Iron and Water: My Life Protecting Minnesota's Environment

Description

A memoir of family, mining pioneers and unscrupulous magnates, and the fight for Minnesota's natural resources In 1855 the Merritt family arrived in Minnesota, where a descendant, Alfred, would one day become one of the "Seven Iron Men"-builders of the first mines to tap the state's great mineral wealth in the Mesabi Range. Another Merritt, more than half a century later, would lead the efforts to protect Lake Superior from damage caused by mining. Iron and Water is Grant J. Merritt's memoir of his life's work on behalf of Minnesota's people and environment and also the story of a significant family in state history. Merritt's family played a key role in the struggle over natural resources in Minnesota-for the enrichment of mining pioneers, the prosperity of the state and its people, and the prospect of a secure and healthy future. This complex tale begins with the adventure of discovering iron ore and building the mines, railroads, and docks to move it, then devolves into the intrigues of business partnerships gone bad and attempts by John D. Rockefeller to defraud the Merritts. What follows is an engrossing account of Grant Merritt's years in the halls of state politics and the trenches of environmental activism in defense of Minnesota's North Shore and Lake Superior's waters. The author's tenure as head of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency under Governor Wendell Anderson and his service on the first board of the Minnesota Environmental Quality Council take us behind the scenes of landmark legal cases and crucial moments in Minnesota history-particularly the notable Reserve Mining case, in which the company was found liable for serious environmental and health threats on the shores of Lake Superior and ordered to be shut down. In these pages we encounter the people who were critical to this history, from robber baron Rockefeller to judges, activists, and politicians, including Walter Mondale and Jim Oberstar. In chronicling both the discovery of vast iron deposits on the Mesabi Range and the fight to save Lake Superior and Minnesota's natural riches, Iron and Water reveals how, whether alone or together, individuals wield the power to change the world.

Grant J. Merritt has served as executive director of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, was a member of the first board of the Minnesota Environmental Quality Council, and was Minnesota's representative on the Great Lakes Water Quality Board. He was an attorney in the areas of environmental law, transportation, and governmental relations for more than fifty years.

"Iron and Water provides important information about Minnesota's early environmental movement from someone who not only talked the talk but walked the walk. Grant J. Merritt's involvement as a citizen activist, an environmental attorney, and the head of a state environmental agency offers significant insights into the efforts to protect the natural resources that have shaped Minnesota today."-Kevin Proescholdt, author of Glimpses of Wilderness "In this beautifully told and often dramatic story, Grant J. Merritt's singular voice narrates both a memorable family history and key battles to protect Lake Superior and other resources. Iron and Water is a monumental addition to our environmental literature."-Dave Dempsey, author and senior advisor at FLOW (For Love of Water) "Iron and Water is really about the passionate commitment and valiant effort of a man and his concerned colleagues to ensure that Minnesota's environment is protected. In that respect, Grant Merritt's enthralling story is a model for activists everywhere."-Foreword Reviews "Iron and Water is a short book, but it is a wealth of history that many younger Minnesotans might not be aware of. For folks who lived through the stories, it's a reminder of how things have changed, as Merritt would say, some for the better, some not."-Bulletin "Merritt has a unique perspective."-The Star Tribune "Iron and Water is the absorbing and genial story of a champion of Minnesota's natural resources. It's is engaging, funny in spots, frustrating at times, and ultimately inspiring."-Agate Magazine