Gulf Of Mexico

       In several of the last posts mention has been made of wetland restoration. One way I like to think about those projects is "doing my bit for the Gulf Of Mexico." Nitrogen fertilizer applied to crops leaches away via rainwater run off . Water from my land is carried by a creek to the Big Sioux River, the BSR empties in to the Missouri River at Sioux City, IA. The Missouri River reaches the Mississippi River at St. Louis, MO. From there it flows to the Gulf which now has a huge dead zone, much of which is caused by farm runoff.  Retaining water on my land captures nitrogen so it doesn't reach the watershed. 

    Only once has a neighbor given approval of the conservation practices I've instituted. He was immediately downstream from the property where the dam was just now restored. He recognized the value of capturing water on the land. The native grasses are also a part of that water capture.

Takk for alt,

Al

         Grass land with a pond created by a dam in the distance.