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

By Scott Kudelka, Communications Coordinator

Water is the one all-important resource. We shouldn’t take it for granted, but we do. Only about one percent of water found on earth is available for drinking, cooking, bathing, etc. Ultimately, it’s up to us to protect it whether found on the surface, in the ground or in the air. Each of us can make a difference by small actions like checking for oil leaks on our vehicles or not pouring oil down a storm sewer.

This semimonthly column examines the issue of water through eight conversation topics. Our goal is to look at water in the context of the Minnesota River Watershed.  

Today’s column covers the new ‘Water’ exhibit at the Science Museum, a few facts on water, the consequences of mixing oil and water, how to properly disposal of used oil and the unique characteristics of paddlefish. If you are looking for some fun, check out the “Chaska to York Factory” presentation on Feb. 19 or think about visiting the Regional River History and Information Center this summer or try your hand at winter photography.

WATER – “Water at the Science Museum”
In addition to being an essential liquid that keeps us alive, water plays an important role when it comes to shaping our landscape. Water is also a big part of our culture, especially when you live in the state of 10,000 lakes. The Science Museum at 120 West Kellogg Blvd. in St. Paul is sponsoring an exhibit on “Water” through April 26. In partnership with the American Museum of Natural History, the exhibit tells the story of water through the recreation of a water-carved slot canyon, a stunning wall of fog and the people of Minnesota making a difference when it comes to water conservation. This exhibit also shows the consequences of both positive and negative water decisions including how people in Chili use a special fabric to collect water vapor and the devastating destruction of the Aral Sea in order to grow water-thirsty cotton.  
For more information on the exhibit, visit: http://www.smm.org/water/

Did You Know – “Water Facts”

•  70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water.
•  70 percent of your body is made of water.
•  Your blood is 83 percent water.
•  Pure water has no taste, no color, and no smell.
•  Only 3 percent of water found on earth is liquid freshwater.
•  Glaciers store about 75 percent of the world’s freshwater
•  The sea level was about 400 feet lower than it is today during the last ice age when glaciers covered almost one-third of the land.
•  One gallon of gasoline can contaminate approximately 750,000 gallons of water.

Water Science – “Oil and Water”
As any grade-school student knows, oil and water don’t mix. All you have to do is a simple experiment of putting a little cooking oil in a glass of water to recognize that oil sits on top of the water. Next, put your finger into water to see how it comes out covered in oil. In the early 1960s, two major oil spills in the Minnesota River Watershed not only caught the attention of state officials but also the national media. The oil from these two spills killed ducks, muskrats, fish, song birds and other wildlife. More recently, a jet fuel leak was discovered in February of 2003 at the Minneapolis – St. Paul International Airport as it flowed through the storm sewer system into the Minnesota River.  
For more information, http://www.ecarcenter.org/mn/mn-usedoil.htm

What Can You Do – Properly Deposing of Used Oil

State law requires that used oils be collected, stored and properly disposed.  Used oil from vehicle use usually contains contaminants such as lead, other heavy metals, and benzene. Oil can contaminate drinking water and harmful to the environment including sticking to the feathers of birds and getting into the bodies of fish and other aquatic organisms. When disposing of used oil and oil filters, find a designated collection site in your area.  

•  For the nearest oil recycling center call 1-800-CLEANUP or www.CLEANUP.org
•  Oil Recycling in Minnesota, http://www.pca.state.mn.us/oea/hhw/oil.cfm  
•  Local Household Hazardous Waste Collection Programs: http://www.pca.state.mn.us/waste/hhw/hhw-localprograms.html

The Natural Resource – Paddlefish

Sometimes referred to as a monster fish, the Paddlefish is an ancient species with fossils dating back 400 million years or older than the dinosaurs. Paddlefish can be identified by their long nose – up to one third of the fish’s total length and a body somewhat resembling a shark. A paddlefish can live up to 20 years and has a diet primarily of plankton that is detected by special sensors in the snout. There are only two species of paddlefish found in the world, here in the Mississippi River Basin and also China. Paddlefish began to disappear from the Minnesota River after the construction of dams and at one time thought to be extirpated or no longer found in the watershed. Since the 1990s anglers have been catching paddlefish in deep pools of the Minnesota River including the Mankato area.
For more information, http://www.nativefish.org/articles/MinnesotaFishTails.php

Community Event – Chaska to York Factory in Forty-nine Days

Come hear the intriguing story of Colton Witte and Sean Bloomfield’s 2008 canoe trip.  After graduating from high school, the two teenagers started paddling at Chaska on the Minnesota River and ended 49 days later at the Hudson Bay in northern Manitoba. Colton and Sean paddled 2,250 miles up the Minnesota River, down the Red River, across the massive Lake Winnipeg and finished at the York Factory Historical Site. They will show slides of the trip and share stories of this incredible journey starting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, at the New Ulm Public Library (17 N. Broadway Street).  This presentation is free and open to the public. The Regional River History Center of New Ulm and the Minnesota River Watershed Alliance are sponsoring the event.  Check it out at http://mrbdc.mnsu.edu/calendar/pdfs/hudsonbay%20flyer.pdf     
For other events in the Minnesota River Watershed, http://mrbdc.mnsu.edu/calendar/index.html

Organization Profile – Regional River History and Information Center

One of the newest ventures highlighting the Minnesota River in New Ulm is the Regional River History and Information Center. This center is the brainchild of Scott Sparlin, Executive Director of the Coalition for a Clean Minnesota River (CCMR) and Ron Bolduan, nature photographer. Located at the Riverside Park school house in New Ulm, the center provides citizen access to the Minnesota River and Cottonwood River watershed basins including online data, along with area historical and cultural artifacts. Visitors can check out the center during the summer months and see exhibits on mussels, fish and other artifacts related to the two rivers.

Recreational Opportunity – Winter Photography

Shooting photos in the winter can be a lot of fun if you dress for conditions and protect your camera from the cold. Even though the winter season is one of the most difficult times for photography, it also provides unique opportunities not found in the other three seasons. Some advice by expert photographers includes dressing warm with layers and making sure your clothing and boots are waterproof. If you plan to shoot photos of wildlife be patience and find a spot to stay hidden until an animal comes by. Keep it simple; winter is great chance for minimalistic photos and the snow helps create a whole new landscape. On those gray days try shooting photos of streams, waterfalls and forest scenes. The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge offers snowshoe and photo nature hikes during the winter.  Check it out, http://www.fws.gov/midwest/minnesotavalley/calendar.html

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.