How Can Minnesota Reach its 25 by 25 Water Goal?

By Sage Passi


Join us in a conversation this September about what can be done at the local level to help Minnesota reach its 25 by 25 water quality goal.

Early this year Governor Dayton announced a new “25 by 25” Water Quality Goal, which would spur collaboration and action to improve Minnesota’s water quality 25 percent by 2025. Without additional action, the quality of Minnesota’s waters is expected to improve only 6 to 8 percent by 2034. Governor Dayton’s proposal would not add new regulations, but would instead drive public engagement and partnerships to address Minnesota’s water quality challenges.

Ramsey Washington Metro Watershed District, along with Conservation Minnesota, Capitol Region Watershed District, Ramsey Conservation District and Rice Creek Watershed District, is hosting a community water meeting on September 12 to discuss local water health and hear your ideas for improving and protecting our water resources in Ramsey County. We invite you to join this discussion! Water meetings like this are part of Conservation Minnesota’s effort to include local communities in responding to the Governor’s proposed water pollution reduction initiative.

This summer and early fall, the Governor’s office is holding ten regional town hall meetings across the state to gather input on what it could take to realize this goal. Townhall meetings in the metro area are scheduled for late September and early October in Minneapolis, Burnsville and Stillwater. Dates and locations for these town halls are listed HERE.



“All Minnesotans have a stake in water that’s safe for drinking, swimming and fishing,” says Governor Dayton. “These town hall meetings will further the important conversations already happening across Minnesota around water quality. Together we can develop strategies and solutions that work for all of our communities.”

We are hosting a local meeting to ensure that those who cannot attend the Governor’s meetings or who want extra time to talk through their ideas have the chance to do so.

 

Join us and
share your ideas!

Ramsey County Community
Water Meeting

Tuesday, September 12
6:30 - 8:30 PM
Autumn Grove Park
395 Lydia Ave W, Roseville

To ensure we have enough space and refreshments, please RSVP by emailing Julie Drennen or call 612-767-1569. This is an open meeting, so you’re welcome to invite all who you think would be interested. 

This event is sponsored by:

What is the State of the Mississippi River in 2016?

By Sage Passi

Photo credit: Sage Passi

 
Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) and the National Park Service’s Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA) recently released their second edition of the State of the River Report. In 2012 the first issue of the report was released. That report helped precipitate a series of river management milestones, including the closing of the Upper St. Anthony Lock, statewide phase-outs of triclosan and coal tar sealants and improved targeting of state clean water funds.

It will be exciting to see what milestones emerge in coming years in response to the latest report. 

The 2016 report, available online here, highlights fourteen key indicators of river health and ecological health and presents each in a way that non-scientists can understand. The report examines the status and trends of each indicator and suggests strategies for improvement moving forward. 

The report breaks these indicators into five categories related to flow, swimming and recreation, ecological health and other river contaminants. 

Lark Weller (National Park Service) and Trevor Russell (FMR), authors of the report, were guided by advisors including multiple state agencies, the University of Minnesota, The St. Croix Watershed Research Station, and Metropolitan Council Environmental Services.



These are several issues in the report that stood out as Weller and Russell summarized the State of the River Report 2016 at the Science Museum on the evening of September 22.


Let’s start with some of the good news …

The metro river is home to a resilient population of bald eagles.

Photo credit: Rusty Mathiasmeier

Currently the metro river is home to approximately 55 active nesting sites. This is approximately a 35% increase since 2011, indicating a strong and stable bald eagle population. Research is tracking this productive eagle population, which averages about one and a half nestlings per nest, well over the threshold for a healthy population. Research has shown that cottonwoods, eagles’ preferred nesting trees, are not regenerating successfully in the metro river corridor. Research into cottonwood regeneration methods holds promise for sustaining a healthy population, but it is important to develop and implement a river reforestation plan to ensure healthy habitat for eagles in the future.


Some native mussels are being reestablished in the metro river.

The Higgins eye pearly mussel, a freshwater native

mussel, has been reintroduced into the Mississippi

River in the Twin Cities. Results look promising. 

Photo credit: USFWS

The discharge of untreated waste to the river through the early 1900’s eliminated the mussel population downstream of St. Anthony Falls. Since then mussels have responded favorably to improved sewage treatment, the separation of storm sewers from sanitary sewers and other water quality improvements.

