Registrations for the second-annual ManOMin Watershed conference keep rolling in but it appears there still will be space for latecomers when the event gets underway Friday over in International Falls.
“It’s going very well. We got lots of registrations back in this past week,” said Rebecca Dodd of the Rainy River First Nation Watershed Program.
Registrations for the two-day event, which takes place at Rainy River Community College in the Falls, were sent out to various government and non-government agencies as well as scientists and individuals who attended last year.
While Dodd said organizers still are hoping for 250 guests, about 100 have signed up so far. “But Jennifer Mercer tells me that last year, a lot of people registered right at the door,” she remarked.
Mercer led the organization of the inaugural conference here last year.
While many of those registered are from various environmental agencies, Dodd stressed the public is welcome to attend. Now that the deadline is past for early registrations, the late registration fee is $30 Cdn. ($20 U.S.) for adults and $15 Cdn. ($20 U.S.) for students.
“We expect to see some students sign up right at the conference,” noted Dodd.
The conference runs from noon to 5 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Sessions will take place in either the theatre or the gym at RRCC.
While the first day will be a natural resource co-ordination program, focusing on monitoring efforts in the Rainy River basin, topics Saturday are geared more towards the public. They include:
•the ecology of the bald eagle, including a demonstration by the Raptor Centre from the University of Minnesota;
•how to protect your land from wildfire, and using fire as a landscaping tool;
•water levels–fish habitat requirements and energy needs;
•erosion control–how to protect your farms, cottages, and other shoreline properties from erosion;
•optional septic systems for your riverfront home, cottage, or resort; and
•how is your drinking water treated–E. coli and other waterborne pathogens.
“The main purpose of the ManOMin Watershed Conference is two-fold: instilling understanding of our interactions and connectedness with the land and water; and encouraging co-operation by opening the lines of communication across the border,” Dodd said.
The conference is being co-hosted by Rainy River First Nation, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Koochiching County, and Environment Canada.
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