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Farmers could get water-protection payments Tuesday, October 14, 2003
Associated Press
ST. PAUL -- Farmers working land along three of the state's major rivers would be paid to set aside up to 100,000 acres to improve water quality by curbing runoff while restoring wildlife habitat, Gov. Tim Pawlenty said Monday in announcing a new program.
"We have more fresh water than any other state in the continental United States," Pawlenty said. "Protecting and restoring this crown jewel of our quality of life should be our number one environmental priority."
Pawlenty was scheduled to be at a farm just south of Austin early this afternoon to tour the farm and talk more about the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program.
The $226 million proposal, which includes local, state and federal money, is the centerpiece of a clean water initiative Pawlenty outlined in June. It would expand the program in Minnesota to improve the state's waterways.
Three areas of the state are targeted in the proposal, which will be submitted to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann M. Veneman this week. It focuses on restoring 42,500 acres in the Red River Watershed in the northwest, 42,500 acres in the lower Mississippi River watershed in the southeast and 15,000 acres in the Missouri River watershed in southwest Minnesota.
If the proposal is approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, $180 million would come from that agency, with $46 million in state and local money. For the state's side, Pawlenty wants the Legislature to bond for $23 million in 2004 and the same amount two years later.
"I think legislators would be remiss if they didn't include this" (in the bonding bill), Pawlenty said.
State Rep. Jean Wagenius, a Democrat from Minneapolis, wasn't impressed.
"The basic concern here is during the Pawlenty administration, they've taken about 1,000 steps backward regarding water quality," she said. "Now, he takes a half step forward, and he wants to step up for applause."
While she doesn't oppose the CREP program, Wagenius said it's important to build in a way to measure results.
"Is this the best bang for your buck?" she said. "We cannot tell."
She thinks the state should monitor groundwater more frequently as well as take a closer look at septic tanks, feedlots and wastewater treatment systems.
CREP is a voluntary program that works with farmers and ranchers to set aside marginal agricultural lands along waterways to enhance wildlife habitats, improve water quality, reduce erosion and sedimentation and reduce the effects of recurrent flooding. |
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