News Issue 4 November 2005

News from the Rum River Watershed Volume #1 Issue #4 November/December 2005

Letter from the Editor Wow! Why have the photo of a dancer from Paraguay on the first page of a newsletter dealing with the Rum River? What does South America have to do with us here in Minnesota anyway? Paraguay is a land about the size of California, located in the heart of the lower American continent, and is about two-thirds wetlands. Once, two-thirds of its area was also forested. That has decreased to less than eight percent. It has four major rivers ("rios") and many small "arroyos" (streams), a couple of large "lagos" (lakes) and numerous "lagunas" (small lakes). I had the pleasure of serving there in the U.S. Peace Corps from 1987 to 1988, building up a plant collection for the National Natural History Museum of Paraguay. The lady who is now my "counterpart" works with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Paraguay as a wildlife manager, and is very concerned with the health and integrity of the third largest watershed in the country, that of the Rio Tebicuary. Her name is Nancy López de Kochalka. Nancy visited the Twin Cities and central Minnesota in the spring of 2004 with a lovely troupe of eight Paraguayan dancers, who travel with her in Paraguay under the auspices of the Paraguayan government, reaching out to the rural community as she presents environmental education programs. Last year she asked me whether we could form a partnership with those people concerned about the Rio Tebicuary and its watershed, and those of us living within the confluence of the Rum River. She will speak out on her thoughts in this issue… and I will leave the question up to you. Perhaps this is the time to revitalize the "Friends of the Rum River" group that started up in Mille Lacs County a few years ago, and make it regional. That might be one way to go to help this partnership happen. Would any of you be interested in joining? If so, please read on. I wish to remind you that this newsletter does not just serve environmental groups per se, however, but anyone interested in maintaining a healthy and vibrant community in the Rum River watershed. This area extends 140 miles from Mille Lacs Lake to the Mississippi River, and covers 1552 square miles. You probably live in it, so this should be your baby too. Our January issue will take a different approach – we are looking for your creative contributions! Check the last page for details. This should be great fun. Sincerely, Kriste Ericsson, Editor Contents: • • • • • •

Joining in the River Dance: Greetings from Paraguay! by Nancy López de Kochalka Finally! Organizing a “Friends of the Rum River” group: by Brett Larson Feature article by area hydrologist Mike Mueller: “Watersheds: Part 4” January issue: Creative Thinking in the Rum River Watershed Mission/Vision Statements Adding/removing names from [email protected] list serve

2

Joining in the River Dance: Saludos del Paraguay!! by Nancy López de Kochalka The Republic of Paraguay is a country of 174,500 square miles, located in the center of South America, where exist numerous aquatic ecosystems and large rivers, but it is not well known to the rest of the world. Its principal watersheds include those of the Paraguay River, the Paraná River, the Tebicuary River, the Apa River, and finally the Pilcomayo, which follows the western border of the country. The Tebicuary River watershed is the third largest in Paraguay, with a length of approximately 750 miles. This river starts in the Caaguazú Highlands and passes through the Highlands of San Rafael. Numerous springs and secondary streams that originate in the San Rafael Reserve feed it. The west border of this 178,000 acre protected area is delimited by the course of the Tebicuary River. The waters of the springs feeding into this river are cold and crystal clear. The main channel of the Tebicuary River itself varies from 20 to 100 meters in width, and its depth varies from 0.5 meters to 4 meters. A group of volunteers (of whom I am one), the Promoters of the Environment of the San Rafael Reserve and its Natural Treasures (Promotores Ambientales de la Reserva San Rafael y Fiscales Ambientales) are conducting interesting research in the upper and middle regions of the river’s watershed. At the same time, we are doing what we can to procure the protection of the region, promoting good conservation measures among the local people. We are convinced that we must do our best to care for this valuable natural resource. Along the length of the river can be found many types of habitats, including stands of bamboo (including two tall species of the genus Guadua), and subtropical marshes similar to the Everglades wetlands, with floating vegetation. A rapid analysis of the profile of the area indicates that over the centuries the river has meandered back and forth over the land. Periodically the river has flooded, leaving fragments of aquatic vegetation and wood from riverine trees high up in the soil profile of the bordering mountains – and sometimes one can even find ceramic fragments of Pre Colombian indigenous cultures embedded high up in the sediment profile. This is not surprising, for all of the watershed of the Tebicuary River and the adjoining watershed of the Paraná River were once inhabited by the Mbya Guarani natives, who still live in the remnants of Interior Atlantic Forest once covering much of this area, and in the Altoparanaenses Forest. Our studies of the biodiversity of wildlife of this watershed, initiated in 1999 through the assistance of the Project of the Natural Resource Administration (through an agreement between the Paraguayan government and the World Bank), and the scientists of the Museum of Natural History of Kansas, revealed that the watershed is characterized by a great variety of intermixed habitats, resulting in a rich abundance of species. These habitats include riparian and gallery forest, high forest and swamp forest, bamboo stands and wetland savannas. As an ornithologist, one of my interests is the birds of the area. This region provides the nesting habitat of the Cock-tailed Tyrant (Alectrurus tricolor), the Strange-tailed Tyrant (Alectrurus risora), and habitat for 85% of the bird species unique to the Interior Atlantic Forest, such as the Sao Paulo Tyrannulet (Phylloscartes paulistus), the Bay-ringed Tyrannulet (Phylloscartes ventralis) and the Southern Bristle-Tyrant (Phylloscartes eximius.) Other birds, both rare and in danger of extinction include the Harpy Eagle (Harpyjo harpyja) and the King Vulture (Sacorhamphus papa.)

