10/27/2004 Env Bd Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

Water in the area filters through rock and sediment to a "deep aquifer," which provides water for area cities including Apple Valley, Rosemount, Lakeville and Farmington. •bviously this watershed has changed over the last couple of hundred years," Huff said. _ He showed a photo of Highway 5o between Lakeville and Farmington in 192o — a one lane dirt road. He noted there Alas no erosion control on the banks of the river, field runoff went right into the river, the outhouse flowed straight to the river, and cities had a water "treatment plant that really didn't treat." "As a result of these practices, pretty much because we didn't know any better," he said, "the watershed became degraded and the brook trout died out." Huff referred to trout as an "indicator species." "Our trout are canaries in the coal mine," he said. He said until 1959, there was no trout left in the river. However, humans learned a lot about environmental stewardship and today the stream is known as a trophy trout stream. However, there are signs that the trout are in jeopardy. "Once again this resource is at a crossroads," he said. One issue, according to Huff, is that rapid growth in the area has changed the dynamics of the system causing water flowing into the river to be warmer, contain more contaminants, and more impervious surfaces is forcing higher volumes of runoff water. Runoff of fertilizers and pesticides from agricultural uses is another factor as is about 2,800 septic systems in the watershed suspected of being below standards. Apple Valley has about 3o septic systems. One of the most serious questions for the area is if enough water is soaking into the ground and "recharging" the •eP aquifer and clean drinking water. Huff estimated it would cost about $300,000 to convert a storm -water holding pond into an "infiltration pond." "he Environmental Management Department of Dakota County studied the issue of nitrates in the system and discovered that 26 percent of private wells had above the drinking water standard for nitrates. Nitrates are toxic to .infants younger than about 6 months, according to Huff. Nitrates can cause death, "blue baby syndrome" and is connected to developmental problems, he said. In a study of pesticide residue and caffeine in the wells (caffeine can only come from human waste) the study found a least one of the agents in all wells. "That's a real concern and has raised some red flags," he said. "That means that it is a combination of septic systems and wastewater treatment plants and agriculture." He said the primary culprit was agricultural runoff. • The Environmental Protection Agency has listed the river as "impaired," due to high levels of fecal coliform bacteria —.a category of bacteria present in the feces of warm - blooded animals and indicative of potentially harmful contamination. The Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Board consists of Dakota County Commissioners Joe Harris and Paul Krause and Scott County Commissioner Bob Vogel. Commissioners Willis Branning (Dakota. County) and Barb Marchall (Scott County) are the alternates. Brett Andersen is at ay.thisweek @ecm- inc.com. •op of Page Check out this week's newspaper for more about your community. f'hisweek Newspapers 12190 County Road ii, Burnsville, MN 55337 Telephone: 952-894 -1111 Fax: 952-846 -2010