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QUOTE OF THE MONTH Kudos to TCTU member Chris O'Brien for his recent comments in the Minnesota Star Tribune Article about the Vermillion River. Source: Johnson, Cloe. "Health officials have new advice on what fish are safe to eat in Minnesota." Minnesota Star Tribune, 2 May 2026. “I think there’s a lot of families fishing [around the Vermillion River], and a lot of kids getting excited about keeping their trout that they catch,” O’Brien said. “It’s (i.e., changes in the fish consumption rules) definitely a loss in recreational opportunity for sure.” STREAMKEEPER NOTES We've already recorded our first chemical monitoring readings of the spring! Kudos to Rowe Winecoff and Keith Ketchmark for taking our first readings for 2026! The "spring flush" of nitrate pollution is coming soon. The spring flush of nitrate pollution is a seasonal surge in nitrogen concentration in waterways, peaking as springtime rains wash fertilizer and manure from agricultural fields into surface and groundwater before crops can absorb it. This phenomenon, worsened by climate-driven, high-intensity rain events, causes significant ecological damage, including algal blooms and fish kills, while also threatening drinking water with high nitrate levels that can cause health problems like blue baby syndrome. Every single data point we upload helps us build a clearer picture of stream health so we can strive for clean water for generations to come. If you want to learn more about chemical monitoring of streams, please join our event on April 18th. In my last fishing excursion to Wisconsin, I discovered a new fly. A friendly angler (who turned out to be TCTU member Gene Scheffler) called it the Chuck Caddis. Gene was very generous and gave me one in size 16 and another in size 18. The Chuck Caddis uses woodchuck hair. I'll have to give it a try and tie up a few! I just need to find some woodchuck hair.  The Chuck STREAMKEEPER/SAVE OUR STREAM (SOS) CHEMICAL TESTING TRAININIG EVENT
Reminder- we will do on-stream water quality chemical training for new Streamkeepers, current Streamkeepers that need some refresher training, and anyone else that has interest in learning more about taking chemical water tests. We will follow the Izaak Walton League Save Our Stream (i.e. SOS) protocol and learn about taking measurements including water temperature, clarity, nitrates, nitrites, pH, alkalinity, hardness, phosphate, and salt. We will also discuss the updated Google Form that we will use to record the data. Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026 Time: 10:00 am Location: South Branch Vermillion Parking: South Branch Vermillion, AMA parking lot, West of Hwy 52 on 200th Ave Please note that if the lot if full, please park on 200th Ave Monitoring Site: GPS MA 44.657278 -93.008988 You can click this link to find the location: AMA parking lot. Please note that if the lot is full, park on 200th Ave. We encourage you to register at least 24 hours in advance so that we can get a head count at: TCTU Streamkeeper Training Event FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORY UPDATE Source: Johnson, Cloe. "Health officials have new advice on what fish are safe to eat in Minnesota." Minnesota Star Tribune, 2 May 2026. Minnesota Department of Health (i.e., MDH) officials have new advice on what fish are safe to eat in Minnesota. This is timely and important for our members since we have anglers that cover the entire spectrum. Some take their limit. Anglers also participate in the "put and take" stocking angling experience. We also have some who catch and release. Be safe when eating fish and follow the new guidelines below. The new fish consumption advisory for 2026 includes a regional approach to northeastern Minnesota due to mercury levels and a new warning for PFAS in Vermillion River trout. High nitrate levels are also a concern. New advice in northeastern Minnesota For sensitive populations, the MDH now recommends:
The MDH also issued new warnings about fish consumption on the Vermillion River, its headwaters and tributaries in Dakota and Scott counties, north of the Hastings Dam. Because of PFAS contamination:
Ongoing efforts by TCTU, TU, the MN DNR, the MPCA, and multiple other agencies in monitoring streams and advocating for reduced pollution continues to be a high priority. NITRATE POLLUTION AWARENESS WEEK IS COMING TCTU, a partner organization with the Izaak Walton League, is joining their effort in promoting Nitrate Pollution Awareness Week from July 26-August 1, 2026. The goal of Nitrate Awareness Week is to highlight the sources and impacts of nitrate pollution and provide easy ways for people to learn more and get involved. Nitrate Pollution Awareness Week will feature webinars from experts, opportunities to speak up and advocate for solutions to harmful nitrate pollution, and a raffle where anyone who participates during the week will be entered to win prizes. Some updates:
That's all for now. Tight lines. Jim Sauter TCTU Streamkeeper Coordinator STREAM READINGS 2026 Stream: South Branch Vermillion Date: 4/6/26 Observer: Rowe Winecoff Weather: Clear Water Clarity: Clear, 90 cm Water Temp: 6 degrees C, excellent Nitrate: 5 ppm, elevated Nitrite: 0.15 ppm, good Alkalinity 150 ppm, good Hardness: 180 ppm, good pH: 7.5, excellent Phosphate: 0, good Chloride: 25 ppm, good to excellent Notes: Running clear and slightly high Stream: Hay Creek, 325th St Date: 4/6/26 Observer: Keith Ketchmark Weather: Sunny Water Clarity: Clear Water Temp: 10 degrees C, excellent Nitrate: 0 ppm, good Nitrite: 0 ppm, good Alkalinity 120 ppm, good Hardness: 180 ppm, good pH: 7.5, excellent Phosphate: 0, good Chloride: Not taken Notes: Fish Rising Stream: Rush River, Wisconsin Date: 4/8/26 Observer: Jim Sauter Weather: Partly Sunny Water Clarity: Clear Water Temp: 9.5 degrees C, excellent Nitrate: 2 ppm, good Nitrite: 0 ppm, good Alkalinity 120 ppm, good Hardness: 120 ppm, good pH: 8.0, good Phosphate: 0, good Chloride: 25 ppm, good to excellent Notes: Fish were very active; 5 other cars were parked at this location on a Wednesday, 4/8, with 60 degree air temperatures!
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