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Celebrating Our Natural Resources

Water

Where Does Our Water Come From?

aquifer

Water comes to us through precipitation in the form of rain or snow. The water moves through our landscape in rivers, lakes, wetlands, and groundwater.

Aquifers can be small or large. Sometimes we find water just a few feet below the ground. Other times the water may be hundreds of feet deep. No one knows for sure how much water is in our aquifers. It’s affected by how much rain we get and how much water we pump from wells. Today 75% of Minnesota’s drinking water and nearly 90% of the water used in crop irrigation is pumped from groundwater aquifers.

How do you like taking a shower in the same water molecules the dinosaurs waded in?

It’s true! The water we use today is the same water that has been recycled for millions of years since the earth was formed. We will never have any MORE water. That’s why we need to keep our water clean. We want the water we drink and use to taste good, smell good, and look good. We want it to be safe for all human uses and for aquatic creatures, too.

Cool Water Facts

  • 97.2% of Earth’s water is salt water. Just 2.8% is fresh water and available for human and animal needs.
  • The longest river in the U.S. is the Missouri River. At about 2,340 miles in length, it is slightly longer than the Mississippi River (2,320 miles). The two combine to form the longest river system in North America. There are hundreds of farmers and agricultural activities along these rivers.
  • Water from 31 states drains into the Mississippi River.
  • The federal Clean Water Act requires states to set water quality standards. These rules limit how much pollution can be in lakes, rivers, streams, or groundwater before the water becomes unsafe for drinking, fishing, swimming, and more.
  • Water covers about 70% of the earth’s surface.
  • The earth recycles the same water over and over. This process is the water cycle, or hydrologic cycle. Water changes forms—from solid to liquid to gas—over and over again.
  • The earth recycles one trillion tons of water every day. A gallon of water weighs 8 pounds. How many gallons are in just one ton (2,000 lbs)?

Soil

Why is Soil Important?

Soil holds roots in the ground so plants don’t fall over. It also holds water so roots can absorb moisture, and it holds minerals and nutrients that plants use for food. Soil is also home to other living things helpful to plants.

The soil beneath our feet is as important as the air we breathe and the water we drink. Farms and forests make up two-thirds of our state’s landscape. Who should care for the soil? Farmers and foresters have a big role to play. But we must also help. Here are things we all can do:

  • Cover bare soil with new plants or mulch so soil won’t wash or blow away.
  • Stay on sidewalks and trails.

Air

Take a deep breath. Can you tell the difference between fresh air and polluted air?

Air moves, so polluted air can blow in from near and far. There are many people who work hard to clean up the air. Car makers build engines that pollute less. Laws set rules for companies to dispose of waste. Many people—including farmers—are making electricity from cleaner, renewable energy sources instead of coal or petroleum. They are using solar power, wind, and field crops as energy sources for our cars, homes, and factories. It all adds up to cleaner air!

Thanks, plants!

Did you know that green plants help to clean air? They take in carbon dioxide, trap fine dust, and release oxygen during photosynthesis. Those green plants include grasses on prairies, algae in oceans, crops in fields, and trees in forests. About one-third of the oxygen released comes from grasses and other non-woody plants. One-third comes from ocean plants. Another third comes from forests. Take a breath—and thank the plants!


AgK - Plant Animal or Both
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