A Slough of Controversy Traditional Geocache
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Teacher Leads Battle to Save a Slough.
A Slough of Controversy
It is a truly serene sight, abounding in wildlife together with many diverse forms of vegetation. Luedtke's Slough, today partially bordered by homes, was at one time the site of a bitter controversy which took place in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
This was a debate felt so strongly by both sides, that it eventually reached the Attorney General's Office in St. Paul, and ultimately District Court. So, what caused the controversy that divided many of the citizens of Fairmont at that time? It was simply a lake improvement project that proposed using Luedtke's Slough as a depository for silt dredged from the lakes in Fairmont.
The slough in question, a wetland, differs from most other wetlands in that it is within the city limits of Fairmont. Thus, the arguing point became whether or not it should be used as a silt disposal site, or preserved as a wetland and potentially used as a nature study. Some viewed the project of disposing silt from the lake into the slough as a means of saving the taxpayers money; others viewed it as a means of destroying the natural habitat of plants and animals in this wetland setting.
Eventually, a number of diverse viewpoints were presented from concerned citizens, teachers, students, and city government. An article from the February 8, 1969, edition of The Sentinel in reference to dredging of the lakes states that 'A new place for the silt will have to be found, beginning with the city-owned 25 acre Luedtke Slough area southeast of the lake." The opposition to the slough as a silt depository, and in favor of preserving it as a natural wetland, was led by Dan Kehrberg, then a biology teacher at the Fairmont High School. Kehrberg spoke to local civic organizations and as reported in the January 19, 1971, edition of The Sentinel, in speaking at Kiwanis he stated that "dredging is neither the main cause of cleaner lake water nor the algae deterrent many people believe it is." He believed that alternate methods of silt disposal should be utilized. In March of 1974, an agreement was reached with the DNR to allow filling the northern third of the slough, and leaving the remainder in its natural state. This was, of course, with permission of affected land owners in the vicinity of the slough. The decision was reached because it was felt that continued legal wrangling could go on for years, obviously to no one's advantage. Coincidentally, in 1975, the Federal "Clean Water" act was passed which largely prohibited wetland destruction.
Park in the lot for the Fairmont Water Park and cross to the south side of the creek. Follow the creek to the cache site. This ground you are on was once part of the slough. You'll find where the creek enters the slough. The long grass and thistle make for tough going so wear long pants.
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