Blog

From entryway to waterway?

February 23, 2017

I learned of a farm family in west central Minnesota that spends about $70,000 each year to buy fertilizer for their farm. Corn fertilizer costs have ranged from $120-200 per … Read more

French fries and water quality

January 27, 2017

  My son was hungry and in a hurry.  He ordered the double cheeseburger meal with fries in the drive thru; what’s the harm? It had been a couple decades … Read more

The art and science of snirt

January 12, 2017

You may have seen the photo exhibit by a friend of mine, John White. It was touring the region during the last year (and prints are available for sale here). … Read more

These are a few of my favorite things

December 20, 2016

Blueberry, Wild Rice, Hockey, Agate, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady’s Slipper, Morel, Norway Pine, Walleye, Milk, Loon, Lester. Is this some kind of a weird shopping list for a camping trip? If … Read more

The Norwegian and the puddle

November 15, 2016

I have gone on my share of geology field trips with visiting geologists from around the world. We typically visit exposures of glacial sediment, commonly found in gravel pits, and … Read more

No more green for Madison

October 14, 2016

Most of us who spend time on lakes know they can “green up” as they warm up. Excess phosphorus generates that not-so-healthy green bloom. The Yahara watershed is trying something … Read more

What’s up with the Minnesota River?

October 7, 2016

…besides the water level that is.  If you’ve been paying attention to the big brown river, or just the weather across the southern part of the state this summer, you … Read more

The Flint story continues

August 2, 2016

“Six current or former state employees were charged on July 29 with misconduct and other crimes in the Flint, Mich., water crisis, bringing to nine the number of public officials … Read more

How did Minnesota melt 12,000 years ago?

February 6, 2016

The link at the bottom of this post will take you to a phenomenal article from the NY Times on researchers observing the melting of Greenland’s ice cap. You owe … Read more

Governor's Water Summit

February 6, 2016

Mid-January, Governor Dayton announced that his administration will host the Governor’s Water Summit in St. Paul on Saturday, Feb. 27th. Summit registration has closed, but you can still help set … Read more