Why is watershed management important in southeastern Minnesota?
Gates: It’s important all over the state, but especially in places like southeastern Minnesota, where large percentages of the region are privately owned. Obviously, the DNR and other agencies can’t go around telling people what to do. That just doesn’t work. Watershed planning is a process for getting people to sit down and talk about where they live. We’ve got to start thinking long-term–thinking in terms of generations–if we want to protect our high-quality resources and our high quality of life. As communities, we’ve got to take a look at where we are and decide if we’re satisfied with where we’re going. Different views and interests will come to the table, and people who live on the land have a lot of information to share. Collectively, we can pool our resources and get some work done. At least that’s the theory. F&WT: But wasn’t the DNR doing this to some extent before? Gates: Sure. It’s been going on since the 1930’s with the advent of the Soil Conservation Service and the Civ
