Paul Austin

Paul Austin is the director of Conservation Minnesota, a statewide non-profit. In that role, he gets to hear and share Minnesotan’s stories about our lakes, lands and way of life. Paul’s past lives include election as a small town mayor, serving at the US Agency for International Development, and managing a small marketing firm. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife, two small children and one very large dog.

resize text
subscribe via RSS

10,000 Lakes & 20,000 Girl Scouts

Posted by: Paul Austin Updated: October 11, 2012 - 4:36 PM

Tweet
share

email
Email share

your name

your email

recipients email

+ add a comment add a comment

Every year right around now, falling leaves and the final lawn mowing of the year send a tidal wave of organic materials into the storm sewer system. While it may seem as natural as the changing of the seasons, it is a growing threat for our lakes and rivers.

As they reach the watershed, the leaves and grass clippings break down, releasing the chemical remnants of the fertilizers and herbicides into the watershed. Phosphorous from yard waste can cause increased algae growth that, in turn, reduces the oxygen level in the water. With less oxygen, native plants and animals are negatively impacted, as are recreational uses for the water.

Working with friends at the Freshwater Society, the Girl Scouts have decided to attack the issue head on by making it the focus of their Centennial Day of Service. On this coming Saturday, nearly 20,000 Girl Scouts, leaders, and community volunteers are already registered to fan out across the state and work on this important issue.

The day will include not only collection of leaves and grass clippings that otherwise would have ended up in the storm sewer, but also some groups will be marking storm sewers to remind people to prevent organic materials from being dumped there. And there will be public education going on in communities sharing the message about the importance of keeping potentially harmful waste out of the water.

Volunteers are still needed, and you need not be a current or former Girl Scout to join the cause. For more information on the project, or to see how you can help, check out the event’s website at: http://www.gsrv100.org/centennial_day_of_service/

New report provides mixed bag of news on the Mississippi River

Posted by: Paul Austin Updated: October 10, 2012 - 12:11 PM

Tweet
share

email
Email share

your name

your email

recipients email

+ add a comment add a comment

Forty years after the passage of the federal Clean Water Act, a report recently issued by the Friends of the Mississippi and the National Park Service found that while the overall status of the Mississippi River is improving in some ways, there remain some serious reasons for concern.

Created with the assistance of thirty scientific and technical advisors, the goal of the report is to create a benchmark from which to base future studies. While this is the first comprehensive look of its kind at the river, the researchers were able to identify a couple of sources for optimism, as well as some areas of concern.

Specifically they cited positive trends in bald eagle, mussel and fish populations along the river as examples of improving river health. But conversely, the increase of sediments, phosphorus and bacteria in some sections could jeopardize the aquatic habitat, as well as the recreational usability of the river.

The report also found that increased flow rates are destabilizing the watershed and sending increased volumes of pollution into the river. Nitrate concentrations are increasing rapidly and the threat of Asian Carp reaching the upper reaches of the river could have dramatic impacts on the overall usability of the river.

In addition to the report itself, the organizations also issued companion guides to build on the findings of the report.

The stewardship guide provides suggestions for individuals on how they can work within their communities to improve the health of the river. The Policy Guide makes recommendations to elected officials on the local, state and federal level on what they can be doing to help protect the river.

The full state of the river report, as well as the policy and stewardship guides are available at www.stateoftheriver.com.

Plants and Animals Headed North

Posted by: Paul Austin Updated: September 25, 2012 - 1:56 PM

Tweet
share

email
Email share

your name

your email

recipients email

+ add a comment add a comment

In this election year, there is lots of talk about immigration. But, did you know that Minnesota’s trees AND birds are currently jumping the border and heading to Canada at an alarming rate? I don’t mean on the back of lumber trucks and in the possession of Canuck hunters. I mean physically leaving Minnesota for a new life in Canada.

The Minnesota DNR reports that many northern tree species in the east and central Untied States are migrating north at a rate of six miles a year. And since 1964, approximately 84 percent of resident forest birds have shifted north by an average of 75 miles.

And from Iowa, we are being invaded by a whole new collection of crops.

US Department of Agriculture Hardiness Zone map, which sets boundaries for growing regions based on temperature extremes, released their first updated map in over a decade earlier this year. For the first time in history, part of southern Minnesota was included in zone five. This trend carries nationwide, where nearly half of all zones are at least one half of a zone warmer than they were on the previous map.

If you are at all curious about reasons why these things may be taking place, meteorologist Paul Douglas will be moderating a conversation on Climate Change on Thursday night at Champlin Park High School. Joining him will be Dr. Lee Freelich who directs the University of Minnesota Center for Forest Ecology, and Dr. John Abraham, who is an Associate Professor of Engineering at St. Thomas.

Each will give a presentation on the topic, and then Douglas will moderate a question and answer session with the audience. The event, which is co-sponsored by Conservation Minnesota and a veritable who’s who of other conservation and environmental group runs from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

The Great Wall of Plastic

Posted by: Paul Austin Updated: August 28, 2012 - 2:41 PM

Tweet
share

email
Email share

your name

your email

recipients email

+ add a comment add a comment

Having just visited the Minnesota State Fair with my 2 and 5 year olds. I know it can be a greasy blur of deep fried items on sticks, rides for the kids and visits to animal barns. But between my helpings of chocolate covered bacon, I found a lesser known corner of the Great Minnesota Get Together that deserves your attention.