Mussel habitat downstream of the confluence with the Minnesota River is degraded, most likely due to high loads of sediment and other pollutants. However, some mussel species have returned and this lower reach of the river now supports 28 of the original 43 native mussel species. Upstream of St. Anthony Falls there are now 18 native mussel species. Ongoing efforts to reintroduce native mussels into the river will be important to their continued recovery.


There has been an increase in the diversity and quality of the river’s fishery, particularly smallmouth bass and walleye, since the 1970’s.

The trophy walleye fishery between the Ford Dam and the Hastings Dam is one of the highest quality urban fisheries in the United States. The small bass fishery upstream of the Coon Rapids Dam is considered world-class. It is estimated that more than 129 species of fish (120 native, 9 introduced) live in the river up to St. Anthony Falls. An estimated 86 species are now found above the falls.

There are catch and release regulations for the river between the Ford and Hastings Dams for walleye, sauger, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, as well as for muskellunge, above the Coon Rapids Dam. These fish may be caught, but must be returned alive to the water. These guidelines were established to protect and maintain high quality fish populations.


Now for the not-so-good news …

 



There are a number of indicators that are cause for concern. The river is impaired by excess sediment, bacteria and phosphorous. Fish consumption guidelines are in place throughout the river due to elevated levels of contaminants like PFOS and mercury. The river meets standards for chloride, but levels are increasing throughout the metro area. River flows have multiplied to worrisome levels. Nitrate concentration has increased substantially. Invasive Asian carp continue to move upstream. 

There are several emerging issues on the horizon - microplastic fibers, pharmaceuticals and triclosan-derived dioxins in the metro river pose uncertain risks to aquatic life and health. Additional research and collective action are required to mitigate their potential long-term impacts.

Let’s look a little closer at five of these issues and what you can do about them …

FMR has a Stewardship Guide that highlights the “top 10” stewardship actions that you can take with your friends and neighbors to help protect and restore the Mississippi River and its watershed for future generations. Download it here. There’s also a Teachers Guide.


FLOW
Metro river flows have increased by 24% over the last seventy years.

The timing, amount and intensity of rain and snow can impact river flow which naturally varies seasonally and from year to year. There are positives and negatives to high and low flows. High flows can cause erosion, degrade habitat and carry more pollutants into the river system. But they can also restore natural floodplains and dilute concentrations of some key pollutants. Low flows tend to deliver less pollution to the river, but they can also amplify the effect of sources like wastewater treatment plants.

In developed areas, hard surfaces such as roads, roofs, driveways and parking lots contribute run-off that increases flows into nearby water bodies. In agricultural areas, row crops and artificially drained fields result in increased runoff which typically leads to higher flows downstream. These seemingly small changes in runoff, spread over a large landscape have significant impacts on river flow and hydrology.

Much of Minnesota’s native prairies and wetlands have been converted to row crop agriculture. While native landscapes absorb and transpire water effectively, annual crops only consume water during a portion of the year, allowing a great share of annual precipitation to enter surface waters. The Minnesota River, an important influence on the Mississippi River, has significantly more flow per unit of precipitation than it used to. Increases in rainfall due to climate change may also be responsible for a portion of recent increases in river flows. 

What Can You DO?

Farmers can adopt changes to cropping systems, increase perennial vegetation on the landscape during spring and fall (before and after row crop establishment and harvest). Residents and cities can install rain gardens, rain barrels, pervious pavers, green roofs and restore native landscapes.


BACTERIA
Parts of the river are impaired with excess bacteria posing health risks for recreational users.

Many parts of the river from its confluence with the Crow River (in Dayton) downstream through St. Paul have average bacteria concentrations that are too high. These reaches are “impaired” for E. coli. It is recommended that swimming or other recreational contact be limited in impaired sections of the river and that it be avoided everywhere in the river within 48 hours of a rainstorm (including storms upstream). Recreational users are advised to be especially cautious downstream of storm drain outlets. For a map of impaired stretches of the river, see page 17 in the report.

What Can You DO?

Clean up your pet waste, make sure septic systems are up-to-date and reduce run-off at home and in your community.

PHOSPHORUS
Portions of the river are impaired with too much phosphorus.