3

Examples of mammals characteristic of this part of Paraguay include the tapir or “mborevi” (Tapirus terrestris), and “aguara guasu” (Crysocyon brachyurus.) The abundant species of fish, reptiles, and amphibians still wait to be studied. Sadly, even in the uplands where the river has its start the area is suffering from serious deforestation. Once the most common forest type in South America, the Interior Atlantic Forest is fast disappearing as people clear ground and harvest its valuable timber. The Altoparananeses Forest, also once a highly diverse ecosystem, is fast disappearing. This increases contamination of the Tebicuary River by agrochemicals, it decreases the products that the locals can use, and causes an overall decrease in plant and animal biodiversity in the area. We need to work more with the local people and local authorities to sensitize them to the issues involved, such as the dangers of the use of agrotoxins, and provide education on river dynamics and how they affect the health of the watershed. “Conserving the Tebicuary River” requires the help of friends, sympathizers, and patrons. Therefore all the support that we can obtain for our field research, environmental education, and land acquisition for conservation purposes would be greatly appreciated. If you are interested in learning how you can help and about ecotourism opportunities, please contact me at: Nancy López de Kochalka, M.S. (Wildlife Manager and Ornithologist) Email: [email protected] Please mention the theme: “Support for the conservation of the Tebicuary River.” I Finally! Forming a “Friends of the Rum River”

by Brett Larson

When Brett Larson and some friends bought 53 acres on the Rum River in 1995, he quickly realized how lucky he was. This little known and little used river, only an hour from a major metropolitan area, was as beautiful as any he’d seen, meandering through forests and fields from Mille Lacs Lake down the length of Mille Lacs County, where it turned east toward Cambridge and eventually the Mississippi. “I had heard of the Rum,” Larson said, “but I had no idea how beautiful it was, how good the fishing was, and how much wildlife there would be. When I started canoeing and kayaking on the river, I was amazed.” And yet, there were signs that the river’s pristine nature might be threatened. The area around Cambridge, Princeton and Milaca was rapidly developing. Houses were springing up in communities whose sewage treatment facilities – already pushing their limits – drained into the Rum. People were snapping up parcels with river frontage and changing the landscape around the river – sometimes building houses closer than the law allowed. In Mille Lacs County, where Larson lived, the absence of a building code and building inspector allowed people to build illegally with little chance that they would ever be found out. He was also struck by how rarely used the river was by canoeists and anglers. While lack of use can be a good thing, Larson realized it could also mean that the river wouldn’t have many people watching out for its interests. As a result of those experiences, he decided to start a group called Friends of the Rum River. He got the idea from a similar group in the Twin Cities called Friends of the Mississippi. “I had written an article for them about nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, and what it was doing to the Gulf of Mexico,” Larson recalls. “It turns out that the chemicals we put into the river up here have resulted in a huge ‘dead zone’ in the Gulf, where algae blooms result in a lack of oxygen and nothing can survive.” From that experience, he realized he was living at “the top of the pipe,” where all that pollution started, and he needed to make sure that the water leaving his property was as clean as the water coming in. “Those of us up here in Minnesota have a responsibility to the people living

