Inspiring people to conserve, restore, and protect ... · Bill Stowe DMWW. Total Nitrogen Cropland...
Transcript of Inspiring people to conserve, restore, and protect ... · Bill Stowe DMWW. Total Nitrogen Cropland...
Inspiring people to conserve, restore,
and protect freshwater resources
Steve Woods
Groundwater!A Netflix Original Series
1970s - needed data
1990s - needed knowledge
2010s - need action
What do we do?
Policy
Community Engagement
Everything we do on the land affects water
So How Are Cities Doing?
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Met. Council Metro Plant
Phosphorus discharge
Urban Water
Car habitat
People habitat
Urban Water
Urban Water
Phosphorus
Urban Water!
Volume
Rate
Urban water is the easier part to fix
It’s regulated,
covers a small area, &
people have built up a
tolerance to government…
So how are
things outside
the cities ?
Close your eyes.
Remember.
What color
dominates farm
country?
It’s actually closer to this nine
months of the year.
Increased need for N application
Loss of alfalfa, small grains & hay
Increased potential for losses of sed, N and P from fields
Big conversions to row crops
affect water quality
Installing drain tile
Altered drainage Sac Co. IA Bill Stowe DMWW
Total Nitrogen
Cropland
groundwater
30%
Cropland tile
drainage
37%
Cropland
runoff
5%
Point sources
9%
Atmos.
9%
Urban
Stormwater
1%
Forests
7%
Septic
2%
Feedlot runoff
<1%
Minneopa Creek
There are two
compelling story
lines developing…
and they’re making
mainstream news
Raccoon & Des Moines Rivers
Aggressive Prep
Agricultural Runoff
Buffer needed
Buffer better…
Ask your staff:
Should we throw more
effort behind the
MN Cities Stormwater
Coalition?
Groundwater
supplies in
some areas…
Annual Reported Groundwater Use
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West TC Metro (‘45 – ‘12)
and under local control
Goals: safe and reliable
Ask your staff:
Can you show me the
long-term trend in our
groundwater level?
Ask your staff:
Does our water rate cover
the basics plus increased
coordination, efficiency
programs, loss reduction, &
meter upgrades?
Property tax $4890
Cell phone (2-lines) 2470
Homeowner insurance 1320
Electricity 880
Natural gas 820
Internet 710
Landline/long distance 620
Garbage/recycle 330
Sanitary sewer 280
Basic cable 270
Water 130
City stormwater fee 90
Composting service 85
Street lighting fee 40
Ask your staff:
Will the rates yield
enough once the
efficiencies kick in and
we sell less water?
Support an
organization you trust freshwater.org
Governments get things done by:
• Regulation
• Incentives
• Projects
• Education
• Taff: ▲ rule, price, ownership, mind
The
Constitutional
Amendment
33% Habitat
33% Water
14.25% Parks
19.75% Arts & Culture
Where does the water (precipitation) go…?Infiltration to Tile Drain
Surface RunoffEvapotranspiration
~10%
~75%
Temporary Storage/Residence Time
Precipitation
<5%
~10%
Infiltration:Bedrock Groundwater
best in state
top 10%
big influencer
average (for region)
meets legal minimums
never charged
never convicted
Where
do you
want
your
gov’ts
to be?
We are promised
self-government,
not necessarily
good government
Species of Gov’t vs. Quality
Diamond on:
people accepting change
• Compatible with current ways
• Fiscal neutral or better
• Visible
• Prestige
Clear, Practical Guidance
MN
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