

Money. CRP has to be with crop rental rate. You have to want to do it. Advertize what program is

available.

Question Number 4: What information would be helpful to motivate people to protect

water quality?

Chatfield #4

How quality affect fish and wildlife.

Info on one-to-one basis. Getting help from other conserned groups.

1. Basic stats in paper about quality and useage. 2. Hard to know what to do as indidules. 3. More

information for average citizen.

Education – awareness. Hazards facing the river.

Post result stream testing. Knowing programs that help with cost. Results from previous improvement

– Trout unlimited.

Need to know – what to do , how to do it, what they do - ever if little bit, when added makes a lot

negative or positive.

Health impact of water quality. Results of nitrates (negative) pollution. Promotion of water recreation

area.

Commercialism. Nilhbers (??). Knowledge. Selfishness. Personal Utilization Riparian zone.

How to make info easy to find. Easy access. Understanding a watershed… not everyone can live up

stream. Relevent information has to pertain to them.

People need to know the easiest and least expensive way to do things. Other organizations that can

help.

Aware of restrictions. What resources are available. More education. Informed canoers and campers.

Understanding pollution levels and definitions. Importance of small conservation steps/procedures.

1. Opportunities for individual resposiblity. 2. More “just in time” education e.g. programs/brochures

at camp grounds. 3. Action oriented ½ day or 1 day programs.

1. Education (newspaper articles) for lack of info about water quality of the river. 2. Famers need to

be informed on what they are doing to the watershed. 3. More/better recycling opportunities.

What resource can you draw on? Contact’s for more info?

Not a lot of ownership around the whole impact of the River on the time. Only time hear about it is

Polar Plunge time. More publicity about the river in a positive way. What are benefits of having a river

run through Chatfield. (Al Batt) - we need one to write about us!

They need a checklist. A series of steps (manageable) so the know what to do. Need to know they are

making a difference.

People want acurate information. Easy to read. Small steps to get to the goal. Different government

programs for city and county. Common sense thinking.

What simple steps people can use to get started. What things people are doing that they could quit

doing.

Education and real facts. Thinking about generations to come. Policy and regulations. Understand

benefits of tourism – trout fishing – fishermen will not come if creek is dirty.

Specific ideas of what to do. Things to do that are easy to start. Long term goals for the River. Worst

case scenario.

That it is doable with easy and inexpensive ways.

Placemats! Extension U of M research! Teach young people – 4-H, Scouts, FFA.

Extent of the problem/what can be done reasonably. Knowledge of different practices that are

beneficial.

Impact of water quality – information. Info on how to help.

Picturing the aquatic species in the river. Showing the diversity of wild life in the water shed. Show

the health effects of a polluted river. Get more people to the river to experience the river.

Publicizm map with info of area affected.

1. More newspaper articles 2. More peer pressure

What ever is going affect them personally the most (& their pocket book): fish catch and eat, wildlife

observation, canoeing, birding, recreation activities – according to their interests. What motivates

people is what interests them. Let people know costs involved if water shed isn’t cared for.

We need people to come out to talk to us who can talk about our personal situations.

Rushford #4

Show them frogs with 5 leg. Show butterfly loss because of BT. Education.

Ground level monitoring. Composition of water table components. Health studies of long term

exposure to ingredients of water table.

Inform people of how the river looked when poor quality practices were happening, and what

improvements have been made since.

What actual impairments are and what are acceptable levels. Best management practices. Financial

resources for management.

Informative but fun education. Best management practices as an example of what can be done. Show

people what level of impairments are in reality.

Facts of usage. Data on how it effects our drinking water. Data on level of ground water and quality of

water.

Instruction and initiative.

Education on water quality. Information “streams “ to public.

Cost of change. Info that would show land improvements.

Type of work to be done. Cost. Results of change. Why. How it look in the total picture.

By not putting regulations in that makes as much sense as putting a windshield wiper on a ducks ASS.

Educate farmers (1 to 1) about tiling effect on downstream – farmers talk to each other. Publish

private wells nitrate content to see how Ag practices effect neighbors wells. Bring home effects on

local basis first then widen out to watersheds.

General infermation program so people understand how intimately tied we are to our water quality.

Basic geology understanding for specific areas and how far reaching the ramifications can be of land

use practices.

Find out if water is bad.

Info on how to get funding to improve quality. Info on what they are doing to there own property.

Info in paper. Education classes. Diversity. Representation from all groups.

Information about nitrate levels and bacteria. Info that proves it’s a real problem.

Info relating to Nitrate and Bacteria levels. Helpful to acknowledge the work in conservation farmers

are already doing.

Money.

