Conservation Efforts

By Caroline van Schaik, Driftless Region coordinator

Winona Farmers Market events

Water in Winona Saturday, July 31

Mayflies, scuds, and worms will be part of a squirming learning station on Saturday, July 31, 2021 at the Winona Farmers Market (WFM) starting at 7:30 a.m. Members of the Will Dilg chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA) will have these and other indicators of the state of our streams until noon.

Shoppers of all ages will be able to use hand-held lenses to look closely at species of macro invertebrates that illustrate a spectrum of water quality found in regional streams. The market is located next to the Mississippi River at Levee Park, Main and Second streets, Winona, MN. The WFM honors National Farmers Markets Appreciation Week by shedding light on this oldest of partnerships between good food and good water.


Volunteers from Save Our Streams (SOS ) teams will join chapter members to help visitors learn how to use a secchi tube, why water temperature is important, and what tomatoes and trout have in common. These volunteers live in Driftless region watersheds that drain to the Mississippi, and monitor local stream sites through the national SOS program. Stream teams are part of the IWLA’s Upper Mississippi River Initiative.

A second water event in September is in the mill, to take place aboard and near the Cal Fremling Education boat docked at the Winona Levee.

SOS stream teams join forces Saturday, July 31 with the Winona Farmers Market to create what we hope are some ‘aha!’ moments about bugs and life, sludge and trout, food and water, river and wells. Buckets of live macro invertebrates will be the stars, volunteers hope! Poster by Monica DeGrazia, WFM manager.


 

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