Historically wastewater treatment plants have been significant sources of phosphorus to surface waters in Minnesota. Metropolitan Council wastewater treatment plants have made phosphorus reductions of 88% since 2000, significantly helping the river. Overall 57% of phosphorus in the metro Mississippi River comes from the Minnesota River in an average flow year. Because remaining phosphorus pollution is largely linked to unregulated agricultural runoff, future improvements will require substantial reductions in cropland, pasture and rural runoff, along with curtained stream bank erosion.


What Can You DO?

This rain garden was built by Mitzi Knutzen with assistance from Master Water Stewards, Anna Barker and Stephanie Wang, to reduce sediment in Battle Creek which flows to the river. 

Photo Credit: Sage Passi

You can reduce the run-off from your lawn or driveway by planting native plants, building rain gardens and directing your downspouts to your lawn so the rain soaks in instead of picking up dirt and other phosphorus containing materials that can be carried into the sewer and then to the river.

Residents can also help by using lawn chemicals wisely, (use phosphorus free fertilizer), use phosphorus free dish-washing detergents and soaps, pick up pet waste and keep grass clippings and leaves out of storm drains. 

 
CHLORIDE
Levels are increasing throughout the metro area.



Salt brine sprayed and dried on a road surface for anti-icing before a snow storm

The river is currently well below the state’s chloride standards to protect aquatic life. However, many tributaries, lakes and wetlands fail to meet these standards. Thirty-nine tested metro area water bodies are impaired for excess chloride with another 38 close to exceeding standards. Twenty-seven percent of the metro area sand and gravel wells exceed federal guides. Chloride levels in the metro area increased by 81% from 1985-2014.

What Can You DO?

Residents can do their part by using de-icing chemicals sparingly and not apply traditional rock salt in temperatures below 15 degrees F when it is no longer effective.

More smart winter maintenance information is available at Simple Tips to Protect Our Water.


MICROPLASTICS
Fibers are the most common microplastic in the river.

Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic that end up in the environment through the breakdown of litter, car tire wear, or after plastics in clothing and consumer products are washed down the drain. Consumers may be most familiar with microbeads, which manufacturer began adding to facial washes, toothpastes and other products as an abrasive agent in the late 1990’s. They began showing up in surface waters by the mid-2000’s. Wastewater facilities are not designed to remove these contaminants.

In December of 2015 the US Congress passed legislation to phase out plastic microbeads from personal care products, effective on July 1, 2017.

While microbeads have captured the attention of consumer advocates and lawmakers, it is fibers rather than microbeads that are the primary source of microplastic pollution in the metro river. These fibers come from synthetic fabrics such as microfleece, polyester and nylon and are shed during machine washing, as well as through atmospheric deposition. Many are dense and sink, especially in low-velocity waters. 



Avoid buying synthetic fabrics that contain microfibers
which may be harmful to aquatic life in the river.

Microplastics can block or damage feeding apparatus, digestive tracts and circulatory systems in invertebrates, fish, mussels and birds. Studies have documented liver stress, early tumor formation and potential reduction in feeding. They also may pose some human health hazards such as intestinal inflammation, effects on gut flora and the immune system. See the report for more information.

Recently the U.S. Geological Survey, in partnership with the National Park Service, began sampling river water, sediment, and fish and mussel tissue for microplastics in the metro river. Preliminary results indicate that fibers are the dominant type of microplastic in these samples. Fibers represent about 90% of the microplastics accumulating in metro river sediment.

What Can You DO?

Download the smartphone app from www.beatthemicrobead.org to scan product labels and determine whether they contain microbeads. Consumers can also choose clothing made from natural fibers, avoid single-use plastics such as plastic bags and take-out containers, and remain careful not to litter or flush plastic materials down the toilet.


Conclusion …

While the challenges we face are complex and daunting, the river today is healthier, thanks to the actions of those who have come before us. The return of abundant wildlife to a once-troubled river is evidence that restoring the Mississippi is possible through shared commitment and decisive public action. With strong leadership and action by river supporters we can pass on a healthier and more resilient Mississippi River to future generations.

Photo credit: Sage Passi

 

Thank you to the State of the River 2016 report for much of the text in this article.

May, the Month of Fishing Opener: A Look at the Fish We Eat (or Shouldn't)

by Sage Passi


I got my first taste of fishing on a big lake up north. I will always remember it - the birch trees along those long, dark, winding forest roads as we drove toward our destination in the wee hours before dawn. Sitting for hours in our boat surrounded by white curtains of fog and rolling on those interminably rocky waves. Finally, as the mist dispersed, we could see water for miles in every direction.


