The following is a press release from the Minnesota River Watershed Alliance:

By Scott Kudelka, communications coordinator

Fish populations in the Minnesota River are one of the natural resources that have suffered due to a dramatic change in the landscape as the native prairie disappeared and wetlands were drained.  Today, we are seeing a remarkable comeback by fish species like paddlefish and lake sturgeon.       

WATER – “Fishing in the Minnesota River”
The word on the street is that fishing has seen a dramatic transformation in the Minnesota River and it’s a positive one.  Recently a number of articles in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, West Central Tribune and Clara City Herald have highlighted the variety of species and numbers of fish that are being caught in the Minnesota River, especially in the Granite Falls area.  One of the greatest success stories is the return of the paddlefish, a pollution-sensitive species along with an increasing number of other bottom-dwellers – lake sturgeon and flathead catfish.  Other species that have seen a resurgent in numbers are walleye and white bass.  Government officials give credit for this recovery of a viable Minnesota River fishery to the upgrades of municipal sewer systems in the 1970s and 1980s.  Although, they also point out there is still a sediment erosion problem that needs to be taken care in order to continue improving of water quality.       

Did You Know – “How Yellow Medicine River got its name”
Yellow Medicine River that flows into the Minnesota River at Upper Sioux Agency State Park came by its name through the Dakota Indians, who lived for thousands of years on the banks of Lake Shaokatan.  The Dakota called this river “Pezhihutazizi kapi which translates to peji (generic name for grasses and all erect plants without wooden stems), huta (root), zi (yellow) and kapi (they dig).  The Dakota dug the yellow root of the moonseed plant to be used as a medicine.  Moonseed is usually found at the margins of openings in forests, often near streams.  

Water Science – “Phosphorus”
As a nutrient for plant growth, phosphorus is a key component for plants, but too much also causes a lot of problems.  Elevated levels of phosphorus stimulate algal growth and often lead to undesirable conditions.  This can cause all sorts of problems including increased turbidity and reduced light penetration in our waterbodies.  According to the State of the Minnesota River Water Quality Summary 2000-2005 Report, as algal cells die, their decomposition consumes large amounts of dissolved oxygen.  Lower dissolved oxygen can impair the waterbodies’ ability to support aquatic life.  There have been instances where outbreaks of highly elevated algal growth or algal blooms have released toxins into the water.  As a result a number of animals including pets have died after ingesting these toxins.

For more information http://mrbdc.mnsu.edu/mnbasin/state/stateofriver_2005.html

What Can You Do? – “Reduce excess phosphorus from reaching waterbodies”
All of us – whether living out in the country, in an urban area or on a farm – can help reduce excess phosphorus from reaching our waterbodies and help improve water quality in the Minnesota River.

• For farmers it can mean applying phosphorus only to fields that have an agronomic need for phosphorus; reducing the amount of annual runoff from agricultural fields through crop selection and soil conservation practices to minimize soil erosion; and maintain buffer strips around water resources where no phosphorus is applied.
• Urban dwellers can use rain barrels and rain gardens to allow phosphorus to be used by plants in their yards; remove yard clippings and leaves before they are washed into the stormwater system and use phosphorus-free fertilizer on your lawn (this is now a Minnesota law).
• If you live on a lake or own a cabin, again you will want to use rain barrels and rain gardens along with planting your shoreline in native flowers, grasses and plants to filter runoff from reaching the water..
• For those homes not connected to a wastewater system, one of the best things you can do is make sure your individual septic system is upgraded and properly working.

Natural Resource – “Cedar Mountain Scientific and Natural Area”
At 3.4 billion years you wouldn’t find older exposed rock anywhere in Minnesota than along the Minnesota River.  One of the best places to explore bedrock knobs and ridges happens to be Cedar Mountain Scientific and Natural Area (SNA) near Franklin in Renville County.  According to the MN DNR, a central knob includes two rock types known only from this site: Cedar Mountain Gabbro and Cedar Mountain Granodiorite.  Cedar Mountain SNA has a diverse landscape of mesic prairie, rock outcrop, flood plain forest, and oak woodland.  Several threatened species are found here including the prairie bush clover, lichen, plains prickly pear cactus, water hyssop and Carolina foxtail.

For more information, http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snas/sna02034/index.html

Community Event – “Catfish Days”
The City of Franklin is hosting its annual Catfish Days over the weekend of July 24 – 26 as people from all over the country try their luck at pulling the largest catfish out of the Minnesota River.  Approved by the MN Department of Natural Resources, the fishing tournament starts at 3 p.m. on Friday and ends on Sunday with trophies and cash prize for channel and flathead catfish.  Catfish Days is a weekend of fun featuring live bands on both Friday and Saturday evenings, two parades, co-ed volleyball tournament, Fire Department Water Ball, Kiss the Catfish Contest among other activities.  Go to the web site http://home.mchsi.com/~franklin/catfish_days.htm for the latest information.

For other events in the Minnesota River Watershed, http://mrbdc.mnsu.edu/calendar/index.html

Organization Profile – “Yellow Medicine River Watershed District”
Yellow Medicine Watershed is located in Lincoln, Lyon and Yellow Medicine counties and part of the greater Hawk Creek-Yellow Medicine River Watershed in the Minnesota River Basin.  Organized as a watershed district on August 26, 1971, the mission of the Yellow Medicine River Watershed District (YMRW) is to provide an organized means for proper management and protection of water resources.  Funded by tax payers in the three counties, the YMRW board places an emphasis on flood control, water control management through the process of viewing and approving drainage permits and water quality problems.   In addition to improving water quality and providing flood protection, the YMRW strives to increase wildlife habitat and create enhanced recreational opportunities.  A technical staff of two people conducts water quality monitoring of lakes, rivers and streams in the watershed, along with establishing and maintaining records and hydrological data.  

For more information: http://www.ymrwd.org/

Recreational Opportunity – “Upper Sioux Agency State Park”
One of the best places to try your luck at catching fish from the shore of the Minnesota River is Upper Sioux Agency State Park located between Redwood Falls and Granite Falls on State Hwy 67.  This state park was established in 1963 and includes the historic Upper Sioux Indian Agency, which had been attacked during the Dakota Conflict of 1862.  Located at the confluence of the Minnesota and Yellow Medicine rivers, Upper Sioux Agency offers a modern campground with electric hookups, comfort station and two rental tipi’s along with a visitor center, hiking trails and a separate horse camp.  On many weekends during the summer you will find a large group of people fishing along a narrow strip of land where the Yellow Medicine River flows into the Minnesota River.  

For more information http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/upper_sioux_agency/index.html    

Our goal for this semimonthly column is to explore water issues in the Minnesota River Watershed.  In each column, we will highlight a major issue related to water, a watershed fact, a water science topic, community event, natural resource feature and recreational opportunity.  Our hope is to stimulate an ongoing conversation about water and the Minnesota River.

The Minnesota River Watershed Alliance (Watershed Alliance) is an organized network of citizens, public agencies and private organizations dedicated to communicating the benefits of an ecologically healthy Minnesota River Watershed to others and are actively working toward its improvement and protection.  The Watershed Alliance meets four times a year and encourages landowners and recreational users of the river to be part of this effort.