Water: Connecting human and ecosystem health
Water connects all of us. CFANS scientists from a variety of disciplines are working to protect this vital, shared resource
May 27, 2026
Minnesota is a land of water — raging waterfalls along the north shore, trout streams in bluff country, summer days at the lake — we cherish our water resources. Water is the essential connecting force linking human health, ecosystems, recreation and agriculture. While 93 percent of Minnesotans are concerned about pollution in our lakes and rivers, they also believe scientific research and collective action can help. CFANS scientists from multiple disciplines utilize a One Health perspective to tackle challenges to our water resources.
Protecting Minnesota’s waters is a complex task requiring insights from multiple disciplines. There are new, emerging challenges, like heavier rainfall events. “We are getting more rain than we used to in the spring when crops haven’t been planted yet, which means more water is coming off the land and bringing sediment, nitrate, and phosphorous with it into streams and rivers,” explains Jeff Peterson, a professor in the Department of Applied Economics. It’s a problem that requires multiple strategies to address. Washing nutrients and sediments off the land into our water can lead to algae blooms in lakes, high nitrate levels in streams and wells, and impacts to aquatic ecosystems.
At the Southwest Research and Outreach Center in Lamberton, Minnesota, there is an entire team dedicated to finding solutions. The field-based research tests multiple different practices and strategies to mitigate negative environmental impacts, improving crop yields and nutrient use efficiency. The site runs long term experiments, testing the efficacy of bioreactors, constructed wetlands, water drainage systems, cropping systems, cover crops, tillage strategies — you name it, they’re testing it.
“There is no one silver bullet answer,” says Jeff Strock, a professor in the Department of Soil, Water, and Climate. “Most farmers are going to be doing a mix of strategies, from precision agriculture to apply the right amount of fertilizer, in the right place, at the right time, to changing when to till, or planting cover crops. Each farm and each field is going to be just a bit different.”
Residential lawns and urban runoff can be another source of challenges, particularly to Minnesota’s rivers and lakes. Susan Galatowitsch, an emeritus professor in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology studied shoreland restoration and impact on urban lakes. She and her team examined records from 20 years of projects along the shores of Lake Phalen in St. Paul. Resorting shoreland can be labor intensive and challenging, addressing invasive species, intensive foot traffic, and establishing stable native plantings. But once successfully in place, the projects were successful.
“We all want to enjoy our beautiful lakes, but we need to care for them too,” says Galatowitsch. “We need to appreciate the beauty of a more natural shoreline, so we can enjoy loons, clear waters, and fish for decades to come.”
Keeping our waters clean isn’t just important for the environment and our recreation — it’s essential for our health. Nic Jelinski, a soil scientist in the Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, is part of an interdisciplinary team doing long term research on the impact of toxic heavy metals and salts in urban environments. They are mapping where heavy metals pollution levels are highest, and discovering how pollutants, like lead, move from gardens and lawns to storm drains, lakes, and rivers. Even small amounts of lead can lead to long-term health impacts.
“The good news is, while lead can hitch a ride on small particles, it seems to get trapped in stormwater ponds,” Jelinski explains. “If we can identify the communities where there are higher levels of heavy metals, we can strategically place remediation solutions like stormwater ponds.”
Clean water is essential for human health and the health of our planet and CFANS students find purpose and meaning in protecting it. “Everyone deserves clean drinking water coming from their own home,” says Louis C. Favila Renville, a recent graduate majoring in conservation and resource management with a minor in water science.