Left: Birch trees near Lake of the Woods.  Right: Fishing on Lake of the Woods.
Photos courtesy of the MN Historical Society

“I rose oh so early in time to see the fox chase the badger around the green bush -” It was a phrase indelibly imprinted in my four year old mind to help remember the names of the towns between my grandparents’ home, Green Bush and Lake of the Woods near the border of Canada where I first tried my hand at fishing. Hint – these are the town names: Roseau, Fox, Badger and Green Bush. I cherish those early recollections of sitting in a boat with Grandma Mabel and Bill (skip the Grandpa – he liked the familiarity of first names) and hanging out for hours in a boat with a fishing rod in hand with my grandparents and sister, reeling in those walleyes and northern pike. 


Today, the taste of crispy walleye melting in my mouth, whether it’s off my own grill or State Fair fare, still takes me back to those days when my grandma would send my sister and me home with milk cartons stuffed with our own freshly caught walleye fillets frozen in ice for the long drive home back to west central Minnesota. But since I’ve grown up I’ve wondered whether I can still safely eat the fish in Minnesota lakes and especially here in the Twin Cities lakes.

This walley on a stick was purchased at Powderhorn Park on Powderhorn Lake at the May Day celebration this year.  No this walleye on a stick wasn't caught in Powderhorn Lake, but the good news is that Powderhorn Lake was taken off the impared waters list in 2012.

Are walleyes today as safe to eat as they may have been in my childhood during the 1950’s?
The answer depends on who you are, where you fish and in some cases, the size of the fish. Read on to get to the answers.

Since May brings on the annual fishing opener for the season, it’s a good time to review the information gathered in the State of the River Report’s section about fish consumption in the Mississippi River. I’ll also provide a closer look at the Minnesota Health Department reports about fish in some of our own watershed lakes. 


www.stateoftheriver.com


You may remember back in 2007 when the state reported that they had found levels of perfluorinated chemical PFOS (an industrial chemical once made by 3M Company) in several fish species in metro lakes (Lake Calhoun, Phalen, Lake Elmo etc.) prompting new fish consumption guidelines. Phalen, Gervais, Gervais Mill Pond, Round, Keller, Kohlman and Spoon Lakes in our watershed were evaluated at that time for PFOS. (St. Paul Pioneer Press article on 08/17/2007 See link at. http://www.twincities.com/ci_6643590)

Since then the state has reevaluated and set Statewide Safe Eating Guidelines based on Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), PFOS and mercury levels measured in fish throughout Minnesota. While not all waters have been tested for contaminants, these guidelines can be used for both tested and untested waters. There are two types of guidelines: those for women who are or may become pregnant and children age 15 and under, and those for everybody else.

A night of fishing at Lake Phalen just after the fishing season opener.

 

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) collaborate to assess fish, analyze the data and produce the fish consumption advisories. Each year, the DNR collects fish from lakes and rivers for testing. Minnesota has around 6,000 fishable lakes. Fish from over 1,000 lakes and streams in Minnesota have been tested for contaminants. Waters are selected for sampling where angling is popular, where there is a known or suspected pollution source, or where fish contaminant trends are being tracked. The guidelines are based on the contaminant level measured in fillets.

What are some contaminants in fish?
Mercury is found in most fish tested from Minnesota lakes. It’s a toxic metal that can impact the nervous system, particularly in children and the developing fetus. PCBs are found mainly in Lake Superior and major rivers such as the Mississippi River. PCB, a probable carcinogen, is linked to problems in infant devel­opment and adult immune function. PFOS, a type of PFC has been found in some fish in Minnesota. Perfluorochemicals (PFCs) are used to make products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease and water such as Scotchgard and fire foam retardants. The MPCA is investigating the sources of PFCs in fish. There are a lot of potential health risks that are under investigation. Here’s a link to some studies related to PFOS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfluorooctanesulfonic_acid.

Fire retardant foam is one sourse of PFOS
that has contaminated the environment.

