Cannon River Watershed PartnershipThe Case for Top-Down Watershed Management

…with Landowners at the Top!

Karl Hakanson, Agricultural Program Coordinator, Cannon River Watershed Partnership.Partners include Watershed Farmers, Goodhue and Rice County Soil & Water Conservation Districts, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Freashwater Society.

Abstract: There is a growing consensus that the reality of non-point source pollution --very diffuse spatially, occurring infrequently during “runoff events” and entirely commonplace, hence invisible to the average person-- is an entirely different kettle of fish compared to point source pollution. The tried and true soil and water conservation methodologies that grew out of the environmental catastrophe that was the Dust Bowl, while spectacularly successful, are perhaps not up to the task ahead. The promise of citizen leadership is that it can be as diffuse as nonpoint source pollution: problems can be solved exactly where they occur. Enlivening our shared sense of citizenship can connect individual actions to the greater good, that is, one’s gain should not be another’s loss (e.g., fishermen in the Gulf or lake resort owners going out of business due to upstream pollution).

Printed by Green Lands Blue Waters

The Premise: We Can Do Better!

The Cannon River Watershed (Hydrologic Watershed Code: 07040002) covers nearly one million acres and includes parts of Dakota, Goodhue, Le Sueur, Rice, Steele, and Waseca counties. The two main rivers are the Cannon and Straight Rivers. The Cannon River watershed is a large area with diversity in landscape. The Straight River watershed in the south is relatively flat with the primary land use being row crop agriculture. The Upper Cannon watershed to the west is “lake country,” with rolling hills, woods, and row crops. The Middle Cannon is more urban with Faribault and Northfield, along with agriculture. The Lower Cannon, from Cannon Falls to Red Wing, has steep hillsides, woods, and more livestock-based agriculture. This area is just on the edge of the Karst/Driftless area. The Cannon River is classified as a Wild and Scenic River from the north end of Faribault to Red Wing. Like much of the Midwest, the CRW is a significantly altered landscape. Felling the forests, draining the wetlands, plowing the prairies --agriculture and urbanization has created a landscape that is very different than what the first Europeans encountered. Many of the lakes and streams are on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA) 303(d) Impaired Waters list. As with most agriculturally dominated watersheds, nuisance algal blooms, turbid water and degraded riparian corridors are common. Excess nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment from non-point source pollution is the major water quality challenge and focus of the CRWP.

The Promise: Farmer-Directed Watershed Projects

The Potential:We’re All in This Together

Why organize farmer-led watershed projects?

Farmers are rarely asked to organize and collectively address their impacts on water quality. Yet their day-to-day management decisions are the key to reducing nonpoint source pollution. Watershed councils are a positive, results-oriented approach to addressing the very real challenges of environmental and economic sustainability. Any business that continually measures, evaluates, learns and improves will be in the best position to adapt to changing environmental, economic and regulatory conditions. Farmers, like everyone else, are motivated to participate in community projects when their self-interests are aligned with project goals. Farmer-led councils can also be a great way to showcase what farmers are doing to protect the environment and get credit for their efforts to take the lead in profitable, sustainable land management.

Adapted from Resident-led Watershed Management (IA State Univ., University Extension, February 2001)

Farmer-led projects… • Tap into farmers’ problem-solving skills

and the desire to “do the right thing”• Are groups of farmers who work together

on improving farm and land management

• Focus on solutions to reducing runoff and improving agronomic efficiency

• Motivate other farmers to get involved in on-farm research and education

• Initiate demonstrations and field trials of best management practices

• Take advantage of all available resources and technical assistance

These councils or networks typically start with a couple of motivated farmers. They

form a group that meets to set priorities and determine what performance

measure will be used to assess results. They use their own farms to try new things

and tweak current practices. They seek assistance from specialists and other

professionals. The focus is on measuring performance: the actual results from making changes in land management

practices. When individuals can measure their own progress they are better

prepared to act on their personal environmental and business goals.

The key is gathering and sharing accurate on-farm data that leads to better decision making and ultimately better results --for the individual’s bottom line and the health of the watershed environment. Using farms as the “classroom” brings a cooperative spirit to the task of learning, where farmers and specialists work together to solve problems and explore issues in depth.

