Dirt on Sediment packs the house, reveals new research (such as the fire-hose effect)

The verdict: FMRs first event at the Science Museum was a resounding success.

Approximately 240 people packed the Science Museum of Minnesota auditorium November 17th to learn about one of the most important issues facing the river today: sediment pollution.

The main presenter was Dr. Dan Engstrom, Director of the St. Croix Watershed Research Station and Adjunct Professor of Geology & Geophysics, and Water Resource Science at the University of Minnesota. His presentation, The Dirt on Sediment Pollution: Water Quality in the Mississippi River, highlighted recent research that clearly connects agricultural landscape change and artificial drainage to the excessive sedimentation threatening to choke the life out of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers.

In particular, Engstrom highlighted ongoing research that links wetland losses and the use of agricultural drain tile and drainage ditches with increased runoff volumes or higher flows in nearby streams and rivers. These artificially high flows create a fire-hose effect — ripping out vegetation, eroding banks and bluffs, and carrying vast quantities of sediment into the Mississippi River and Lake Pepin. These excessive non-field sources have now overtaken traditional field erosion as the largest sediment contributor to the Mississippi River.

Following the presentation, Dr. Julia Frost Nerbonne hosted a lively conversation with Dr. Engstrom, FMR Watershed Program Director Trevor Russell and Rural Advantage President and founder Linda Meschke as they took on a variety of well-crafted water quality questions from the highly engaged audience.

Additionally, art from FMRs Artist-in-Residence Peter L. Johnson was on display outside the auditorium. His collection, A Sedimental Journey further highlighted issues of sediment pollution in the Mississippi River and Lake Pepin.

Photos from the event are available at FMR's Flickr site.

Thank you to our program partners the City of Saint Paul, Capitol Region Watershed District, the Science Museum of Minnesota and the National Park Service.

Stay tuned to Mississippi Messages for news, events and action alerts related to this important issue.