4

downstream,” he says. “The nutrients we’re pumping into the river have a real detrimental effect.” It didn’t take long for Larson to drum up support for his Friends group. A few newspaper articles alerted others in Mille Lacs County to the idea, and he soon had a core group of about a dozen – mostly Mille Lacs County residents with property on the Rum. He received help from Bruce Johnson and Angie Becker-Kudelka of the Rivers Council of Minnesota, who came and led meetings of the group, giving them advice on what to do. But that’s where things ended. “We came up with a list of things to do, but then lost momentum,” said Larson. “I got busy with other commitments, as did everyone else, so the group kind of fizzled out.” He’s hoping that the Rum River Watershed Newsletter will generate new interest in a “Friends of the Rum River” group that will have more staying power this time. “The need is out there,” says Larson. “Just like all the lake associations in the state help to protect water quality and recreation, rivers need protectors too. We need to educate landowners on how to keep the river as pristine as possible, and improve recreational opportunities on the river that might draw more people interested in protecting the river.” Larson notes that volunteers could help the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and DNR do a more thorough job of monitoring the river and making it accessible to canoeists, campers and anglers. Anyone interested in helping revitalize the Friends of the Rum River is encouraged to contact Brett Larson at (320) 983-3614 or [email protected]. The group is open to anyone living or working throughout the length of the Rum River watershed, and all friends and neighbors.

Phosphorous: Don’t “P” in your lake! Part 4 of a series about Water Quality

by Mike Mueller

A recent study conducted by the Bemidji State University and the Mississippi Headwaters Board revealed that the value of your shoreland corresponds to the clarity of the water in the lake. Higher quality lakes, those with greater water clarity, had higher land values. More importantly, conservation efforts that improve water quality should result in higher land values. However, the study also revealed that many buyers prefer and pay more for the developed and urbanized properties. In other words, they prefer and will pay more for those properties that are already contributing to water quality degradation. I don’t know why so many folks preferred the more developed lakes. Perhaps its because these were the clearest lakes before development started. Therefore they were developed first and they have a reputation as a desirable lake. Maybe the most heavily developed lakes are larger, deeper and have better recreation. I don’t know and the study didn’t say. I do know that most folks I talk to about their lakes are totally clueless about the reasons their lakes are in the condition they are, from a water quality perspective. And I mean that in my kindest, “aw shucks, its not your fault” kind of way. The truth is, there are a lot of complicated physical and chemical processes going on at all times in your lake. But if I had to pick one process you should know about, it would revolve around an element called phosphorus. Phosphorus is essential in the growth of plants. And when I say plants, I mean both algae and the larger rooted aquatic plants that grow in the lake. P, as phosphorus is commonly called, is used in the process of photosynthesis, which is a fancy way to say that plants use sunlight, water and a few different elements to grow. A little P goes a long way when it comes to plants. An old rule of thumb I’ve heard says that one pound of P in a lake produces 100 pounds of plants.