Principles of Farmer-Directed Soil & Water Conservation--gleaned from many sources and years of experience Working Assumptions• Farmers care for the land and are concerned about their farm’s

impact on the environment• Farmers are problem solvers; Farmers are doers

--“I’d rather use a shovel than a pencil”• Farm profitability and environmental sustainability are linked• Agriculture’s impact on the environment is real and must be

addressed Guiding Principles• Continual Improvement

–We are doing many things well … and we can do better!• Civic engagement --We’re all in this together!• There is no one right way --there are many better ways• Farmers have always worked together on common goals• Performance-based

--if you’re not measuring it, you can’t manage it• Landscape-targeted

--a minority of acres cause the majority of the problem• Neighborhood-scale

--similar soils, crops, and much easier to get together• It’s all about relationships

--People don’t care what you know until they know you care Start with a few friends and neighbors who …• Want to improve agronomic and environmental performance• Are open minded, curious, like to try new things• Are concerned about agriculture’s impact on the environment• Are willing to spend the time meeting, organizing, planning,

collecting/analyzing data Making it Work• Participants decide on the performance measures they will use• Assess, prioritize, plan, act, evaluate

--The weakest ink is stronger than the best memory• Getting better at collecting and using farm-specific information• Work with specialists/researchers/practitioners

--We have a wealth of local knowledge and resources• The Cannon River Watershed Partnership as coordinator• Projects and activities that people want to be a part of

--Because it provides real value• Collegial, informal venues with food and refreshments

--It can be enjoyable Desired Results• Documented improvements in farm profitability• Documented reductions in environmental impacts

--runoff pollution, soil erosion, sedimentation• Self-sustaining, farmer-led conservation groups in the CRW• Public recognition of farmers’ agricultural leadership and

environmental stewardship• Develop a culture of conservation.

In 1990 a small group of citizens came together as a result of interest in the watershed by the Nature Conservancy, the MN Department of Natural Resources, the Board of Water and Soil Resources, the MN Pollution Control Agency and many local citizens. These citizens had a shared concerns for clean water and the conviction that they needed to do something to protect the Cannon River. From the dream of our founding members, the Cannon River Watershed Partnership has grown into a well-respected, member-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

It is led by a volunteer board of directors and paid staff. On the Board are representatives of the Board of Commissioners and Soil and Water Conservation Districts of the six watershed counties, as well as thirteen individuals representing the diverse citizenry of the watershed. In 2013 there are five paid staff. Our Mission is to engage people in protecting and improving the water quality and natural systems of the Cannon River watershed. Our Vision is a healthy watershed with clean, fishable, swimmable waters. In addition to our work on farmer-led projects highlighted here, our other programs include: Cultivating Conservation in the Cannon River Watershed to increase the adoption of agricultural BMPs; the Rice Creek Project to improve the only brook trout stream in Rice County; Improving Small Community Wastewater Treatment to control pollution from old, non-compliant or straight-pipe septic systems; Urban Stormwater Education with our “Get It Out of the Gutter” project; Water Monitoring to assess the condition of our waters; and the Watershed Wide Cleanup is our annual volunteer watershed cleanup event.

For more information about the CRWP and our work: www.crwp.net / 8997 Eaves Avenue, Northfield, MN 55057 • (507) 786 – 3912

This is not sustainable!

It is not profitable!

It is not productive!

It is the biggest source of water

pollution.

AND … the solutions are available,

proven, cost effective-- and being used

by profitable farmers who are

performing well beyond current and

proposed regulationsWe Can Do Better!

No-till

Cover Crops

Grassed Waterways

Buffered Stream

Ditch Buffer

Agricultural Productivity.Farmer Scientists. Environmental Management.Farm Profit.A culture of conservation.

Working together on

common goals.

------------Cooperation. Citizenship.

Cover CropsNo-Till

Grassed WaterwaysRiparian Buffers Managed Pasture

High residue cropping systems

Soil Health. Water Infiltration.

Water Holding Capacity.Fertility.

Resiliency.

Recreation. Enjoyment.

---------------------Natural Heritage.

Healthy Habitat. Hunting.Fishing.

Healthy Economy.

Knowing our actions on the land have

consequences downstream.-------------------

Knowing that we are all in this together.

Farmer-led watershed councils, or farmer networks, are locally-directed, voluntary cooperative efforts

focused on improving agricultural productivity and environmental stewardship. They are not advisory

committees. Farmers educate themselves about agronomic and water quality issues. Farmers get

together periodically and share information about their own farms and work to improve the

productivity of their farming operations. An organization like the Cannon River Watershed

Partnership (CRWP) acts as the organizer.