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08 March 2009 @ 09:12 pm
Last week we had a spring thaw day –  
About 6 inches of snow melted in one day. The waterways were rushing with snow melt run-off. The up water field is in a corn/soy rotation and always bare over the winter. The erosion off the neighbor's land is usually pretty serious in the spring melt. I took a sample of water where it enters the farm – then it crosses GOE through a 2500 foot long grassed waterway. I took another sample at the exit end of the farm.

The difference in color was very visible with the eye. How wonderful that that much filtering can happen in only 2500 feet grass. hows that for an ecosystem service. Imagine if everyone covered his or her waterways! It would be useful to have nitrate samples and particulate tests from the two ends.

This glass of water is taken from the water entering Gardens of Eagan from the up water field.
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This glass of water is taken after the spring melt water has moved across GOE over 2500 feet of grassed waterway.
On the down water side. Still has soil particles in it but it looks noticeably less dark then when it entered  the property.

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How wonderful! that in only 2500 feet of grass that much filtering happens. Now if we can only teach other farmers to do the same.