Frederickson: CREP is just a start in river conservation

By KEVIN SWEENEY

Journal Editor

NEW ULM -- The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program is very much on the minds of the Coalition for a Clean Minnesota River these days, but Sen. Dennis Frederickson (R-New Ulm) asked CCMR members to look beyond CREP.

Speaking at the CCMR's annual River Banquet, Frederickson said CREP's goal of enrolling 100,000 acres of marginal cropland into conservation easements will just be the beginning for the program.

Frederickson said he is confident CREP will get the funding it needs from the state to maximize federal contributions to the program. The state must allocate another $51 million for CREP to leverage $98 million in federal funds to fully fund the program.

But once the money is allocated and the acres enrolled, the job is just beginning, said Frederickson. He warned that legislators are developing some reluctance to further extraordinary programs for the Minnesota River, which has been the focus of much state effort in the past. Some legislators may feel that other river systems deserve to stand at the head of the line once CREP is accomplished.

He added that the job of properly planting the marginal lands with good conservation cover and managing them will take some education and monitoring in the future.

Frederickson also called for efforts to combine scattered patches of conservation land developed through various programs, and connect them into a corridor of buffer zones along the river.

Frederickson also spoke about different varieties of mussels that belong in the river. Of the 37 varieties that once could be found in the Minnesota River, 17 have disappeared due to excessive siltation and pollution in the river. Frederickson showed samples of shells of the mussels, and hoped that one day, as the river is cleaned up, the mussels still found in the river would thrive, and those that are missing will return.

The CCMR instituted a new leadership award at the banquet, and presented two members with the recognition. Tony Miller of New Ulm was recognized for his dedication and work developing river awareness programs at 3M where he works, and forming the 3M Minnesota River Restoration Action Teams. Miller has led river cleanup activities around New Ulm, and helped organize cleanup trips to a former auto salvage yard located in the river flood plain near Belle Plaine that is a source of pollution and a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Del Wehrspann was also recognized. Wehrspann has been an outspoken and dedicated leader and organizer for river restoration issues for the past ten years, helping found some organizations that are part of the CCMR, and serving on the CCMR board.