Carrie Jennings has spent her career piecing together how our landscapes came to be—and what’s happening to them now. A geologist by training and now Research and Policy Director at Freshwater, she’s spent decades mapping Minnesota’s glacial past, teaching at the University of Minnesota, and turning science into action to protect our rivers and groundwater.
In this episode, Carrie takes us deep into the story of the Minnesota River Basin. We start with the glaciers that carved it out thousands of years ago and then fast forward to today, where farming practices, drained wetlands, and tiled fields have transformed it into what she calls “an agricultural drainage ditch.” The result? Rivers running brown, biodiversity wiped out, sediment loads ten times higher than historical levels, and small towns struggling to keep up as floodwaters rise and infrastructure strains.
Carrie helps us connect these dots—how the choices we’ve made on the land ripple through everything from water quality and fish habitat to the cost of raising highways and dredging navigation channels. And she shares how her work has pushed past research into real change: new state programs to hold more water on the land, restore wetlands, and rebuild soil health; support for perennial crops that keep living roots in the ground year-round; and a growing recognition that this is a “Dust Bowl moment” for Minnesota, one that demands systemic change.
This isn’t just a conversation about rivers—it’s about how we live on the land, how federal farm policy shapes our choices, and what it will take for Minnesota to chart a different path. Carrie’s perspective brings both deep time (glaciers and plate tectonics) and an urgency grounded in the present: if we don’t act, we risk doubling down on the very patterns—corn, soy, and now biofuels—that are driving the problem.
Join the conversation:
Live Event (Aug 28): Sign up here
Website: theyoungike.org
Instagram: @theyoungike
Contact us: info@theyoungike.org
Support our partner: Minnesota Valley IWLA
Call to Action:
If you enjoyed this episode, please add the show to your library, download it, share it with a friend, and leave a review. It’s a small step that helps us grow and keep these conversations going.
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Carrie Jennings has spent her career piecing together how our landscapes came to be—and what’s happening to them now. A geologist by training and now Research and Policy Director at Freshwater, she’s spent decades mapping Minnesota’s glacial past, teaching at the University of Minnesota, and turning science into action to protect our rivers and groundwater.
In this episode, Carrie takes us deep into the story of the Minnesota River Basin. We start with the glaciers that carved it out thousands of years ago and then fast forward to today, where farming practices, drained wetlands, and tiled fields have transformed it into what she calls “an agricultural drainage ditch.” The result? Rivers running brown, biodiversity wiped out, sediment loads ten times higher than historical levels, and small towns struggling to keep up as floodwaters rise and infrastructure strains.
Carrie helps us connect these dots—how the choices we’ve made on the land ripple through everything from water quality and fish habitat to the cost of raising highways and dredging navigation channels. And she shares how her work has pushed past research into real change: new state programs to hold more water on the land, restore wetlands, and rebuild soil health; support for perennial crops that keep living roots in the ground year-round; and a growing recognition that this is a “Dust Bowl moment” for Minnesota, one that demands systemic change.
This isn’t just a conversation about rivers—it’s about how we live on the land, how federal farm policy shapes our choices, and what it will take for Minnesota to chart a different path. Carrie’s perspective brings both deep time (glaciers and plate tectonics) and an urgency grounded in the present: if we don’t act, we risk doubling down on the very patterns—corn, soy, and now biofuels—that are driving the problem.
Join the conversation:
Live Event (Aug 28): Sign up here
Website: theyoungike.org
Instagram: @theyoungike
Contact us: info@theyoungike.org
Support our partner: Minnesota Valley IWLA
Call to Action:
If you enjoyed this episode, please add the show to your library, download it, share it with a friend, and leave a review. It’s a small step that helps us grow and keep these conversations going.
Becky Rom: The Battle Over Mining & the Fight to Save the Boundary Waters
The Young IKE
35 minutes 26 seconds
8 months ago
Becky Rom: The Battle Over Mining & the Fight to Save the Boundary Waters
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) is one of the most pristine natural landscapes in the United States—but its future is at risk. Becky Rom, national chair of the Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters, joins The Young IKE to discuss the fight against mining near the Boundary Waters, the legal and political battles over Minnesota’s mineral resources, and why conservation is more urgent now than ever.
Rom shares insights on how conservation efforts have evolved, the push-and-pull between economic development and environmental protection, and how everyday citizens can take action to preserve and protect the nature we love.
Guest Information:
Guest Name: Becky Rom
Bio: Becky Rom is a lifelong conservationist and the national chair of the Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters, leading efforts to protect the BWCAW from sulfide-ore mining and environmental degradation. With decades of advocacy experience, she has been instrumental in shaping policy and legal strategies to safeguard public lands.
Links: Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters – https://www.savetheboundarywaters.org
Episode Outline:
Why the Boundary Waters Matter – The ecological, cultural, and recreational significance of the BWCA.
Mining Threats & Environmental Risks – How proposed sulfide-ore mining projects could devastate the region’s fragile ecosystem.
The Legal & Political Fight – The state and federal policies shaping the future of the Boundary Waters.
Balancing Conservation & Economic Interests – Impact of mining on local economies and tourism.
How You Can Help – The role of grassroots advocacy and public engagement in protecting public lands.
Episode Sponsor:
️ The Young Ike is bringing these conversations into the real world with live, quarterly community dialogues. Thank you to the Minnesota Valley Chapter of the IWLA for making this possible.
Learn more at iwlamnvalley.org
Host & Show Info:
Host Name: Griffith Pugh
Podcast Website: www.theyoungike.org
Community & Calls to Action:
Contact the host: griffith@theyoungike.org
Help Us Grow:
Follow us on Instagram: @theyoungike
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The Young IKE
Carrie Jennings has spent her career piecing together how our landscapes came to be—and what’s happening to them now. A geologist by training and now Research and Policy Director at Freshwater, she’s spent decades mapping Minnesota’s glacial past, teaching at the University of Minnesota, and turning science into action to protect our rivers and groundwater.
In this episode, Carrie takes us deep into the story of the Minnesota River Basin. We start with the glaciers that carved it out thousands of years ago and then fast forward to today, where farming practices, drained wetlands, and tiled fields have transformed it into what she calls “an agricultural drainage ditch.” The result? Rivers running brown, biodiversity wiped out, sediment loads ten times higher than historical levels, and small towns struggling to keep up as floodwaters rise and infrastructure strains.
Carrie helps us connect these dots—how the choices we’ve made on the land ripple through everything from water quality and fish habitat to the cost of raising highways and dredging navigation channels. And she shares how her work has pushed past research into real change: new state programs to hold more water on the land, restore wetlands, and rebuild soil health; support for perennial crops that keep living roots in the ground year-round; and a growing recognition that this is a “Dust Bowl moment” for Minnesota, one that demands systemic change.
This isn’t just a conversation about rivers—it’s about how we live on the land, how federal farm policy shapes our choices, and what it will take for Minnesota to chart a different path. Carrie’s perspective brings both deep time (glaciers and plate tectonics) and an urgency grounded in the present: if we don’t act, we risk doubling down on the very patterns—corn, soy, and now biofuels—that are driving the problem.
Join the conversation:
Live Event (Aug 28): Sign up here
Website: theyoungike.org
Instagram: @theyoungike
Contact us: info@theyoungike.org
Support our partner: Minnesota Valley IWLA
Call to Action:
If you enjoyed this episode, please add the show to your library, download it, share it with a friend, and leave a review. It’s a small step that helps us grow and keep these conversations going.
