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Soil and water official outlines Goodhue County well‑inventory, nitrate concerns and stream restoration plans
Summary
A Goodhue County soil and water official told commissioners the office is mapping about 6,000 parcels to locate undocumented private wells (1,600 found so far), described a municipal nitrate problem measuring about 7 mg/L, and outlined voluntary conservation practices, watershed partnerships and a proposed Little Cannon River restoration that would rely on state permits and grants.
A county soil and water conservation official told the Goodhue County Board of Commissioners that a contracted inventory with the Minnesota Department of Health aims to identify undocumented private wells across the county and to notify landowners where no well records exist.
“There’s about 6,000 parcels to review,” the official said, and staff had located “1,600 new wells” so far from county records. The office will mail letters to parcels with no data and help residents who need assistance filling out the form.
The presentation also flagged a water‑quality concern in one town’s drinking supply. “Right now there’s about 7 milligrams per liter of nitrates in the drinking water,” the official said, noting the shallow municipal well has seen rising nitrate levels that staff largely attribute to manure in the wellhead area, intensive agriculture and porous soils. The official said targeted conservation practices — including no‑till planting,…
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