Gorman Lake
Gorman Lake is on the 2010 Impaired Waters list. Gorman Lake is part of the Cannon River watershed located in the southwest corner of Senate District 25. A constituent from the area contacted me a few weeks ago to express concerns about the lake and what can be done about it. I sat down with Beth Kallestad, executive director of the Cannon River Watershed Parnership to talk about Gorman Lake and other rivers, lakes, and streams in the area.
The Cannon River Watershed Partnership celebrates its 20th anniversary this month. It’s a great organization with dedicated workers and volunteers. The organization’s goal is to make the watershed that spans six counties from Dakota to Rice to Steel counties, “drinkable, fishable, and swimmable for everyone.” Gorman Lake experienced a manure spill in 2006 and the CRWP started monitoring the lake in 2007. The Minnesota Pollution Control agency and the DNR have also been studying the lake over the last several years, assessments being the first step, followed by a plan for implementation. Funding is always an issue. Clean Water Funds do not go directly to non-profits such as the CRWP. The organization must rely on government entities such as the Soil and Water Conservation district boards to apply for funds to be distributed at the local level. The CRWP works to bring together these and other agencies to use grant money to monitor waterways and implement best management practices.
Ultimately, we all need to take an interest in protecting and improving the water quality and natural systems of Minnesota’s lakes and rivers. Passing the Legacy Amendment in 2008 showed that Minnesotan’s do have an interest in preserving our most precious resource, our water. Gorman Lake is just one of those lakes. We should all be interested in its success or failure.