In the Eco Experience building which rests at the base of a giant wind turbine blade in the northwest corner of the fairgrounds, there is a new exhibit that presents a stark image of how we, as Minnesotans, do at recycling. A giant curved wall of plastic drink bottles has been created. It stretches from the floor up to the rafters and spans about thirty feet. A few feet off the ground, there is a neon light illuminating through the bottles. The wall represents the number of plastic bottles Minnesotans use every 5 minutes. The light divides the wall between the bottles we recycle, and the ones we don’t.

Minnesotans use a total of 1.5 billion plastic bottles each year. That’s right….Billion with a B. Ask the average Minnesotan how we do as recyclers, and the standard guess is that we recycle all the bottles above the line in the wall, which would be about 75 percent.

But the point of the exhibit is to draw attention to the fact that in reality, we recycle only the bottles under the line, or, less than 25 percent annually. Even at this pitiful rate, recycling is a major source of jobs in Minnesota. Imagine how many jobs we could create if we doubled or tripled our recycling rate.

In Iowa, the recycling rate is approximately 90 percent. In Michigan, it is 95 percent. This means that combined those two states sent fewer bottles to the landfill then we did.

How did those states get their recycling rates to a level where they so clearly dwarf ours? It is simple really. Both states have a recycling refund for beverage containers. The consumer pays a small deposit when they buy the bottle, which they get back when they recycle it.

It is not a novel concept, nor is it new. But it is proving to be effective in those states to encourage recycling and decrease the pure tonnage of waste heading to landfills. For the past few years, the Minnesota Legislature has been kicking around the idea of enacting a similar bottle deposit in this state. But they have failed to act on this simple and proven strategy.

I encourage you to go see the wall of bottles. It will crystalize the problem we have, and it will make it easier for you to talk to your elected officials about the changes that need to happen if we are going to beat our wasteful ways.

Easier Process for Legacy Grants

Posted by: Paul Austin Updated: August 15, 2012 - 9:29 AM

Tweet
share

email
Email share

your name

your email

recipients email

+ add a comment add a comment

The DNR has announced the latest round of Conservation Partners Legacy grants. This grant program is designed to help local conservation groups around the state fund small to medium size projects that restore, enhance or protect Minnesota’s prairies, forests and wetlands. It’s a great way to make sure the Legacy Amendment can deliver conservation benefits to all areas of the state.

Here are a few highlights from the DNR for those who may be interested in applying:

“In response to requests for an easier application process and quicker review for routine habitat projects, the program now also includes new Expedited Conservation Project grants,” said Ed Boggess, director of Department of Natural Resources Fish and Wildlife Division. “Proposals for these grants, which are for smaller and more standardized types of projects, will be accepted throughout the year and will provide project dollars more quickly.”

Local, state and national non-profit organizations and governmental entities that want to complete conservation work that benefits habitat for fish, game and wildlife on public or permanently protected lands are eligible for funds. Three levels of project funding from the $4.6 million program are available this year:

Projects requesting $25,001 - $400,000 in grant funds use the standard online application. Deadline for these requests is September 26, 2012.

• Projects requesting $5,000 - $25,000 in grant funds use a simplified online application. Deadline for these requests is September 26, 2012.

• Projects submitted as Expedited Conservation Projects (ECP) may request $5,000-$50,000 for commonly accepted restoration and enhancement activities . These requests will be accepted and awarded continuously through May 15, 2013.

• All projects, regardless of category or amount requested, require a 10 percent match.

The application system will open Wednesday, Aug. 15, and close Wednesday, Sept. 26. Expedited Conservation Projects grants will be accepted continuously until May 15, 2013. Information about this year’s grant requirements is available online, and the official Request for Proposals will be posted on or before Aug. 15 on the CPL website. See the respective grant cycle web pages for specific information.

The Poles are going Wild in Spicer

Posted by: Paul Austin Updated: August 9, 2012 - 8:56 AM

Tweet
share

email
Email share

your name

your email

recipients email

+ add a comment add a comment

Not everyone can look at a knotted, gnarled utility pole and see an artistic canvas, but that is exactly what the Spicer Beautification Committee did, and it has resulted in a new citywide art installation that is drawing visitors from near and far.

Over the past few weeks, a number of local artists provided sketches of how they proposed to decorate a pole were they given the chance, and from that pool, fourteen were selected by a panel of local art teachers to proceed with the project. Calling the display Poles Gone Wild, the designs range from scenic depictions of local life to more modernist images to possibly even a pole with some abstract nudity in it.

“One of them has nudes in it,” said Sandy Salisbury from the Beautification Committee, “but I haven’t figured it out yet.”

The inspiration for the new community art project came while several members of the beautification committee were on vacation in Florida. The City of Pine Island had artistically designed utility poles, and it got the members thinking.

Soon Xcel Energy had given the project its blessing, and funding was lined up from the city, the local commercial club, Valspar paint and from the SW MN Arts and Humanities Council which dedicated legacy dollars to help fund the project.

The poles currently occupy two general areas in town and are all within a mile of each other. And for those making their first visit to town, many local merchants have maps available to make it even easier to find the fourteen poles.

There is still one pole that would be suitable for painting that has yet to be designed.

“I guess if some famous artist came here, and asked, we’d let them paint it,” Salisbury said.

The poles are a prominent part of the upcoming Legacy Destination Weekend which is happening in and around Willmar on the weekend of August 17-19. The Legacy weekends are a co-production of Conservation Minnesota, The Minnesota Citizens For The Arts and Explore Minnesota to draw attention to all of the great work that is being done throughout the state with funds from the Legacy Amendment which voters passed in 2008.