balmm currents
Basin Alliance for the Lower Mississippi in Minnesota
March 26, 2003
BALMM Meeting:
The next BALMM meeting will be held April 16, 9-12 a.m., MPCA-Rochester. The draft agenda includes:
o A report on La Crosse County base flow monitoring data showing the impact of cattle in streams on fecal coliform and phosphorus concentrations.
o Update on current 319 feedlot project.
o Discussion of a new round of 319 grant proposals focused on continued implementation of the Open Lot Agreement for feedlots;
o Discussion of how new farm bill could support implementation of the Open Lot Agreement and other basin objectives.
o CREP update
NEW PUBLICATION CONFIRMS ADEQUACY OF UNIVERSITY NITROGEN RATE RECOMMENDATIONS: A new University of Minnesota Extension publication cites 29 site-years of data in southern Minnesota to emphasize that U of M recommended rates are not affected by the size of the plot where data are collected, and do attain optimum yields in the vast majority of cases. The implied message: Farmers who add an "insurance premium" to U of M rates are wasting money and adding to the risk of environmental contamination. The publication -- "Validating N Rates for Corn on Farm Fields in Southern Minnesota" (BU-07936-S 2003) - states that N rate recommendations are updated regularly using the most recent corn hybrids with greater yield potential. From 1989 through 2001, U recommendations for corn after soybeans were tested in 14 small-plot and 15 field-size strip experiments on farmers' fields. Yield data indicated that the N rate recommended by the University produced the expected results. In fact, the recommended N rates were higher than was needed at most of the sites to reach an economic optimum. This is not unexpected, as University scientists make their recommendations slightly greater than the response data suggest. "This cushions the farmer from risks of yield and profit loss under unforeseen conditions." The publication also concluded that plot size does not affect fertilizer N recommendations. It reiterates nitrogen BMPs for southeastern Minnesota, such as the recommendation against applications of N fertilizer in the fall in karst counties. Which is well and good, as some now-bare soybean fields within view of limestone bluffs show the telltale signs of fall anhydrous ammonia injection.
CSP COMMENTS STILL ACCEPTED: NRCS has extended "the period during which it will accept public comment on the advance notice of proposed rulemaking for CSP to April 3, 2003. This extension is to give the public an additional opportunity to comment on key issues that have been raised regarding the implementation of the program." (Published in the Federal Register March 21. It is not yet on the NRCS website.
Visit our website www.mnproject.org <http://www.mnproject.org> for suggested short and long comments, or to link to the NRCS Advanced Notice of Proposed rulemaking to draft your own comments.
Easiest of all, link to <http://www.mnaction.org/showalert.asp?aaid=356> and comments will automatically be forwarded (you can edit as you wish.) This site is operated by the Minnesota Environmental Action Network, of which the Minnesota Project is a member.
Many thanks to all who have already submitted comments. -Loni Kemp, Senior Policy Analyst, The Minnesota Project, RR 1 Box 81B Canton MN 55922 507-743-8300
DRAWDOWN PROPOSAL: Gretchen Benjamin of the Wisconsin DNR announces that there will be a meeting concerning the proposed 2003 minor drawdown of Pool 6 in Trempleeau, Wisconsin, Municipal Hall - Community Room, Tuesday, April 8th, from 7 to 8:30. There will be a Powerpoint presentation explaining how drawdowns can restore large areas of habitat at little cost to taxpayers. Agency staff will be on hand to answer questions.
CANNON RIVER SUMMIT SHOWCASES SLICK SOLUTIONS TO FECAL COLIFORM: The Cannon River Watershed Summit (March 18, Faribault) put the spotlight on fecal coliform bacteria - it's significance to public health, the extent of the problem as measured in Total Maximum Daily Load studies, significant sources, and workable solutions. Among the latter, several presentations illustrated how local governments are taking action to address non-conforming septic systems and small to medium sized feedlots without adequate runoff controls.
