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Extreme weather concerns bring together partners

MPCA, MDA, BWSR host fourth annual event focused on water quality

Minnesota’s farmers, producers, local community organizations, watershed staff, and others working to improve water quality are encouraged to attend the fourth annual Ag-Urban Partnership Forum on March 1, 2023. Building upon successes from previous events, this year’s convening will focus on ways to prepare for extreme weather caused by climate change, and ways that agricultural and urban partners are working together to improve water quality around Minnesota.

The event is hosted by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), Department of Agriculture (MDA), and the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR). It is free to attend, but pre-registration is required: pca.state.mn.us/ag-urban.

Fourth annual Ag-Urban Partnership Forum

Wednesday, March 1, 2023, 9 a.m.- noon

College of St. Benedict's Gorecki Center, 37 S. College Ave., St. Joseph, Minn.

Agenda highlights

Keynote: “Coordination and collaboration for effective climate risk management in Minnesota.” Presented by Heidi Roop, Ph.D., director, University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership. Roop will share the observed and projected impacts of climate change in Minnesota and how leveraging partnerships and collaborating to respond to a range of climate risks is challenging Minnesota communities, ecosystems and economy.

Successful partnerships perspectives:

• Municipal weatherproofing. The City of Albany and Stearns County Soil & Water Conservation District will present about their water-based infiltration and wetland restoration project that is helping to manage heavy rain events and prevent flooding.

• Building resiliency through soil health. Wilkin County Soil & Water Conservation District is undergoing an extensive soil health study related tillage treatments and adapting to weather changes. Farmer Vance Johnson will share what he’s learned two years into the five-year project, and how soils, water and economics are all being monitored through crop rotations.

• Water communities tackling climate change. Hear how Minnesota watersheds are using their local water management plans to build resiliency to climate change, and their ideas for working with local partners.

The state agencies hosted the first-ever Ag-Urban Partnership Forum in 2019, which focused solely on the protection and improvement strategies for the Minnesota River. The event sparked new partnerships and demonstrated a strong desire for additional platforms to collaborate on water protection issues around the state. Subsequent events were held virtually and garnered statewide attendance. This is the first event to return to an in-person format.

Event sponsoring partners

This forum is organized by BWSR, MDA, MPCA , the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program, and through cooperation with the following partners: Water Resources Center at Minnesota State University, Mankato, Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation, Minnesota Beef Council, Minnesota Corn Growers Association, Minnesota Pork Board, Minnesota Farmers Union, Minnesota Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts, Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts, Capitol Regional Watershed District, West Polk Soil & Water Conservation Districts, City of Rochester, City of Renville, and the City of Mankato.

 

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