Phil George, who lives in rural Byron, Minnesota, has always felt a deep responsibility to water and wildlife. Growing up hunting and fishing with his father and brothers, he learned early that spending time outdoors provided more than just recreation, it gave him a way of understanding the world.
That connection guided his childhood dream of becoming a game warden. After 15 years with the Rochester Police Department, Phil's dream became a reality in 2006 when he became a conservation officer, dedicating his career to protecting fish, wildlife, and the public waters that, as he emphasizes, “belong to everyone.”
“Nobody owns the water,” Phil said. “All waters are public. They may own the land all around it and underneath it, but they don't own the water. Water is for all the people.”
Phil loves fishing from his boat, exploring new lakes, and spending long hours on the water. “It’s very calming to be on the water,” he said, explaining that fishing is not about filling a limit but about being present and connected. Over the years, Phil witnessed how unregulated fishing previously damaged populations, especially during spawning seasons when fish are most vulnerable. He saw firsthand how limits and special regulations helped restore balance, encouraging anglers to be selective and protect the future of fisheries.
Those lessons extend beyond fishing. Phil believes water is a finite resource that must be cared for, noting that Minnesota’s thousands of lakes require respect and responsibility so that future generations can enjoy and learn from them as he did.
Learn more in the We Are Water MN exhibit
Phil shared his story as part of We Are Water MN, a traveling exhibit and community engagement program that explores Minnesotans’ relationships with water. Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo will be hosting the exhibit in Byron starting Feb. 24, 2026.
The Zumbro River Watershed covers nearly 1 million acres. Three major tributaries — the South, Middle, and North Forks of the Zumbro River — join north of Rochester. The watershed contains rivers and streams with a wide range of water quality, as well as groundwater that is highly sensitive to pollution. It is located on land originally cultivated and inhabited by the Sisseton and Wahpeton bands of Dakota. That land was later included in two 1851 Dakota Land Cession Treaties, which resulted in increased European migration to the area. Since that time, human activity has dramatically altered the landscape, with cities and farms replacing nearly all native prairies, and many wetlands being drained.
Visit the exhibit to hear local stories and learn more about water in the Byron area at Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo Nature Center, 5731 County Road 105 NW, Byron, MN 55920. The exhibit is viewable daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through April 20, 2026. Admission is free.
About We Are Water MN
We Are Water MN is a project of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota Humanities Center in partnership with the Minnesota Historical Society; the Board of Water and Soil Resources; the Minnesota Departments of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources; and University of Minnesota Extension.
We Are Water MN is funded by the Clean Water, Land, & Legacy Fund that was created with the vote of the people of Minnesota on Nov. 4, 2008.