MANKATO — For years, the Minnesota River Congress and other groups have labored to bring programs and funding to improve the river basin, particularly to reduce the rapid flow of water into area rivers, which erode banks and create water quality problems.
On June 13 the 16th River Congress will meet at the Kato Ballroom where a variety of speakers will update on successes and challenges for the river basin. The event is free and open to the public. (mnrivercongress.org).
Doors open at 6 p.m. and the night kicks off at 6:20 p.m. with opening remarks by Scott Sparlin, state Sen. Nick Frentz, DFL-North Mankato and Rep. Jeff Brand, DFL-St. Peter.
Sparlin has been a longtime river advocate and organizer.
David Minge, a former U.S. House member and Minnesota Court of Appeals judge, along with Ted Suss, will discuss the Minnesota River Drainage Collaborative and the history of the Izaak Walton League Upper Mississippi River Initiative and how the collaborative has evolved.
Speakers will go over a number of changes or proposed changes to ditch and drainage laws and rules
John Jaschke and Rita Weaver will give an update on the Board of Water and Soil Resources Water Storage Program, aimed at holding water on the landscape longer before it is released to ravines and rivers.
Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen, DNR Regional Administrator Scott Roemhildt, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Assistant Commissioner Dana Vanderbosch and BWSR Director John Jaschke will be on a panel discussing opportunities for funding from multiple sources for water storage projects.
Julie Blackburn, ISG business unit leader will speak about the challenges to incorporating water quality into projects as well as possibilities for removing potential barriers.
The night will wrap up with a questionnaire and taking ideas about how the River Congress can help in advocating for landowners and the rivers. The event is scheduled to end at 9 p.m.