Soil health and clean water go hand in hand. At MNCF we are working to advocate for both an appropriate regulatory structure and the development of best management practices on the states working lands that, when implemented, will lead to increases in watersheds across the state.
The Minnesota Legacy Amendment provides the opportunity to increase funding for soil health initiatives. Through his role representing statewide hunting organizations on the states Clean Water Council Executive Director Brad Gausman is a strong advocating for soil health and clean water.
Recently the Minneapolis Star Tribune ran an editorial letter detailing the good working being done using Legacy funds to increase soil health and water quality.
Here is a link to the Star Tribune website.
Thanks to the Star Tribune Editorial Board for featuring the multiple benefits of promoting healthier soil (“A defense against flooding: Healthy soil,” July 19), including greater resilience to flooding. I wanted to make sure readers were aware that voter-approved funds are helping this effort. In 2008, voters approved the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment to the state constitution. The Legacy Amendment lasts for 25 years and dedicates an additional 3/8 percent in sales taxes to clean water, habitat, parks and trails, and arts and cultural heritage. One-third of those dollars go to the Clean Water Fund (CWF) and the Clean Water Council makes CWF recommendations to the Legislature.
While not the only funding source, the CWF improves water quality from agriculture, often under the title of soil health. Efforts include technical assistance, grants, easements and low-interest loans to landowners. In addition to regulations like requirements for a vegetated buffer along public waters, these dollars move landowners to make improvements more quickly than regulation alone. An alphabet soup of federal, state and local partner agencies administers the work. While we would all like this work to move faster, Minnesota is the envy of other states working on these issues because of the generosity of our voters in 2008. Minnesotans are pitching in every day to advance soil health in Minnesota by supporting efforts such as the Legacy Amendment. Cleaner water and increased soil health is a legacy that should make all Minnesotans proud.
Brad Gausman, Hermantown, Minn.
The writer is a member of the Minnesota Clean Water Council representing statewide hunting organizations and executive director of the Minnesota Conservation Federation.