Workshops, info meetings. W.Q. testing kits made easy to get. An easy way to find out if “your” water

is polluted (well, spring, river, stream). Feed lot monitoring for owners.

More education on the primary strains on the watershed: sediments, nitrates, bacterial. And how

they directly impact the people living in the watershed.

Provide financial info ie. grants, cost-sharing, etc. Start education process in grade schools and high

schools.

(No comments on sheet.)

Soil water conservation. Groups. MPCA. DNR.

What are the regulations. Who do we go to to find out what can be done.

Inform New People of the water shed information that is here in the Root River water shed. Like the

farms practices and buffer zones to the River bank.

Lanesboro #4

Any incentives – financial, education. Ed. to public of no clean water.

St/Fed funded programs to help initiate practices. Historical data depicting changes in ground water

activity with future estimates of consequences of inaction.

Need to publish water quality , turbidity, chemicals, etc.

People need to know that they can make a difference; and that the issue is not quite as overwhelming

as they think. Witnessing real examples of poor practices. (ie – fish kill – show them what really

happens). Get real stories! (see it and they will believe ? Hopefully)

Placemat factoids helpful. Kiosks with info near trails, river access points, etc. Relating facts to

individuals.

As simple as a pollutant report and what it means for drinking/swimming/fishing quality like air quality

alert – Start with people living here. Enforcement/fine for improper manure application or other

infractions.

Pique Interest first. Aware of todays pollutant levels compared to pre settlement. Recognize that it is

something that they can and should do something about.

More media attention to ag. And manure discharge into river. Make people aware of litter problem.

Education, and actual test monitoring.

How future citizen would be effected. Successful models of change that improve the quality.

When, people come to homes – she sh___ a monitoring device in basement for nitrate. This last yr. in

Feb. they are monitoring and finding elevated nitrate levels. Take people field trip to Weaver Bottoms

Wildlife Area, show them Landing Turtles, Sandhill Cranes, Lily Pad and how a wet lands works.

Understanding the change in water quality over time. Education – knowing what actions people take

to cause the problem. Knowing that making changes is worthwhile and has an effect.

Seeing records of pollution levels. List of opportunities to participate.

Information on current quality. Make people aware of consequences of misuse of water supply.

Funding available. Viewing successful practices already in operation. Getting neighbors involved and

oking the changes.

Information about how easy changes can be made. Understanding human health effect from

pesticides, nitrates, and bacteria.

More personnel at local/county level to educate and inform; example CRP requirements. Survey to

individuals (voluntary) to start them thinking about water quality; run-off that could be prevented.

Rental property – large amounts not well managed.

Knowing personal economic costs of not having clean water. Health consequences of not having clean

water. Info of future impacts.

Info on current health of the River. Info on how to improve River. SEEING Examples of good land.

mgmt. practices. See economic incentives (conservation programs).

Many people need to be required to do the right thing. Visual updating (good-med-poor river quality)

of river through web, signage, etc. Farmers need to know there will be consequences, if their run off is

polluted.

Preston #4

Publish data frequently in local newspaper re: progress and ongoing practices. List of resources

people can use to implement soil and water conservation.

More periodicals pertaining to water cuality. Find out what is in the water. Map fly over to see why

river looks like. How much water in Aquafer? To what point on the river is Root River impaired (better

up stream).

Indicator species, teaching citizens how healthy it is or can be. Educate children!!

Testing their own wells. More information.

Well Nitrates. Bacteria and Nitrates count in different parts of watershed. Knowledge of soil loss.

Know your water quality – test results. Good info on chemical use in town as well as on farm.

(No comments on this sheet.)

Find our how much natural soil erosion is from river bank itself vs farming practices. Tell people how

much CRP, CSP and other SWCD programs have already benifited the water shed.

Know conservation water quality information. Composting practices and tips. Be aware. Silt monitor

on the Mississippi. Too much soil leaving.

If there is contamination (___hes is causing it) (how is our runoff affecting others). Best practices to

slow water down. What are other people doing? (cities)

To show how it affects them immediately and in the future. How stewardship in our watershed will

result in improved economics for them and the region. Prioritze best management practices by

urgency. Referrals for funding to pay for best management practices. Knowledge of neighbors

working on it.

Make people drink out of it. City inlet below outlet. Stop some of the scare tactics.

More info why contour farming is important. Information about diverse cropping is important.

Promote diligent use of chemicals and fertilizers. Money incentives to do right practices.

DNR and SWCD Visit farms without penalty. Be more available.

Get people’s attention first. (Big headlines in the paper) Ads for information instead of TV Ads for

fertilizer.

Educate people about source of contamination and resolution. A resolution for quality H2O.

Purpose – specific explanations of the river as it pertains to needs (trout fishermen = river as habitat

for fish or kayakers = recreation in need of safe, clean water).

