A big CRWD meeting

Published 10:43 am Monday, July 18, 2011

Daily Herald editorial

The Cedar River Watershed District’s meeting this week, at which the district will hold a hearing on its proposed rules for the watershed, may sound about as interesting as looking at dirt. But, like dirt, there’s a lot beneath the surface, and the watershed district’s rules hearing is in fact a big deal.

The district has an important mission — regulate activities that affect flooding and water quality in the Cedar River’s watershed. These are a big deal for the Austin area, in particular, because the city has suffered greatly from the river’s tendency to flood, and because what ought to be a beautiful, natural asset is currently more akin to a muddy mess. The watershed district may be able to correct both, at least to some extent.

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That being said, there can be no doubt that the district’s rules may also have an effect on how business, farming and recreational activities are conducted within the watershed – and that should also be of interest to every Austin area resident.

The meeting, 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Hormel Nature Center, will be worth attending. Anyone who wants comment on the proposed rules must also provide a written copy of their comments for the record.