A baby dies, a brewery town runs dry — 'Water Pressure' illustrates MN & WI water problems

While we're sad to see Josephine Marcotty leave her post as the Star Tribune's long-time environmental reporter, we're grateful for her parting "Water Pressure" series. 

If you've been saving up your free, online-access Star Tribune stories, this trio is worth the clicks.

In each, Marcotty (now transitioning to a new role as a part-time science writer at the Strib) illustrates and makes Minnesota and Wisconsin's emerging water problems feel, well, real — which is no easy feat in the lands of 10,000+ lakes. 

They also underscore how critically important it is for us to develop and support nonpartisan, real-world solutions for our water pollution problems, especially fertilizer runoff from farm fields. 

Check out "Water Pressure":
• Part 1: Small brewery town running dry
Cold Spring faces the water shortage question looming for many Minnesota towns.
• Part 2: Baby’s death sparks water safety fight
Small-town Wisconsin residents take on the state and powerful ag industry.
• Part 3: With spigot open, a region flourishes
Far-sighted water systems set up towns for growth.

Become a River Guardian

Sign up to become a River Guardian, and we'll email you when an important river or local water quality issue arises and make it quick and easy to contact decision makers. River Guardians are also invited to special events, including happy hours, about important legislative and metro river corridor.

More from our Water or Legislative Updates blog

Check back for news, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, or sign up for our bimonthly e-newsletter, Mississippi Messages.

Upcoming Events

Wednesday, December 11, 2024 - 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Friends of the Mississippi River office in St. Paul
This school year
In your classroom or outside
Saturday, January 18, 2025 - 10:00am to 12:00pm
Rosemount Wildlife Preserve and North 20 Brewing, Rosemount

Our River Campaign:
It all starts here

At the heart of this new campaign is the vision of a healthy Mississippi River.