Master water stewards: improving water quality and so can you.
That means that soon you may see in-ground stormwater infrastructure being installed by area residents that help filter and soak up the rain water from our summer storms that normally races down our driveways, sidewalks and roads.
The Cannon River Watershed, the city of Northfield and the Freshwater Society are working together to train these neighborhood experts and encourage them to plant native plants, rain gardens, and do shoreline stabilization work to reduce runoff from people’s home landscapes and improve water quality in our area.
So what’s the big deal with native plants?
Besides the fact that they are beautiful, designed by nature to live in this landscape, and are wonderful habitat for birds, butterflies and wildlife, they are a big help in preventing erosion and water pollution.
Many native plants, such as lead plant, big blue stem and blazing star have incredibly long root systems.
When used in rain gardens they filter and infiltrate the water before it can run off down the storm drains and prevent that water from carrying pollution to our lakes and rivers.
If all these things aren’t reason enough, you’ll save money by reducing the need for fertilizers and pesticides and replacement plant costs for annual flowers or plants.
For people with shore land property these plants will help anchor that banks in place allowing you to keep more of the land you paid lots of money to buy.
Cannon River Watershed Partnership is managing the master water stewards in our area and is looking for applicants for the 2017-18 year.