From Mountains to Rolling Hills

Let me preface that I have never been to the Midwest, so my 6 a.m. departure into MSP could not come soon enough. When I did arrive, we had to wait for another student, so in the meantime, Arthur Kneeland and I explored MSP. We stopped at an Asian Noodle Market and scoured the area for a restaurant that was open on a Sunday morning. You would be surprised at the lack of a selection. We did end up at a great, authentic Mexican restaurant. Once everyone was collected from the airport, we took a very scenic drive into the town of Menomonie. The rolling hills remind me of home; however, there is a stark difference between Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, there are no mountains, and every inch of the hills is occupied by farmland.

While exploring the town, I got to talk to some very invested community members. I learned that the LAKES REU means quite a lot to them. Lake Menomin (actually a reservoir) is an excellent area for recreation, particularly in the winter, but in the summer, it goes untouched because it is a significant health hazard. A few conversations later, I learned of the issues associated with Lake Menomin and the massive amounts of phosphorous polluting the waters. I listened to a lecture from Dr. Nicole Hayes on nutrient pollution from runoff in the lake feeding cyanobacteria. The cyanobacteria form into Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) that release dangerous toxins into the water. The reservoir turns green in the summer, and the exact timing is due to the water flow. The process of cyanobacteria blooms takes four consecutive days of 90-degree weather after a rainstorm to concoct the perfect lake brew. I have yet to see the reservoir in the noxious; I am just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

There were multiple activities planned for our first week in Menomonie. We visited Dan Prestebak’s sustainable farm and the Chippewa Valley Bean farm. I learned about the farming practices that should be adopted in the area to reduce nutrient pollution. There are significant barriers to sustainability, most being behavioral and mental blocks; years of farming tradition and habits are hard to break. It is mainly tricky because this is a farmer’s entire livelihood; change is difficult, especially when there is evidence of success with and without modification. One of the cohort’s jobs this summer is to see if there are ways to break some barriers and help struggling farmers make the transition easier by providing information and forming a relationship with the local farmers.

My project, although not focusing solely on the farmers, is focused on trying to remediate the damage done to Lake Menomin. The lake has extremely nutrient-rich soils entering the system that, if studied, could prove to be the cause and solution to an issue. The lake has been dredged on different occasions, and the soils go to landfills. This is a waste of nutrients, so I will focus on whether harvestable crops can be grown in and outside the lake. If the study works, it could remediate the lake into a functional recreation
area, allowing nutrient-rich soil to be returned to the farmers’ lands.

I am eager to be a part of such a strong cohort working towards the same goal from different perspectives. The diverse backgrounds of everyone create a fantastic dynamic based on educating each other. The collaboration between the various disciplines will help us reach our goal to better the environment and lives of those residing there.

I will miss the mountains, but I cannot wait to see what experiences these hills will bring.