Crystal Valley Donates $6,000 to Crystal Waters Project

Crystal Valley is proud to support the Crystal Waters Project's quest to demonstrate an innovative algal harvesting (nutrient removal) program using HFT.  This project collaborates with St. Cloud State University and the University of Minnesota Southwest Research and Outreach Center. Students from Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial and St. Mary’s Catholic School in Sleepy Eye will be able to participate in relevant STEM experiences in agriculture while helping to restore area lakes impaired by excess algal growth and create a nutrient-rich biomass product.

Preliminary work began this past summer and will continue into the fall of 2023. The project aims to establish baseline data to guide future efforts.  AECOM’s harvester will spend one week at Clear Lake in Brown County and the second week at Lake Crystal in Blue Earth County.  
Partners involved with bringing this project to the area and working to make it happen are CarlsonSV LLP and the Minnesota Farm Bureau Foundation.

With the help of matching funds from CoBank, Crystal Valley was able to donate $6,000 to the project. All involved look forward to seeing how this project progresses! 

Pictured (L-R): Justin Nilson- Crystal Valley, Mary Beth Bolz – St. Mary’s Catholic School, Teresa Weber – Crystal Valley,  Derek Wills – Crystal Valley, Gary Spence – Crystal Valley, Aidan Moeller – LCWM Student, John Graham – Crystal Valley, Ann Smith – Crystal Valley, Tom Byrne – Carlson SV LLP