Walleye and some other predator fish such as northern pike tend to surface on the higher consumption restriction lists for both the general population and lists for pregnant women and children under 15 in urban lakes and the Mississippi River. Walleyes longer than 20 inches, northern pike longer than 30 inches and muskellunge should not be eaten either from the river or any lake in the state by pregnant women or children under 15. The explanation: bioaccumulation. The contaminants build up at a rate faster in species that consume other fish.

Follow these tips when eating fish:
While mercury and PFOS cannot be removed through cooking or cleaning (they are in the flesh of the fish), you can reduce exposure to contaminants like PCBs by removing fat when you clean and cook fish. Contaminants tend to accumulate in the fatty tissue of fish. Trim skin and fat, especially belly fat. Also, eat fewer fatty fish such as carp, catfish, and lake trout. PCBs build up in fish fat. Replace them with pan fish such as blue gills and crappie and eat smaller fish.

What are state health department recommendations for consuming fish from the Mississippi River?
There are site-specific eating guidelines in place for the metropolitan portion of the river. Different sections of the river have different consumption guidelines. When I checked this data, several species rose to the top that have the highest restrictions for the general population because of mercury levels. It’s recommended that people eat only one meal per month from the Mississippi River for these species: channel catfish, flathead catfish and white bass. This list expands to also include northern pike and walleye when you are pregnant or a child under 15. There are also quite a few species restricted to one meal per week for the general population including large-mouth bass, northern pike, small mouth bass, walleye, carp, bluegill, buffalo, crappie and freshwater drum. Please consult the tables in this link below for site-specific information. Restrictions may be due to one or more contaminants including mercury, PCB or PFOS. Site specific information is available through the Minnesota Department of Health at this link.  

What are state health department recommendations for eating fish from our RWMWD lakes?
The link above provides this data for all lakes that have been tested in Minnesota.  A snapshot of that information includes a caution that walleye from Lake Phalen are not safe to be eaten by women who are or may become pregnant and children under 15. 

For a quick easy way to get your consumption guidelines, depth maps, fish species found in a lake and much more, go to DNR Lake Finder.  Simply enter in the lake you're going to and click "Get Lake Data."  You'll be given a table to link to all sorts of great information including the MDH guidelines all in one place.

In conclusion, while there are a number of species that have restrictions limiting consumption to one meal a month or none at all, there are still a lot of fish in our local watershed lakes and the Mississippi River that can be eaten without concern. But consult the consumption tables and pay attention to where you are catching them!

Rusty’s River Ride: A Story About Eagles

Fishing on the Mississippi River, January 9th, 2013. 
Photo courtesy of Rusty Mathiasmeier.

By Sage Passi

Eagles have had my number for a few years now, especially the pair that nest in a cottonwood tree on the shore next to Keller Lake. Since I drive by their nest fairly often on Highway 36 in Maplewood, I’ve instituted the tradition of waving at them whenever I see them perched in their nest high up in a tree or standing watch on a branch stretched out over the sparkling waters. I call out enthusiastically, “I love you!” whenever I catch a glimpse of them at this juncture. It’s a small gesture for such majestic birds that are making a triumphant come-back after decades of diminishment.



Catch of the day. April 3rd, 2013.
Photo courtesy of Rusty Mathiasmeier.

"Above the water, the eagle circles……Below the ice a dark pool of dreams lies still in limnion layers…..she knows there is a fish there……..her eyes can see through the black holes of time.”  

-Three Sightings, from my journal entry in January 2011.

 
Such eagle sightings would certainly have been an anomaly a few years ago. In 1963 only 417 pairs of eagles were known to be nesting in the lower 48 states. The population has rebounded with protections provided by the Bald Eagle Act (1940), the Clean Water Act (1972), national bans on DDT* and PCBs** (1970) and the Endangered Species Act (1973). Today, nearly 10,000 pairs nest in the lower 48 states, including 1,300 in Minnesota.


A spring helicopter count last year, cited in an April 13 article by Minneapolis Star reporter, Jim Adams, found 36 active nests in the 72-mile stretch from Elk River to Hastings that makes up the Mississippi National River Recreation Area.

Chuck Turning's video for GTN, highlights the eagle's return
to the Northeast metro area.
http://vimeo.com/channels/gtntv/18124228

"The eagle population is increasing and highly productive" in the area, said Bill Route, an eagle project manager for the National Park Service. Aerial counting isn't precise, but the 36 nests counted in late March are up from 28 last year and 30 in 2010, he said. The aerial surveys, begun in 2006, when 11 active nests were sighted, have documented the dramatic comeback in the metro area of the bald eagle, which was on the federal endangered species list from 1967 to 2007.


