Today’s column focuses on how we use water and need for water conservation. Learn how all living things are made up of water and how water is a universal solvent. Find out about the breeding colonies of American White Pelicans at Marsh Lake, who is presenting at the Water Conservation and River Protection Forum, what the Water Resource Center does and what there is do at Minneopa State Park.

Water: Water conservation
Most of the time we don’t think about water conservation until it becomes a dire need. Here in the Minnesota River Valley we seem to have an unlimited supply of water whether on the surface or in the ground. In reality this could be a potentially dangerous assumption, especially when it comes to the quality of our water. Water is a precious resource that needs to be protected and conserved.

There is only a finite or limited amount of water on the earth’s surface. Although water is considered a renewable resource, there is a lot of pressure when it comes to water usage whether for drinking, irrigation, industry or recreation.

How much water do you use in a day? Take note by writing a list of how you used water for just one day. Remember be wise when it comes to using water whether at home, work or at play. There is only so much to go around.

Did you know: The value of water
We can find water just about everywhere we look. All we have to do is examine the human body, with 70 percent of our body made up of water.

Did you know that our blood is actually 83 percent water? How about the food we eat? Tomatoes are 95 percent water, spinach 91 percent, apples 85 percent, potatoes 88 percent and even the meat we eat: hot dogs 56 percent and beef 61 percent water.

Think about how all living organisms need water in order to survive whether you are a tiny insect like a stonefly or a cottonwood tree growing along a river. As humans we can only survive for a few days without water while we can go a month or more without food.

Water science: Water as a solvent
In school, we were taught that water is made up of molecules containing two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen. We also learned that pure water has no taste, color or smell.

Did you remember that water is a solvent?

Water can dissolve many other substances. When we stir sugar into a drink or put salt in our soup, we are using water as a solvent. How about when we mix powered paints together to create a wide variety of colors?

Plants and animals benefit from water being a good solvent because it can dissolve nutrients and carry them along as vital food for a wide range of organisms.

Unfortunately, water as a solvent can also cause problems. Acid rain is what happens when moisture falls through the air and it dissolves atmospheric gases on the way to the ground. This has a negative affect on the landscape and waterbodies.

What can you do?: Conserving water
All of us can have an impact on the amount of water we use. Think about it as reducing, recycling, along with repairing and retrofitting. By using water wisely not only can you conserve water you will also save money and energy. Here are a number of ways to conserve water.

• Replace your toilet with a low-flush model that uses about 50 to 80 percent less water per flush or use displacement devices.
• Take a five-minute shower instead of a bath. You can also replace your shower head with a low-flow model.
• Don’t leave the water running if you are brushing your teeth or shaving or washing dishes. Instead of running the water to let it get cold, keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator.
• Water your lawn or garden in the morning or evening to minimize evaporation or waste.
• Fix leaks and replace old plumbing fixtures in your home.

For more tips, log on to www.dnr.state.mn.us/waters/watermgmt_section/appropriations/conservation.html.

The natural resource: Marsh Lake
Found in the Upper Minnesota River Watershed, Marsh Lake is a shallow 5,000-acre reservoir created in 1938 by the Works Progress Administration as part of a water conservation project.

Today, this reservoir is known as a favorite place for migrating ducks and as one of the largest breeding colonies of American white pelicans in Minnesota. The first breeding colony was discovered in 1968 on Hermit Island and has been the focus of scientific research including banding and collecting data on this large bird.

Today, Marsh Lake suffers from too much sediment and nutrients as the natural resource groups and organizations work to improve its water quality.

Community event: Water Conservation and River Protection
The Minnesota River Board is hosting a Water Conservation and River Protection luncheon and forum on July 27 at the Redwood Falls Community Center starting at 11 a.m. with lunch and four speakers who will present their perspective on water issues from a national, state and local level.

Speakers include Tim Palmer, an award-winning photographer and author of 19 books who will reflect on a lifetime spent working on conservation through a slide show based on his book "Rivers of America."

Other speakers include Val Little, director of the Water Conservation Alliance of Southern Arizona. She will relate her experiences of working on water management issues in the desert Southwest.

The cost is $20 per person. Advanced registration by calling (507) 389-5491 or e-mailing to karnell.johnson@mnsu.edu.

For other events in the Minnesota River Watershed, log on to http://mrbdc.mnsu.edu/calendar/index.html.

Organization profile: Water Resource Center
The Water Resource Center of Minnesota State University, Mankato, was created in 1987 to serve as a regional center for environmental research and information exchange.

The mission of the WRC is to gather, interpret and distribute data of environmental significance to help citizens enhance the quality of regional lakes, rivers, wetlands and groundwater.

This is accomplished through faculty and student applied research, educational programming, technical assistance and water resource planning. Since its beginning, the WRC has participated in more than 100 research, educational and planning projects involving partnerships with dozens of public and private organizations. These projects range from groundwater, lake assessment and TMDL studies to water quality workshops to communication of Minnesota River issues to development of watershed-based plans for surface water quality protection.

For more information, log on to http://cset.mnsu.edu/wrc/about/aboutus.html.

Recreational opportunity: Minneopa State Park
Established in 1905 as Minnesota’s third state park, Minneopa State Park can be found just off of U.S. Highway 169 near Mankato.

Minneopa (Minne – water, inne – falls, and nopa – two in Dakota) Falls has been attracting people for centuries and even had its own town site for a few years in the late 1800s. Minneopa Creek crashes downward into a deep gorge and has been an ideal picnic spot for people looking to escape the heat of summer.

Minneopa State Park is also home to the Seppmann windmill located in the northwest corner. Completed in 1864, the mill could grind 150 bushels of wheat into flour a day during favorable wind conditions.

Today, the park offers 61 drive-in campsites, a camper cabin for rent, picnic shelter and 4.5 miles of hiking trails. Don’t forget to check out the Works Progress Administration buildings at the waterfall site.

For more information, log on to www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/minneopa/index.html.