Stopping the Floods

This is the third year out of four that we've had a major flood hit the Cannon River watershed.  These flood events are caused by intense rains dropping lots of water in a short time on ground that can't absorb it.  These types of rain events aren't going to go away so we need to learn to live with them and manage for them.  Sandbags and flood walls are band aids at the end of the line and while they help some businesses they aren't the long term solution.

We need STORAGE for this water and ways for it to sink in or infiltrate into the ground so it doesn't run off the land as soon as it falls.  The KARE 11 piece yesterday said the runoff came from farm fields and that is partly correct.  There is a lot that could be done on agricultural land like restoring some wetlands, putting in shoreland buffers, installing controlled drainage, implementing significantly reduced tillage across the landscape, working cover crops into cropping systems, and moving away from the corn and soybean monocultures.  Urban residents need to do our part as well.  Rain gardens, rain barrels and native plants instead of lawns will help hold water.  Less hard surfaces wherever they would be possible with cover that increase infiltration is needed.  And believe it our not we can help through our food choices as they dictate what our hard working farmers grow.  Lastly we have to find places to reconnect the floodplain to the river so that there is room for the water to spread out when it needs to.  Maybe it's time to give up living so close to the water?

The floods are not just a problem for the people whose lives were affected by loss of home and property.  They are a problem for our community and society that we need to deal with together.

If you're interested in working on this issue contact me at the Cannon River Watershed Partnership (www.crwp.net) by phone or email - (507) 786-3913 or beth@crwp.net.