![Lake Pepin is filling up with dirt, and unless something changes, within decades the top third of that breathtaking sweep of the Mississippi River will become a fetid marsh. The state is about to release a long-awaited report that will, for the first time, provide a detailed analysis of what Minnesotans must do to slow the disappearance of the lake and return the Mississippi to the clear, fish-filled river it once was. (IN THIS PHOTO) ] Drain tiles that lead from farm fields into ditches and the](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/RW26HGBGOE4XQT4IIJ2AFWNRA4.jpg?&w=1080)
A recent letter on water pollution missed the point in a couple of ways ("Don't single out farming as culprit," Jan. 24).
First, an enormous amount of research has gone into determining the sources of sediment and nutrient loading to the Mississippi River at Lake Pepin.
While those pollutants come from lots of sources in small amounts, the vast majority does come from agricultural practices in the Minnesota River watershed.
That's fact. On the other hand, the people pointing fingers at farmers also miss the point. As a society, we all asked the agricultural community to produce more.
We didn't much care how. A healthy agricultural economy is important to all Minnesotans.
We can't clean up the river on the backs of the farmers who make up only 2 percent of our population. We all contributed to this great threat to America's greatest river, and we all share responsibility for solving the problem.
STEVE JOHNSON, STILLWATER