I got my own first-hand sense of this good news during a boat ride last spring on the Mississippi River, south of Red Wing. It was a spontaneous decision to buy a ticket for one of Rusty’s Red Wing River Rides on one of those rare early spring days in mid-April, with temperatures soaring in the lower 80’s that heralded my spirit of adventure and hopefulness that had been all but

extinguished by the latest intimidating round of Minnesota not so nice winter. Descending into this 55-foot low-riding river cruise boat, the Sight-Sea-Er-II and gliding downstream, I felt ten layers of winter malaise slip off me into the waves.

Rusty Mathiasmeir, Captain of the
Sight-Sea-Er-II with Skipper and Tipper

    As he steered us along, Rusty Mathiasmeier, the boat captain launched into his local narrative, transporting the other cruise spectators and me into the alternate reality of the eagles that inhabit this stretch of the river. I got the feeling he was driving me home to see my relatives. There they were - my grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles including Bernie, Henriette and Ol' Baldy, Heckle and Jeckle, Connie and Harry – a cast of characters who have taken up residence over the years in these back forty waters. Rusty, a river boat pilot for over 40 years, is on a first name basis with the eagles. Several times a day he travels this beat with his crew, Skipper and Tipper, two wire-haired fox terriers who stand watch at the wheel by his side. On weekends his wife and first mate, Deanna joins him.


“I know every inch of the Mississippi from St. Paul to New Orleans and I will say that this is the most beautiful stretch of the river,” he comments. As we circle around several islands in the river during the two hour ride, I stopped often to aim my binoculars at their nests, but I can't help but be awed by someone with as much familiarity as this captain has with the day-to-day life of eagles. He’s got a special knack for seeing the nuances of their personalities. And when I got back to the Cities and looked at his Facebook pages, I couldn’t take my eyes off his dramatic eagle glimpses.

Squabble over a branch?
A shot taken by Rusty in late March, 2013.

I suppose you could say I have my own version of these kinds of glimpses. I’ve often noted that eagles appear out of nowhere either when I am on my way to or returning from some “dedicated” mission to teach kids or adults about habitats or water quality. I can’t help put a spin on these sightings. It’s grown uncanny how they make their appearances out of the blue, especially when I seem to be in some special need of affirmation. Recently, after a month and a half of working on the designs for several signs for Lake Phalen, including one about foot traffic damage to the shoreline restoration plantings, I was driving off in a hurry from my house in urban Minneapolis after a pit-stop lunch, on my way to look at the unveiling of one these signs at a graphic arts company. As I pulled away from the curb, an eagle flew in above the trees, as if from nowhere, soaring above my car, circling around twice. Coincidence? It’s happened too many times for me to think it is just that.



stateoftheriver.com

So what messages are coming through the eagles these days? For the most part it’s been an encouraging story, but is it all good news? If you read the State of the River Report’s chapter on eagles published by Friends of the Mississippi River and the National Park Service in late 2012, you have to dig a little deeper to zero in on some of the less than ideal details about the status of eagles in our metropolitan community. So what is posing the greatest threat to their well-being on a local level?

Left: Henriette feeding her baby on a log in front of the SIGHT-SEA-ER II during an eagle viewing cruise on July 8, 2012.
Right: A shot taking on April 19, 2011.  Photos courtesy of Rusty's River Rides, LLC. 

From 2006 to 2011 the National Park Service visited up to 30 nests each year and assessed the health of 124 nestlings in the metro stretch of the river, taking blood samples and measuring their levels of targeted contaminants. Their findings indicate a well-nourished and productive eagle population, with an average of about two nestlings per nest each year. As a general trend the average PFOS*** levels in eagle nestling blood samples have declined. Levels of PCBs and DDT are generally below values considered critical for eagle health.


However, PFOS contamination remains elevated in sections of the river between the Ford Dam and the confluence with the St. Croix River. There have been multiple instances of high lead exposure in nestlings from Pig’s Eye Lake in St. Paul. Recent research on mercury accumulation in loons and fish shows an increase in recent years, suggesting the need to continue monitoring. In addition the loss of critical habitat along the river poses potential long-term threats to the eagle population.


