Remember: our rules allow pointed disagreement, but require respectful discussion.
--
I would like to clarify my position on the Highway 55 reroute and how it
relates to my status as a professional geologist since my name was brought
up in a previous post. I do not think that Pam Blixt misrepresented my
testimony, but am concerned that it could be misinterpreted as written. I
am proud that the MCWD acted upon my testimony and conducted additional
studies, something which no political or state or federal body was willing
to do - which is really the point of Ken's post. The study verified many of
the concerns brought up and I hope raised the standard for future
environmental studies in Minnesota.
Ken Bradley Wrote: �Although several hydro-geologists testified to the
projects eventual damage on the spring, expert testimony was ignored by
politicians and MN DOT."
Pam Replied: In my many public hearings on this topic, I only heard from
Craig Larson, who did not independently investigate or offer a professional
judgment with his license on the line. He did offer an opinion, as did many
others.
My Response: I did state that, as a professional geologist working in the
field of groundwater, the groundwater assessment for highway 55 did not meet
a reasonable technical standard for a project of this magnitude in an
environmentally sensitive area. I also made this argument to state and
local politicians and before the Hennepin County Court. In reference to my
license, I said that I could not offer a specific opinion as to the
groundwater impacts to the creek or spring because of the lack of resources
available to me as a concerned citizen. (The study later conducted by Kelton
Barr through the MCWD required monitoring wells, a geophysical survey and a
dye trace study, which would require tens of thousands of dollars to do
appropriately.) To make a professional opinion without an appropriate
scientific basis would have been a violation of my license.
Please note that Greg Brick, who is one of the foremost geologists on
springs in the Twin Cities, also expressed concerns about Coldwater Spring
to other political bodies, but I do not recall him testifying before the
MCWD.
Craig Larson
Longfellow neighborhood
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