RRIIVVEERR TTAALLKK Summer 2008 Summer 2008 THE MINNESOTA RIVER CURRENT Vol. II Is sue 2 “““BBBIIIGGG SSSTTTOOONNNEEE IIIIII CCCOOOAAALLL PPPLLLAAANNNTTT””” Introduction Scott Sparlin, Executive Director of the Not only has the proposed construction Coalition for a Clean Minnesota River spoke of the Big Stone II power plant, located across passionately about the Minnesota River and the from Ortonville in South Dakota, stirred up a consequences on water resources. debate on how each of us looks at the Minnesota “Since 1989, we’ve worked hard to River but also how this coal-generated plant educate and raise awareness about the condition could affect our daily life. of the Minnesota River. Together with our Citizens, legislators and organizations significant partners in business, government, and are concerned about the plant’s impact on the nonprofit sector, we have achieved numerous reducing water flow from the Big Stone Lake, successes and have met challenges head on in increasing mercury pollution and our standard of our efforts to heal and improve water in the living here in the Minnesota River Watershed. Minnesota basin.” For those on the other end of the spectrum, Big Stone II represents economic “Reconvene the development and stable electrical prices. Local MN / SD businesses, unions and power companies see the Boundary Waters plant providing high wage jobs and a way to Commission. meet rising energy demands. Can we talk this Emotion has run high on both sides as through with our good neighbor? people express their view points on climate change, water quality and alternative energy I’m sure they have a sources including wind generation. As we have telephone in seen in other parts of the country, this is only the Pierre.” Minnesota River Press Conference beginning of the debate. He related how in the last five years Endangered River there has been a noticeable increase in fishing On April 17th, American Rivers named activities on the Minnesota River to an over- the Minnesota River as the 5th most endangered flowing room of media, legislators and citizens. river in the United States. According to this “We now have walleye, sturgeon, white bass, national river organization, the threat comes American eel, and even our native paddlefish.” from the proposed construction of this $1.6 At the end, Scott talked about how the billion coal-fired power plant known as Big Stone job isn’t completed and “work needs to be done II at the river’s headwaters. and new initiatives need to be taken to ensure Community leaders including state continued healing of the river. But if we allow representatives and senators, along with actions that compromise our strides forward, nonprofit groups came together at the State what do we leave behind for our younger Capitol to express their issues about the Big people? What do we tell tourists that have been Stone II plant and their concern for the coming to our communities in the future?” Minnesota River. Continued on page 7 River Talk Newsletter – Summer 2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS: River Talk is published quarterly in conjunction with the Minnesota River Watershed Alliance • Big Stone II Coal Plant . pg. 1 (Watershed Alliance) and partners. Thanks to the • Did You Know? . 2 McKnight Foundation for funding this effort. • A Beautiful Day at the Gneiss . 3 Watershed Alliance Coordinating Team: • Looking for Changing Clues . 4 Charlie Guggisberg, Brown County • Chaska to the Hudson Bay . 5 • cntyadmn@co,brown.mn.us • Voyage down the Minnesota River . 6 507-354-5797 • Endangered Rivers . 7 Patrick Moore, Clean Up the River Environment • MN River Living Systems Project . 9 • [email protected] • Book Review . 9 320-269-2984 • River Ramblings . 10 Scott Sparlin, Coalition for a Clean MN River [email protected] • What’s Happening . 11 • 507-359-2346 • Conservation Thoughts . 12 Lori Nelson, Friends of the Minnesota Valley DID YOU KNOW? • [email protected] 612-370-9123 The Minnesota Department of Transportation Dee Czech, MN Earth Sabbath Team (MN DOT) used a World War II-era nerve can • [email protected] launcher to fight hillside erosion. Clocking in at more 507-964-5171 than 220 mph, the gun pounded 20-foot hollow steel Larry Gunderson, MN Pollution Control Agency rods into roadside shoulders washed away during last summer’s flood in southeastern Minnesota. • [email protected] 651-296-8402 Originally designed in World War II by Great Shannon Fisher, Water Resources Center Britain to shoot nerve gas cans at the enemy, the launchers never saw combat. After being declassified • [email protected] 507-389-5492 the U.S. Forest Service used the weapons to build retaining walls in the 1990s. Now they are owned by Colorado-based, Soil Nail Launcher. A two-ton red machine hooked to an excavator with pressurized chambers fired the hollow bars into Watershed Alliance Staff: a highway embankment with great visual effects. According to Colby Barrett