Rusty Mathiasmeier cites excessive boat speeds as a cause of large wakes that uproot the cottonwoods and other large trees that provide habitat for the eagles. 



Tree uprooted along the Mississippi River. 

Photo courtesy of Rusty Mathiasmeier.

The State of the River Report advocates for continued monitoring of PFCs**** (including PFOS and its substitutes in the south metro portion of the river) and additional research on record levels of DDT at the Durham Island nesting site in Minneapolis and high lead levels in the Pigs Eye Lake area. The lack of regeneration of cottonwoods and other nesting trees along the river necessitates planning now to phase in succession plantings to avoid significant loss of large trees necessary for eagle nesting and perching. 


On the morning I saw the eagle on my way to the advertising firm, I received an e-mail from a friend of mine. He sent a story passed on to him by his friend. The synergy of its arrival, like the eagle’s appearance out of the blue above my car, gave me pause to ponder about its synchronous message. Coincidence? You will have to decide. Here is his story:

Freedom and Jeff

Freedom and I have been together 11 years this summer. She came in as a baby in 1998 with two broken wings. Her left wing doesn't open all the way even after surgery. It was broken in 4 places. She's my baby. When Freedom came in she could not stand and both wings were broken. She was emaciated and covered in lice. We made the decision to give her a chance at life, so I took her to the vet's office.

From then on, I was always around her. We had her in a huge dog carrier with the top off, and it was loaded up with shredded newspaper for her to lie in. I used to sit and talk to her, urging her to live, to fight; and she would lay there looking at me with those big brown eyes. We also had to tube feed her for weeks. This went on for 4-6 weeks, and by then she still couldn't stand. It got to the point where the decision was made to euthanize her if she couldn't stand in a week. You know you don't want to cross that line between torture and rehab, and it looked like death was winning. She was going to be put down that Friday, and I was supposed to come in on that Thursday afternoon. I didn't want to go to the center that Thursday, because I couldn't bear the thought of her being euthanized; but I went anyway, and when I walked in everyone was grinning from ear to ear. I went immediately back to her cage; and there she was, standing on her own, a big beautiful eagle. She was ready to live. I was just about in tears by then. That was a very good day.

We knew she could never fly, so the director asked me to glove train her. I got her used to the glove, and then to jesses, and we started doing education programs for schools in western Washington. We wound up in the newspapers, radio (believe it or not) and some TV. Miracle Pets even did a show about us. In the spring of 2000, I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. I had stage 3, which is not good (one major organ plus everywhere), so I wound up doing 8 months of chemo. Lost the hair - the whole bit. I missed a lot of work. When I felt good enough, I would go to Sarvey and take Freedom out for walks. Freedom would also come to me in my dreams and help me fight the cancer. This happened time and time again.

Fast forward to November 2000, the day after Thanksgiving, I went in for my last checkup. I was told that if the cancer was not all gone after 8 rounds of chemo, then my last option was a stem cell transplant. Anyway, they did the tests; and I had to come back Monday for the results. I went in Monday, and I was told that all the cancer was gone. So the first thing I did was get up to Sarvey and take the big girl out for a walk. It was misty and cold. I went to her flight and jessed her up, and we went out front to the top of the hill. I hadn't said a word to Freedom, but somehow she knew. She looked at me and wrapped both her wings around me to where I could feel them pressing in on my back (I was engulfed in eagle wings), and she touched my nose with her beak and stared into my eyes, and we just stood there like that for I don't know how long . That was a magic moment. We have been soul mates ever since she came in. This is a very special bird.

On a side note: I have had people who were sick come up to us when we are out, and Freedom has some kind of hold on them. I once had a guy who was terminal come up to us and I let him hold her. His knees just about buckled and he swore he could feel her power course through his body. I have so many stories like that. I never forget the honor I have of being so close to such a magnificent spirit as Freedom."



Six bald eagle visitors in tree near Gervais Lake, Little Canada.
Photo courtesy of Steve Simmons

We are deep into April now and spring is nowhere in sight. The few signs of spring I glimpsed the week before are coated with yet another layer of winter. I drive down Highway 36, wondering if Keller Lake will ever thaw. As I glance up at that cottonwood tree, I see two eagles, each perched solidly upon their own branch, staring out into the middle of the lake.