5

Phosphorus enters a lake in many ways. It is prevalent in spring snowmelt and runoff. Sediments, particularly fine-grained soils like clay or silt, have the ability to “grab on” to P, but can also release it into solution when it is wet. That’s why erosion is such a concern near waterways and lakes. P is also one of the three components of fertilizer, along with nitrogen and potassium, although new laws now limit when this type of fertilizer can be used. Phosphorus is contained within the stems and leaves of plants. When your grass clippings go in the lake, they bring phosphorus with them. Manure or pet droppings contain very high concentrations of phosphorus. The Center for Watershed Protection estimates the amount of runoff generated by a parking lot is 16 times greater than from a forest. A Minnesota study found that runoff from a drainage ditch generated 14 times more water than from a natural stream, 15 times more sediment and 5 times more phosphorus. Those estimates were from areas further up in the watershed. Lakeshore properties also generate runoff into the lake. The Wisconsin DNR estimates that a typical developed lake lot generates 90 pounds of sediment and 0.20 pounds of phosphorus during the growing season. An undeveloped lot generates only 5 pounds of sediment and 0.03 pounds of P. In other words, your lot is analogous to a drainage ditch or a parking lot; it increases greatly the pollution going into the lake. P can be generated within the lake as well. Carp are notorious for stirring up the bottom sediments, allowing phosphorus to escape into the water column. High-powered motors on your boats can cause turbulence similar to the actions of carp. In some lakes, oxygen depletion near the bottom causes a release of P into the water column. Shallow lakes are especially prone to turbulence from wind and wave action. According to a report by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, phosphorus concentrations as low as 20-30 parts per billion can promote algal blooms. Let me put that concentration into perspective for you. A part per million is 1000 times more than a part per billion. If you were to start counting to one million at the rate of one count per second, you would reach a million in just over eleven and a half days. If you wanted to count to a billion at the same rate, one count per second, you better set aside the next 31.7 years! So you can see that 20-30 parts per billion is really a very small amount of phosphorus. Algae are microscopic plants that grow and reproduce quickly. Where the typical aquatic plant takes weeks to grow to maturity and flower, algae may take only hours to divide and reproduce. They can easily turn a lake into a cloudy, green mess in a matter of days! When scientists measure water clarity, they are actually measuring the amount of chlorophyll, which is indirectly measuring the abundance of algae. In most lakes, phosphorus is the nutrient that limits how much algal growth there is. Plants quickly take up soluble phosphorus in the water. As plants are consumed by animals, killed with herbicides, or die and decay, they release this P back into the water and other plants quickly take it up. I personally think many lake owners have an unhealthy obsession about removing the rooted aquatic plants in front of their properties, but I am going to save that for another column. Rooted aquatics are the larger plants that grow below and above the surface. It is normal to have many aquatic plants growing in the lake out to depths of about 15 feet. However, when you apply herbicides (you need a permit) to remove the aquatic plants in front of your lot, you are simply recycling the phosphorus in those plants. The end result is more algae and increased growth of rooted aquatics in other areas. The State measures water transparency in lakes, usually with the assistance of citizen volunteers, in order to get an estimate of overall water quality. The transparency measurement is combined with chlorophyll and total phosphorus counts to provide a Trophic State Index (TSI). Doing so allows us to compare lakes in similar areas of the state and against each other to get a relative estimate of how good the water quality is. Generally as you get further north, the lakes are clearer and have lower TSI counts, whereas the southern lakes tend to have much higher TSI counts. Lakes with a TSI above 50 can exhibit problems due to excessive algal growth,

6

plant growth, anoxia (low oxygen) or worse. You can check the TSI for your lake at www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefinder or at www.pca.state.mn.us/water/lkwqSearch

Now here’s the scary part…. Once your lake gets too much P in it, it is exceedingly difficult to restore the lake back to its former condition! There are no magic potions, hidden valves or switches, or government agencies that will fix it. It takes huge amounts of money and changes on a watershed-wide scale. Even then it will take years to get rid of the excessive phosphorus. If you call me about the problems on your lake, I’m going to give you lots of advice, but it will be mostly up to you to act on that advice. Next column will focus on what you can do to prevent excessive phosphorus in your lake. But for now, let me leave you with this thought…. keep the P out of your lake * Used by permission of the author. Watch for our March 2006 issue, which will feature the Lake Associations of Isanti County, and what they are doing to maintain the integrity of their lakes. Calling on Your Creativity!! In our January/February issue we would like to feature prose and poetry from readers like you! The topic is the Rum River, its watershed, and all its ramifications. Limit submissions of prose to 500 to 1000 words (about a half page or so single spaced), and poetry can take up about a half a page as well (we might break it into two columns if you use a lot of white space in your work.) Entries are subject to editing due to space considerations. Everything used at the editor’s discretion. All entries must be submitted by January 14. Thanks much! Kriste Send to: [email protected] Or: Attn: Kriste Ericsson, PO Box 82, Grandy, MN 55029.

Mission Statement: To provide a base of knowledge that we can use to help make wise decisions concerning the Rum River watershed. Vision Statement To improve our ability, both as part of the private and as part of the public sector, to care for the Rum River watershed and all of the associated watersheds that make up the Mississippi River system. Contact Information: Kriste Ericsson, Editor News from the Rum River Watershed PO Box 82, Grandy, MN 55029 [email protected] To sign up for this email newsletter, go to [email protected].

To leave the group, you can unsubscribe by sending an email to: [email protected].