The Good Life – January-February 2021

wildlife success stories playing out near the river.
Fisher and river otter, animals that haven't been
seen in many years, now have breeding populations.
Nature is resilient, filling all available ecological
niches.
Unfortunately, our rivers face obstacles. Run-off, both
from urban areas and rural areas, dump fertilizers
and other contaminants in the water. In the past, it
has been easy to point fingers at who is causing the
most issues with runoff. We've come to realize that
all runoff contributes to nutrient overload.
There are many ways we can protect our waters
from runoff. Reducing the use of fertilizers and
pesticides can help with point-source runoff. Before
applying fertilizer to your lawn or garden, read the
instructions on the bag. It's easy to think that more
fertilizer means better plants, that is not the case.
What isn't used by the soil and plants will wash off,
increasing the nutrient load of the waterways as well
as wasting your money.
Planting perennial grasses and trees also helps
stem runoff. Exposed soil or short grass near
waterways allowing both nutrient and soil to wash
into the water. By leaving a buffer of tall grass
or trees and shrubs along the bank that runoff is
captured. The vegetation also helps in stabilizing
the bank. Excessive erosion can endanger roads,
properties and homes. The roots of perennial
vegetation, especially native grasses, flowers and
trees, hold the soil in place.
I'm always amazed at the flow of traffic east into
Minnesota Lakes country each weekend in the
summer. While that area is beautiful and full of
recreational opportunities, the Red River also
offers nearly untapped resources. Kayaking,
canoeing and hiking can all be enjoyed around
the metro area. In addition, the Red River offers
fishing opportunities for world-class channel cat.
Reeling in a twenty-pound catfish is not for the
faint of heart!
As a community, we need to work hard to protect
our river resources. The Cass County Soil
Conservation District can help with a variety of
measures to protect the river. We offer cost-share
for a variety of management practices as well as
technical assistance. There is even a watershed
project area, funded through the EPA 319 program,
for the Maple River Watershed. Contact us today to
find out how we can help! •
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