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.

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.