None The Nature Conservancy in Minnesota Press Releases Search All Press Releases Chris Anderson (612) 331-0747 (612) 845-2744 (mobile) canderson@tnc.org

The City of Crookston and The Nature Conservancy announce new wells

The City of Crookston has established two new wells at Glacial Ridge as a way of securing and protecting the City's water supply.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.—February 10, 2004—Three and a half years ago The Nature Conservancy purchased nearly 25,000 acres of farmland including 5,000 acres of native prairie in northwestern Minnesota about 15 miles east of Crookston.  The ultimate goal was to bring nature back to this battered landscape, rebuilding the prairie and restoring the wetlands and surrounding grasslands that provide critical habitat for waterfowl and many other species of wildlife.

The Glacial Ridge Project, as it is known, has been an extraordinary example of what it takes to restore and conserve our natural resources.  "To win the race against habitat destruction and preserve our quality of life, conservation efforts must be effective on a larger scale," said Ron Nargang, Minnesota state director for The Nature Conservancy.  "Good science, collaboration and seeking common ground with public and private organizations and individuals are the strategies we employ," added Nargang.

At Glacial Ridge, The Nature Conservancy has partnered with more than twenty public and private organizations and has come up with creative strategies to both fund and implement this huge task of restoration.

One critical partner in this effort is the City of Crookston.  The City has long needed to secure and supplement the current water supply.  The City has relied on a well field that has had poor drought resistance, contamination and maintenance issues, and is in need of recovery.  "The economics of a stretched water supply is not good," said Donald Osborne, Mayor of Crookston.   "A new and valued industrial water user would have pushed the Crookston water system to its limits."

That's not the case any more.  Starting in early 2004, Crookston will be able to pump water from two new wells on the Glacial Ridge property.  The existing well field will be used in conjunction with these new assets to allow the existing wells to recharge, leading to a more secure water supply and better opportunity for economic growth in Crookston.  Maintenance and security concerns also improve greatly with the ability to utilize two separate water sources.

As grasslands become reestablished on Glacial Ridge, there are additional benefits to the City in wellhead protection efforts. The Nature Conservancy's land use practices along with prairie and wetland restoration, safeguard the City's new water supply from contamination while helping recharge the aquifer. 

Since the early 80s, the City had been working to solve the well field issue but continually hit roadblocks.  When Glacial Ridge was established, the City of Crookston was able to move ahead in securing water supply for many years to come, thanks to the Conservancy's commitment to community partnerships.

In addition to the source water benefits, the City of Crookston also looks forward to the additional commercial traffic as a result of being The Nature Conservancy's neighbor.  The Glacial Ridge Project is expected to boost tourism in the area as a result of the fantastic hunting, birding and wildlife viewing opportunities this project has and will produce.

The City of Crookston wishes to thank The Nature Conservancy for it's partnership in this project, and it's continued commitment to "saving the last great places on earth".