The landowners who operate the agricultural land within the City of Goodhue Drinking Water Supply Management Area have stepped up to help the community. Since 2023, over 1,300 acres of cropland surrounding Goodhue have been enrolled in Soil Health conservation practices. Practices such as cover crops, which capture leaching Nitrates through the soil column before they can reach our drinking water. More to read below and more great things to come from these folks doing their part.
Background: The City of Goodhue has been witness to increasing Nitrate levels in their municipal well supply over the past few decades. Elevated Nitrates in the drinking water surrounding Goodhue are becoming more and more common as landowners become aware of the issue. Nitrate levels over 10.0 mg/L can be harmful to humans which can cause methoglobinemia, which can cause certain health conditions and Blue Baby Syndrome. Ingesting excessive Nitrates can basically effect the way your blood can carry oxygen throughout your body. Currently, the City of Goodhue's Nitrate level is around 7 mg/L, which is still safe under the EPA guidelines. However, the quarterly samples collected by City staff has shown a trend that appears to be rising at a rate that warrants a proactive approach to the problem. In 2022, the City requested that the Goodhue County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) apply for State level funding to help landowners, who farm within the DWSMA (MAP), adopt conservation practices that help slow the leaching of Nitrogen to our drinking water supply. Luckily, the Goodhue SWCD received this funding in Jan of 2023 on behalf of the City. In March of 2023, the City of Goodhue, Goodhue SWCD, and many of the landowners in the DWSMA met at AgPartner's in Goodhue to discuss Nitrates and what options are available for landowners interested in helping out. Below are details about funding opportunities to offset landowner(s) cost of implementing some of these conservation practices, who to contact, and a map of the DWSMA indicating who is doing what to help with the Nitrate issue.
Click here for more info.... https://www.goodhueswcd.org/goodhue-dwsma