I take a quick right off the freeway, and head south on Highway 61.

Somewhere down that highway, past all this urban winter sprawl, on the Mississippi River is a free boat ride I’ve been offered. Maybe my spring fever will finally break. Rusty reports there are 21 eagle nests waiting for me on his beat.

Look closely!  Hundreds of eagles roost near Red Wing steam plant.  January 22, 2013. 
Photo courtesy of Rusty Mathiasmeier.

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*DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichlorethane) is an insecticide that was often used in agricultural settings prior to being banned. It was found to have negative effects on human health and wildlife, particularly birds.

**PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) were often used as a coolant/insulator for transformers and capacitors. They are also a byproduct of coal tar used to seal driveways. It has been recognized that they are toxic, carcinogenic, and build up in the environment. Many uses have been banned.

***PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) was a key ingredient in Scotchgard and other stain repellents. It was found to be accumulating in wildlife and humans at levels that were considered concerning.

**** PFCs (perfluorinated compound) are often used to make materials resistant to water, and have been found to be a persistent organic pollutant.

The Heat is On For Triclosan

One of the thirteen indicators included in the State of the River report making headlines these days is the triclosan issue (StateoftheRiver.com). Trevor Russell from the Friends of the Mississippi and Lark Weller of the National Park Service who helped spearhead the collection of data and analysis for this report, highlighted these indicators about the health and condition of the Mississippi River at Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District’s Annual Recognition Dinner at the end of January.


What is Triclosan?

Triclosan is an antimicrobial product created for use in health care facilities. The use of this substance has broadened and has more recently become a common ingredient in many household products including soaps, deodorant, toothpaste, fabrics, cosmetics and toys. 

What seems to be the problem?

We wash our hands with triclosan-based antibacterial soap, the water goes down the drain, and then to a wastewater treatment facility where it is cleaned before being discharged to the Mississippi River. It’s fine then, right? Not so fast. Triclosan does get broken down as it moves through the wastewater treatment system when it is exposed to chlorine, chemicals and sunlight, but this can cause some of it to become a different family toxic compounds (including carcinogens) called ‘dioxins’ that pose potential threats. Our wastewater treatment facilities are not set up to remove triclosan or its derivatives from the water, meaning it flushes through to the river.  Once there, these chemicals build up, causing potential problems with the animals reliant on the river and downstream waters.

But triclosan is not just going down the drain.  These chemicals, used widely in our households, are building up in us as well. The State of the River report summarizes several statistics of potential human and river environment effects, including a finding that triclosan is present in 75% of Americans over the age of five.*   

According to Bill Arnold, a civil engineering professor in the University of Minnesota’s College of Science and Engineering who helped author the report: "It’s important for people to know that what they use in their house every day can have an impact in the environment far beyond their home. Consumers need to know that they may be using products with triclosan. People should read product labels to understand what they are buying."


In the news

Triclosan is making local and national news as scientists, public health workers, lawmakers, and consumers try to make the best decisions with evidence from current research.

The Pioneer Press posted an article in January showing that the University of Minnesota is working hard to get more details on triclosan. The study looking at toxic buildup of triclosan and its derivatives in local lakes and rivers can be found at http://www.twincities.com/ci_22422574/university-minnesota-study-finds-increase-household-soap-ingredient.

 Just this past week, the Star Tribune posted an article showing that Minnesotans are doing more than taking notice. As this article points out, starting in June 2013 Minnesota state agencies have been ordered to stop buying products that contain triclosan. A bill banning triclosan’s use outside of medical settings is expected to be introduced and the Legislature will conduct a hearing on the pros and cons of the chemical. More at http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/195184071.html?page=all&prepage=1&c=y&refer=y

Take home message 

So what are we supposed to do in this (thankfully nearly over) cold and flu season without our trusty antibacterial ingredient?   First off, consider that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration states that there are no advantages to using antibacterial soap over regular old soap and water (link). Secondly, read up on the sites listed above and go ahead and “Google it.” Take ownership of the issue by considering the evidence you find from reliable sources.  Use that information to make informed decisions about your purchases and your current household stock of items containing triclosan. And finally, follow local papers for more current updates on the legislative hearing. It should be a dynamic debate worthy of paying close attention.

* For more information on this and other statements, see StateoftheRiver.com.