Legislation could protect public wells with clean-water crops
Legislation introduced this month would fund the Working Lands Drinking Water Program. The program will help farmers plant and sell alternative crops that protect drinking water while maintaining farm profitability. As a pilot initiative, it's limited to the state's most vulnerable wellhead areas — places where conservation crops can protect public health. >>
House and senate introduce full funding for Forever Green
To get to our clean water goals in Minnesota, we need to plant more perennial and cover crops. But these crops need to be profitable before farm operations can effectively make the change. To address this challenge, two bills were introduced in mid-February in the house and senate that will fully fund the University of Minnesota’s Forever Green Initiative. >>
Join us for MN Water Action Day • April 10, 2019
Join us for Water Action Day 2019, a day of public action and advocacy to let lawmakers know we care about our water! #ProtectOurWater >>
Legislative Blog: Our top three priorities in 2019
Kicking off the return of our annual Legislative Blog, here's a summary of FMR's top three legislative priorities this session: Forever Green, Working Lands and fixing the Environmental Trust Fund raid. >>
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. >>
FMR advocates call on MN to protect our drinking water!
Hat’s off to FMR’s advocates! On August 15, FMR staff hand-delivered 226 comments from River Guardians and other advocates calling on the state to both implement and improve a new state rule to protect our groundwater. >>
FMR’s comments on the proposed Groundwater Protection Rule
On August 15, FMR staff submitted comments to Judge Palmer-Denig in support of approving and improving the state’s proposed Groundwater Protection Rule. >>
Why we need the Groundwater Protection Rule
About 75% of Minnesotans get their drinking water from public and private wells. Many of these wells are susceptible to nitrate contamination from cropland fertilizers, which can make the water unsafe to drink.
Today, at least 537 public water supply wells across the state have elevated nitrate levels. About 10% of private wells in vulnerable areas exceed the Health Risk Limit (HRL), including some townships where 30% to 40% or more of private wells are unsafe to drink from!
What if every MN farm applied fertilizer at the recommended rate?
At best, “perfect” nutrient management on all of Minnesota’s cropland would reduce nitrate pollution by about 10-15 percent, falling far short of the state’s 45 percent reduction goals to protect our groundwater. >>
Legislators delay MN groundwater protection, Dayton says 'no'
A new state rule aimed at reducing groundwater contamination by farm fertilizers could be delayed by a legislative move made formal on Monday, June 11. But Gov. Mark Dayton is calling the move unconstitutional and has instructed the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to proceed as planned.
At this time, public hearings about the new and much-needed water protection rule are still on the calendar, including one in Farmington, Monday, July 16. Expect a River Guardians Action Alert this July as well. >>