Ground Level Blog

Amid economic angst, International Falls looks back at labor unrest
Residents of International Falls, Minn., are hosting two performances of “The Mill,” a play that is a fictional treatment of some tense and violent times in town 25 years ago.
Minnesota is rich in water, but our use of it seems less sustainable than it once did. Two state officials talked about water issues with Daily Circuit host Tom Weber.
Should farmers be forced to change?
Farm practices are a key part of the conversation about groundwater sustainability in Minnesota. Are voluntary efforts enough?
The science of water, fertilizer and the perfect potato
Growing a perfect potato depends on the right amount of water and fertilizer, and growers are trying to figure out how to use just the right amount.
The layer cake beneath Park Rapids
Figuring out the geology beneath Park Rapids, Minn., is a good primer for how Minnesota’s groundwater situation is important, complicated and very local.
DNR seeks tougher groundwater measurement
Suspecting it is getting bad information from some water users, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has asked the Legislature for stricter requirements and penalties for measuring what wells are pumping.
Should water cost us more?
Should water cost more so people use less of it? That’s the first in a series of water questions we’re asking — and answering — on the Ground Level blog. Join the conversation.