When this report, The Warren, Truly Forgotten River, went to press,
the final report of the four-year Minnesota River Assessment Project
had not yet been released. Although originally scheduled for release in
early October, it is now expected in November. This postponement has
made it impossible for RWRC to comment on any specific conclusions made
by Minnesota Pollution Control Agency in the final report. However,
most of the numerous individual research projects were completed by
June and a final research status report, dated July 1, 1993, contains
some interesting statements.
The following are a few selected excerpts from that status report.
The Minnesota River constitutes a serious, negative, water quality
impact on the Mississippi River system, particularly in respect to
turbidity, sediment and nutrients. It is a major contributor to the
problems of silting and eutrophication of Lake Pepin and Important
backwater areas above the lake. (note: This originally comes from the
1985 DNR study Biological Survey of the Minnesota River and is part of
the background research MRAP is built upon.)
The project represents a consolidation of several approaches to
assist in determining if regulatory directives (water quality standards
and use designations) will accomplish intended purposes. (note: The
intended purpose is to keep their jobs.)
All stream sites showed moderate to severe impairment in terms of
predicted species diversity from other midwestern prairie streams.
Results indicated that suspended sediments and siltation were the major
causes of impairment in the diatom biological community. (note: This
watershed does not contain one typical midwestern prairie stream.)
In order to understand the nature and extent of nonpoint source
pollution in the Minnesota River Basin, it is necessary to conduct
assessments at the subwatershed level. (note: Micromanagement requires
more money and more government employees)
It is the goal of the land-use portion of this study to expand the
assessment to develop a technically comprehensive yet economical
methodology for broad scale application not only in the Minnesota River
Basin but also across the state. (note: They want it all.)
The majority of the acres in the ten evaluated minor watersheds are
estimated to be eroding at 5 tons per acre per year or less. The 5 ton
level is what is known as the tolerable level above which crop
productivity can be affected. (note: Where's the problem? New soil is
created from decaying crop residue and geologic forces at an average
rate of five tons per acre per year.)
Within the ten watersheds that were studied, there are not
widespread areas that have levels of erosion that exceed soil loss
tolerance limits. Priority areas do not appear to be readily apparent.
Instead, priority areas may indeed be related to the distance to
waterbodies and targeting treatment levels below traditional soil loss
tolerance levels. It appears that small amounts of sediment and
nutrients lost from cropland when compounded on thousands of acres
could indeed cause off-site pollution problems. (note: Can't find a
problem? Invent one.)
This study will provide the scientific information necessary to SET
WATER QUALITY GOALS and DEFINE POLLUTANT REDUCTION NEEDS, for the
assessed portions of the Minnesota River Basin. (note: They want total
control.)
An implementation strategy for mitigating nonpoint source in the
Minnesota River is currently being developed with separate funding from
U.S. EPA under section 319 of the Clean Water Act. (note: They haven't
finished the assessment and they're already working on implementation.)
Minnesota River Implementation Planning (MRIP) is a coordinated
implementation planning strategy designed to complement Minnesota River
Assessment Project (MRAP) and address the institutional, programmatic,
and resource issues, and to facilitate public involvement necessary to
accomplish the goal of restoration of the water quality of the
Minnesota River. (note: Restore to what, a silt-laden pristine river?)
MRIP is being designed to be broad based, coordinating federal,
state, and local policy makers, as well as planning, education and
implementation agencies. In addition, broad citizen representation will
be solicited from the Minnesota River Basin including representatives
of agriculture, industry, environmental and conservation groups, and
community leaders. (note: Pacify the masses by letting them think their
concerns are being addressed.)