10/27/2004 Env Bd Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• ANT MEE indrvoNd Vermillion River is unique Thursday, August 26, 2004 Vermillion is a resource worth preserving e tut of iiii ielil tee Fermi iil aut, Minnesota The Vermillion River doesn't look like much. At its widest it's not much more than an Olympic long jump across, and it never gets especially deep. It does not have the majesty of the Mississippi, to which it ultimately empties. To dismiss the Vermillion as 'just another stream, though, would be to sell it short, because the narrow river that twists and turns through farm fields from Farmington to Hastings and beyond is one of the most valuable natural resources in the area. And it is in danger. The Vermillion River is unique in the Twin Cities metropolitan area because the cool, clear, water it offers along much of its length are ideal habitat for trout. The Vermillion is one of the few trout streams in the metro area, and the only one where fishermen can find trophy - worthy trout. Much of the river has been designated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources as an official trout stream, granting it certain protections as the area around it develops: ee protections become more necessary every day, because the runoff generated by newly paved roads and freshly installed rooftops, if not managed well, can threaten that habitat. Without precautions, water that would once have "-en cooled in grassy fields might runs straight into the Vermillion, warming the river and carrying sediment that :ddies the water. Threats from other areas are accentuated by rapid population growth. Runoff from pastures and farm fields that once went unnoticed creates problems now that more people are using the river for recreation. The situation is certainly not hopeless. As we said, much of the river has been designated a trout stream, and as one river watcher has said, trout are like canaries in a coal mine - if they are there, the water must be at least reasonably healthy. If they start to suffer, it is a sign something is going wrong. But we cannot wait until something goes seriously wrong to take action. It is far easier to prevent a problem than to fix one. That is one of the messages of a meeting scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Aug. 30 at the Dakota County Extension Center, and it is one we enthusiastically support. The Vermillion River, small and unassuming as it might seem, is too important to do otherwise. Content © 2004 The Farmington Independent Software © 1998 -2004 1 upl Software, All Rights Reserved