Freshwater Society, Author at Freshwater Society

Studies predict water shortfall in Southwest

February 14, 2011 by Freshwater Society

Each week, the Freshwater Society publishes a digest of important regional, national and international articles and research on water and the environment. Scan the articles here, then follow the links … Read more

Ag runoff, phenology and invasives

February 7, 2011 by Freshwater Society

Water and the environment: Week of Jan. 31

January 31, 2011 by Freshwater Society

'Taking the Pollution out of Agricultural Production'

January 27, 2011 by Freshwater Society


Craig A. Cox

Agricultural runoff – fertilizers and pesticides from cultivated fields, manure from pastures and feedlots, sediment washed away by erosion – pollutes many U.S. lakes and rivers. Craig A. Cox of the Environmental Working Group will talk about the agricultural pollution problem and some strategies for reducing it in a free public lecture on Thursday, Feb. 24, at the University of Minnesota.

Cox’s lecture, titled “Taking the Pollution out of Agricultural Production,” is sponsored by the Freshwater Society and the university’s College of Biological Sciences. It is part of the Moos Family Speaker Series on Water Resources.

The lecture will be at 7 p.m. in the Student Center theater on the university’s St. Paul campus. Seating is limited, and pre-registration is required.

Water and the environment: Week of Jan. 23

January 25, 2011 by Freshwater Society

Ice Out/Loon In Party

January 21, 2011 by Freshwater Society

The Freshwater Society is proud to announce its first annual Ice Out/Loon In Party scheduled from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 21, at the Bayview Events Center, 687 … Read more

$26 million available to retire flood-prone land

January 17, 2011 by Freshwater Society

Water is Life art on display at the state Capitol

January 12, 2011 by Freshwater Society

Prize-winning entries from the Freshwater Society’s 2010 Water is Life high school art contest will be on display through Sunday at the Minnesota State Capitol. The paintings, drawings and sculpture … Read more

A new DNR commissioner; Farm Bureau sues EPA

January 11, 2011 by Freshwater Society

25-year water sustainability framework released

January 7, 2011 by Freshwater Society


Swackhamer

Minnesota needs to do much more research on the flow of rainwater into and through groundwater aquifers. There should be much more required testing of private wells. Clean-up plans drafted for lakes and rivers polluted by agricultural runoff should be mandatory – not voluntary, as they now are. Counties should establish collection programs for pharmaceutical drugs that now often are flushed down the toilet. Water prices should be increased to pay for restoration of the natural plant and animal systems from which the water is taken.

Those are some of the recommendations of 25-year water sustainability plan presented to the Legislature on Jan. 5. The sustainability framework resulted from a yearlong $750,000 planning process led by University of Minnesota professor Debora Swackhamer and the university’s Water Resources Center.

The Minnesota Environmental Quality Board also released on Jan. 5 its long-range water resources plan for the state.