[Winona Online Democracy] Hi, I'm Janel Dean. I'm interested in Soil and Water conservation issues and am running for Soil and Water Conservation Distric Supervisor in the upcoming election. I'd like to let you know about a Citizens Environmental Forum that will take place next Wedensday, November 8, 5:30-8:30 pm. At Rochester Community and Technical College. (A Winona carpool group may be an option and driving directions are provided at bottom of message). A buffet meal will be provided. Learn more about land use strategies for protecting southeastern Minnesota's water quality and give input to help shape an inter-agency plan for water quality in southeastern Minnesota. This is a draft plan that is open for comments. The group is looking for local folks to provide input. A previous Citizens Forum, on February 7, 2000 focused on selecting environmental goals for southeastern Minnesota, along with broad land-use and resource management strategies to achieve them. Since then, the inter-agency group, Basin Alliance for the Lower Mississippi in Minnesota (BALMM) has developed those strategies in considerable detail. The public is invited to review and comment on these key strategies to provide further direction to BALMM before the Basin Plan is finalized. 5:30 - 7:00 pm The public will have the opportunity to review the draft strategies informally. Local, state, and federal government workers who helped to develop the strategies will be on hand to answer questions. >From 7:00 - 8:30 pm: A multiple choice questionnaire using electronic keypad technology will be used to evaluate the group's response to sections of the Basin plan. Immediate summaries of the group's response will be given after each question is asked. There will also be time for discussion. A review of the following 10 land-use strategies will be provided (aprox. 5 min. for each strategy) Land-Use Strategies A. Perennial Vegetation: Maintain/increase acreage B. Wetland Protection and Restoration C. Soil Conservation on Row-Crop Land D. Urban and Rural-Residential land Management E. Nutrient and Pesticide Management F. Animal Feedlot Management G. Mining Activities Management Geographic Management Strategies A: Watershed Management B: Aquifer Protection C: Floodplain Management Discussion of specific implementation questions, such as 2-3 of following. * Finding common ground between flood-damage reduction and water quality improvement * How to enhance beef and dairy grazing in SE Minnesota to support perennial vegetation on land * How to implement a balanced point/nonpoing phosphorus reduction strategy in key watersheds * How to proceed with implementation of feedlot rules to benefit water quality while keeping compliance costs low. Space is limited to 50 citizen participants. please confirm your intent to participate by this Thursday by calling Melanie Miland, MPCA, Rochester office, at (507) 285-7151 or at (800) 657-3864 (between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm) or via email at: [EMAIL PROTECTED] WHERE: Rochester Community College, University Center, Coffman Center, rooms 206 & 208 (Free parking in W. lot) WINONA CARPOOL INFO: Contact Janel Dean (507) 689-4651 or [EMAIL PROTECTED] How to get there: >From 90 go East Hwy 14 to 30th Ave turn north on 30th Ave. SE, (This turn is well marked) The Rochester Community and Technical College is on Left at 851 30th Ave. SE. Park in West Parking Lot. Child Care Center Coffman Center Endicott Hall W. Parking Lot 206/208 Singley Hall Rockenbach Gym ---------------- This message was posted to the Winona Online Democracy Project. Please visit http://onlinedemocracy.winona.org to subscribe or unsubscribe. Please sign all messages posted to this list with your actual name. Posting of commercial solicitations is not allowed on this list. Report problems to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