Local Solutions - Septics: Bruce Blakesley and Michelle Stindtman described how Faribault County is implementing a plan to bring all septic systems into full compliance within a 12-year period. The voluntary plan was approved by the county board of commissioners. Residents were scheduled for upgrades by township and section with target dates for bringing failing septic systems into compliance, so that the county would be dealing with 100 - 150 systems per year. Residents were notified by letter the year before the target date, and then again at the beginning of the target year, that it would be their turn to have their septic system brought into conformance with MN Rules ch. 7080. The county conducts four visits at each site. Reminder letters to pump and otherwise properly maintain their systems are sent after they are brought into compliance. In addition, the county has operated a loan program to cover 80% of the cost of septic system upgrades, to be repaid over a 10-year period. Three years into the voluntary program, 665 systems have been upgraded and 1735 are left. "Once a sizable percentage of an area installs proper systems, peer pressure takes over and most people want to have their systems upgraded," said Blakesley.
Local Solutions - Feedlots: Anne Spanbauer, Fillmore County Engineer Technician, reported on her experience developing plans to fix feedlot runoff problems through the Open Lot Agreement, a provision of the state feedlot rules that allows producers to phase into compliance in stages, with full compliance by 2010. She described how the county is working with producers with fewer than 300 animal units to design and install inexpensive solutions to feedlot runoff - most costing from $2,000 to $5,000. The county has cost-shared up to $1,000 with producers to implement improvements. This small amount has been very effective in motivating producers to make needed changes, Spanbauer said.
Low-cost solutions include the following types of practices: reduce lot size; reduce time spent on lot; grass buffers, gravel spreaders in buffered areas, re-grading lots or buffer area, clean water diversions, and seeding down bare areas. Higher cost items include roof gutters, roof extensions, filter strips with settling area, and runoff storage basins. The majority of feedlots can be upgraded to come into full compliance with state feedlot rules using low-cost measures, said Spanbauer. For more information, call 507-765-3878, extension 123. Spanbauer's position in Fillmore County is funded through the Targeted Feedlot Runoff Reduction 319 grant.
Mississippi River Protection Bill Clears House
With support from Rep. Gil Gutknecht (R-MN), Rep. Ron Kind's (D-WI) Upper Mississippi River Basin Protection Act (HR 961) passed the House of Representatives in a bipartisan vote. The legislation calls for the development of a coordinated, public-private approach to studying nutrient and sediment runoff into the Upper Mississippi River Basin. "I am extremely pleased my colleagues recognized that increased sediment and nutrient flow into the Upper Mississippi River Basin poses a serious danger to the long-term health of the entire Mississippi River," said Kind. "My legislation will help lay the scientific foundation necessary to ensure the quality and beauty of the Mississippi for generations of Americans to come."
This bi-partisan bill is the result of efforts to bring farmers, sportsmen, conservationists and government agencies together to monitor water quality in the Upper Mississippi River Basin," said Gutknecht. "H.R. 961 provides a coordinated, public-private approach to reducing nutrient and sediment losses."
Relying on existing federal, state and local programs, the bill establishes a water quality monitoring network and an integrated computer-modeling program. These monitoring and modeling efforts will provide the data needed to make scientifically and economically sound conservation decisions that will benefit southern Minnesota and the nation. "The Mississippi River is part of Minnesota's culture. This common-sense, collaborative effort will ensure we protect its waters," Gutknecht concluded.
The Upper Mississippi River has been slowly filling with sediment (such as dirt from soil erosion) and nutrients (such as fertilizers and animal waste). The buildup of sediment and nutrients has reduced wetland habitat on the river, cut off vital lifelines for a wide variety of fish and waterfowl, and has forced the Army Corps of Engineers to spend over $100 million each year to maintain a navigation channel along the main stem of the river. Over the last two years, Kind has worked with farmers, the navigation industry, sporting groups, conservation organizations and government agencies to come up with this effective, basin-wide and non-regulatory approach to dealing with the problem of nutrient and sediment runoff into the Upper Mississippi River and its tributaries.
Relying on existing federal, state, and local programs, Kind's Upper Mississippi River Basin Protection Act establishes a soil sedimentation and nutrient reduction monitoring network and an integrated computer-modeling program. These monitoring and modeling efforts will provide the baseline data needed to make scientifically sound and cost-effective decisions to improve the Upper Mississippi River's ecosystem. "Passing this bill also represents a birthday present to the Upper Mississippi Wildlife Refuge, which turns 100 years old this year," said Kind. "This refuge attracts more visitors every year than Yellowstone National Park and my bill will help maintain its delicate ecosystem to ensure it remains an attraction for years to come."
Send comments and items for future editions to:
balmm currents editor: Norman Senjem, MPCA
Phone: 507/280-3592
Fax: 507/280-5513
norman.senjem@pca.state.mn.us