Skip to main content

County wells to be marked on official map

By
Mavis Fodness

In a joint effort with the Minnesota Geological Survey (MGS), Rock County will soon know where all its residential wells are located and what measures should be taken to protect the water quality of those wells.
Rock County entered into an agreement with the University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering to complete a county geological atlas.
Start of the project depends on state funding, however, and is expected to take several years to fully complete.
“The County Geological Atlas Program has been continuously funded for over 30 years, and we have no reason to expect a disruption,” wrote MGS assistant director Dale Setterholm in an Oct. 9 letter to Rock County Commissioners.
“We are generally able to deliver our products in three to four years from the date of initiation.”
Benefits are:
•more refined mapping of geological materials and surficial aquifers,
•better understanding of where vulnerable areas of the county’s shallow aquifers are located,
•knowledge of where to focus education and incentive efforts with landowners and farmers, and
•better idea of where wells can be located.
Under the agreement, Rock County supports the project through in-kind services.
 
Water technician costs shared with Pipestone
Several local government entities will share a water resources technician with the Pipestone County Soil and Water Conservation (SWCD) Service.
Rock County along with government entities in the five counties surrounding Pipestone County will share in the position’s salary (estimated at $50,000 to $60,000) and in turn will receive not less than 200 hours toward water quality-related work.
“It’s (the position) a conglomerate of various funds,” said Kyle Krier with Pipestone County SWCD. “We are in the process of getting a working agreement with everyone.”
The largest contributor is $20,000 from the Minnesota Department of Health.
The position focuses on the highly vulnerable wellhead protection areas within Rock County.
The technician will be housed in Pipestone.

You must log in to continue reading. Log in or subscribe today.