To the editor:

Comments on the meeting at Courtland regarding buffers.

The fact that nitrates increased after leaving Mankato is due to the removal of ammonia in the treatment discharge. Ammonia is very toxic to fish but when ammonia is reduced, the nitrates increase.

The fact that buffers do not increase water quality is because grass cells have phosphorous in them. This phosphorous is released by grass plants freezing or going dormant. This free phosphorous needs to find soil to attach to. If no unfrozen soil is found the phosphorous continues down stream and into the water causing algae to be produced.

Research has found that in the prairie ecoregion (which southern Minnesota is a part of) 2/3 of a pound of phosphorous is lost from every acre of grass. A helpful alternative is to hay the buffers and remove the grass.

A small amount of soil is actually good for water quality because it offers a site for phosphorous to adhere to.

Buffers are for pheasants and their preditor and nothing else.

Richard Wurtzberger

Sleepy Eye

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