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Dayton talks water quality at forum in southwest Minnesota

The Governor of Minnesota brought his water quality agenda to the agriculture-heavy southwest part of the state Wednesday.

Mark Dayton, members of his staff and two area farmers addressed water quality concerns at a forum in Edgerton, which the governor used as an example for other communities to follow.

“(Edgerton) recognized the problem in the 1980’s (and) built a treatment plant in the 1990’s, enrolled in CRP and land management practices (which) brought nitrate levels in source water down by 50 percent over the next few years.”

Minnesota Department of Ag Commissioner Dave Frederickson, Pollution Control Commissioner John Linc Stine and Health Commissioner Ed Ehlinger were among those who talked about impaired waters in the state and the role nutrients, sediment and bacteria have played in polluting lakes, rivers and streams.

Dayton says there is a problem and there are no immediate fixes.

“This is a challenge facing Minnesota everywhere.  This is not about blaming farmers, farm communities or anybody; it’s about saying these are the facts (and) this is the reality of the situation that we have.  And there are things we can do about it.”

Dayton invited Pipestone County farmer Ian Cunningham and Lyon County’s Paul Lanoue to speak about best management practices implemented on their farms, and also highlighted state and federal conservation programs available to producers.