The Catholic Spirit: Catholics urged to contribute to state’s water quality conversation

(The Catholic Spirit – Bridget Ryder)

Minnesota may be the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but half are too polluted for swimming and fishing.

Gov. Mark Dayton wants that to change, and he’s calling on Minnesotans to help by attending water-focused, town hall-style meetings underway across the state. The Minnesota Catholic Conference hopes Catholics participate.

The 10 meetings are “an opportunity to discuss the water quality issues facing their local communities and our state, to hear from experts and to engage with policymakers,” said Shawn Peterson, MCC associate director for public policy.

“I hope people will be able to learn about issues facing this precious resource, connect with others in their community around the issue and offer a compelling Catholic voice for improving the state’s water quality,” he said.

The meetings are part of Dayton’s 25 by 2025 Water Quality Goal, which seeks to improve the state’s overall water quality 25 percent in the next eight years. There are three town halls slated for the metro area: Sept. 26 in Minneapolis, Oct. 4 in Burnsville and Oct. 5 in Stillwater.

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