Rules are for everyone. Fiscal financial advantage (money). Too many rules and not enough

enforcement.

Seminars – getting peoples incentives. More funding for state/county employees to influence the

farmers. Karst region and sink hole education.

Spring Valley #4

Benefits resulting - What would happen I you don’t --- Great drinking water, fishing.

P.R. push from Media on social groups. Less harmful ways to make lawn look nice and still have pride.

Information on cost sharing programs. Education on best practices. Information on Karst geology.

Knowledge of how bad it really is. Cost effective solutions. Alternative products (Green) (Natural).

Consequences of doing nothing!

Information to municipal localities about potential damage from lawn chemicals and other hazardous

items.

Meeting like this.

Know the options available.

Notice shut off city water lack of good water. More T.V. ads Info: Last chance notice.

Money $$. Education and more info. A. How bad it is. B. How to fix it. C. Life-style alternatives:

1. Agriculture 2. Waste Disposal 3. Environmental options i.e.

Make State issue in a dire context – “crisis” to drive reaction. Presentation of incremental steps in

simple terms to improve water quality. Describe what society and gov. are doing to address the

problem.

1. Education on consequences of poor practices. 2. Knowledge of how our actions can affect others.

3. Health Hazards.

Water con not be destroyed but can be contaminated. Farmer led volunteer Ag Water Quality

Certification Program!

1. To be accountable for your own actions. 2. What actions are necessary to make our water quality

sustainable. 3. What are our impacts on water resources.

Info: Long term costs of inaction to prevent wells from being affected. That water quality is diff. from

25 yrs ago. The good in contour farming, crop rotation.

Resources made available to geneal public for information on water sheds.

Best manage practices based on facts (not emotion). How good water can be. How bad water can be.

(Take care of it.) Everybody drinks water – everybody gets involved.

More on Facebook, more local newspaper.

The dangers of pollution and health problems.

New of chemicals that were in runoff.

Houston #4

Better info on Best Mgt. Practices that help protect H2O Quality. Putting out info that will induce

people to care about H2O quality.

What is the effectiveness of BMPs used. How do different tillage practices affect water quality. What

is the affect of different manure management systems (applications).

Better understanding of issues. Simple public advertising of issues.

How has the river changed – historically. Fish: pollution – where did it come from, turbidity – source.

River to ecological cycle, water table to river levels.

I’ve been trying to figure that out for over a year now. I’ve come to the conclusion that greed will

overpower any desire to improve/or maintain water quality. Ignorance is bliss.

Information about – fish and wildlife. More information – like how many PPM of this or that’s in the

river.

Farming – industry – everything we do, has a moral component. That’s missing from the information

and the discussion. To trash the earth is wrong.

Understand we live in a closed system. We can’t throw things away. There is no away. Understand

water is finite. If aquifer destruction is not forever it’s darn close to it.

Water testing.

Threats and intimidation. More information.

State and federal resources available to help. Examples of what worked ok where. Data and research.

Knowing the contaminents in the river. Knowing how it got in there. Knowing the contents that affect

people’s health and well life.

Funding available esp. for farmers for improvement projects. Fewer hoops to jump through.

Names and addresses of culprits. Amt of pollution.

Show changes over time. Consequnes in poor water quality. Cost of poor water.

Increase awareness of the situation. Information to show effectiveness of practices such as buffer

strips. Herbicide and fertilizer application timed rates and amounts according to need- uban – Ag.

Financial information provided to producers on comparisons to alternatives.

Do it or else! Crush ENNUI. Is information that dispels the incorrect information we blindly accept as

truth or nothing to worry about “Just Cow Piss Foam”.

Financial motivation for farmers/producers. Easier access to information/data.

More of these meetings. Better understanding of the issues.

Bad water quality – you die, and everyone you care about dies including your children and animals. If

corporate money thought money could be made by preserving water quality, maybe it would happen.

Real time data reporting on internet information.

Grand Meadow #4

Reports on what is destroying our environment. Incentives for environmental actions. Money Money!

Looking at past to see what has worked. Way’s to help wild life. Water way’s. Thinking about helping

others.

Education how bad things are now. And if we act now it could change for the better. Education to

show people how they can improve water quality. Need to be in the K-12 schools and general public.

Understanding the problems to find solutions. Easily asseccable information. Financial information.

benefits – direct, indirect. Understanding water sheds and effects downstream.

Knowledge of poor water quality and the harm it’s causing. How it affects our quality of life. Let

people know how bad water quality would affect the future. Education.

Money – at least a wash – don’t lose money. Advertise programs – logical process; simplify process to

make it understandable. Understand the “why”.