of Soil Nail Launcher Inc., Scott Kudelka, Communications Coordinator “the hollow bars will stay in the ground and act like • [email protected] 507-389-2304 drains. Some will be topped with plastic mesh and http://watershedalliance.blogspot.com filled with grout for additional protection.” For MN DOT it meant saving money through Check out the Watershed Alliance’s web site: the launcher’s quick application and also less soil http://watershedalliance.blogspot.com disturbance. Chris Dulian of MN DOT stated the gun Join the Watershed Alliance’s bulletin board to shoots 100 nails a day, resulting in a savings of 30 to receive regular updates on what is happening in 50 percent. the Minnesota River Watershed at http://mail.mnsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/mrwa Since 2001, the company has used it for erosion control in 22 states, New Zealand and Canada. Here in the Minnesota, they repaired areas of Hwy 14 and Hwy 61 near Dresbach and Hwy 76 near Houston. 184 Trafton Science Center S The operator of the launcher said the machine Mankato, MN 56001 may look and sound intimidating, but its “controlled chaos.” (Source: “World War II weapon used to fight erosion” – Winona Daily News by Amber Dulek) Page 2 River Talk Newsletter – Summer 2008 Granite rock outcroppings are under ““AA BBEEEAAAUUUTTTIIIFFFUUULLL DDAAAYYY AAATTT TTTHHHEEE GGNNNEEEIIISSSSSS”” constant threat as the construction industry searches “A B D G ” for new material to build our roads, homes and other On June 14th, seventeen people gathered at modern civilization features. Under a growing the Gneiss Scientific and Natural Area (SNA) near pressure for raw materials, these areas could easily Granite Falls for a hands-on hike into the granite end up like our native prairie – 99% plowed under or outcropping world of the Minnesota River. Led by our wetlands – 95% drained. local photographer and naturalist Ron Bolduan, Conservationists in the Minnesota River everyone enjoyed a beautiful day with perfect Valley have begun to point out, once the granite rock temperatures and no mosquitoes. is mined it’s gone forever, we aren’t going to get to Ron has become an expert on the Gneiss back. To help protect some of the granite SNA after years of exploring the area and shooting outcroppings and attached wetlands, the Renville photos of its natural features, plant life and wildlife. Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) In the 50 or so trips to this site, he has only seen one secured a grant from the Legislative-Citizen other person. This is why Ron relishes his time out Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) to here among the granite outcroppings, Great Plains protect up to 200 acres of rock outcrop complexes in prickly pear and diverse landscape. the riparian corridor. The $563,000 in funding secured from LCCMR was used to pay for perpetual easements. This means the landowner continues to own the land This natural lake is but is restricted from making any landscape changes. found between two granite According to Tom Kalahar of Renville SWCD, all the outcroppings and money was spoken for within ten minutes. “The near the pressure on the granite outcroppings in the future is Minnesota River at going to be intense,” said Kalahar. “We need to sit the Gneiss down to figure out what we want this valley to look Scientific and Natural Area near like in the future.” Granite Falls. Kalahar and Ron Bolduan worked together to present a photo show and discussion on why the granite outcroppings and wetlands are worth saving and protecting. Many of these areas hold unique plant and animal species found nowhere else in the This hike was sponsored by the Minnesota state. A good share of these granite outcroppings are River Watershed Alliance (Watershed Alliance) to found in the Minnesota River Wild and Scenic River provide an opportunity for people to connect with corridor. Because of this designation, landowners the outdoors around them and hopefully develop a aren’t allowed to mine their property but also don’t deeper appreciation of the natural environment. The receive any compensation for being part of the Watershed Alliance recognizes the need for events special classification. like this one and others to showcase the beauty of the Minnesota River Valley. As one of the amazing natural areas found along the Minnesota River, the Gneiss outcrops formed approximately 3.6 billion years ago. They are among the oldest known rocks on the earth’s surface Ron Bolduan provides a and can be identified by its light-colored, pink to red. The Gneiss SNA also features a natural lake between few tips for two major rock outcrops, the very rare brittle cactus shooting photos of and many other rare plants. wildlife and Not only did the participants of the hike plant life in enjoy the terrain diversity, they were taught basic the Gneiss techniques for shooting photos of the world around Scientific and Natural Area.