East Metro Water

Fossils in limestone from Lilydale brickyards

Fossils, glaciers, and the water we drink

By: angiehongmn December 2, 2021

Groundwateraquifers, featured, fossils, geology, groundwater, Minnesota, Mississippi River, St. Croix RiverLeave a Comment

Groundwater provides 100 percent of the drinking water for people in Washington County and 70 percent of the drinking water in Minnesota.

Give me a home where the bees and butterflies roam

By: angiehongmn November 26, 2021November 23, 2021

Yards and LandscapingBlue Thumb, featured, lawns to legumes, native plants, prairie, prairie restoration, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

A native plant revival is underway and Lawns to Legumes grants are here to help.

Fifty-three Minnesota lakes and streams to be de-listed in 2022

By: angiehongmn November 18, 2021

Keeping water clean, Local Achievements, Partners and UpdatesBrown's Creek Watershed District, Carnelian Marine St. Croix Watershed District, clean water, featured, impaired waters, middle st. croix watershed management organization, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Valley Branch Watershed DistrictLeave a Comment

Local lakes scheduled to be delisted next year include East Boot (May Twp), Echo (Mahtomedi), Hay and Jellums (Scandia), Lily and South Twin (Stillwater), and Plaisted (Hugo).

PFAS contamination works its way to the St. Croix River

By: angiehongmn November 11, 2021November 10, 2021

Groundwater, Keeping water clean3M, drinking water, featured, fish consumption advisory, fishing, groundwater contamination, PFAS, St Croix RiverLeave a Comment

Six water bodies in Washington County will likely be added to the state’s impaired waters list due to perfluorinated alkylated substances (PFAS), also known as the “forever chemical.” The affected waters include Tanners Lake (Oakdale), Eagle Point wetland and H.J. Brown Pond (Lake Elmo Park Reserve), Clear Lake (City of Forest Lake) and the St. Croix River/Lake St. Croix from Taylors Falls to Prescott.

Wetland in your yard?

By: angiehongmn November 4, 2021November 2, 2021

Keeping water clean, Yards and Landscapingfeatured, native plants, Valley Branch Watershed District, Washington Conservation District, WetlandsLeave a Comment

Wetlands protect nearby homes from flooding and help to reduce shoreline erosion along the edges of rivers and lakes. If you have a wetland on or near your property, however, you may need to make some changes in your landscaping and seasonal yard care.

Rich Fen, Poor Bog

By: angiehongmn October 28, 2021October 29, 2021

Uncategorizedbog, featured, groundwater, ramsey washington metro watershed district, rich fen, Tamarack Nature Preserve, tamarack trees, Wetlands, WoodburyLeave a Comment

Bogs are acidic and nutrient-poor for plant growth. Fens are rich in nutrients and are alkaline. The Tamarack Nature Preserve is unique because it has characteristics of both.

Salt a growing problem for Minnesota’s water

By: angiehongmn October 26, 2021October 29, 2021

Aquatic Biology, Groundwater, Keeping water cleanchloride pollution, featured, MPCA, road salt, salt, water softenersLeave a Comment

Overall, the MPCA has determined that road salt is responsible for 42% of the chloride in groundwater, lakes and streams. Two other major sources of chloride that are less well-known include agricultural fertilizers (23% of the total chloride) and water softeners, which account for up to 65% of the chloride discharged from municipal wastewater treatment plants.

Channeling a life-long passion for water protection toward community change in Forest Lake

By: angiehongmn October 21, 2021October 19, 2021

Keeping water clean, Local Achievementscomfort lake - forest lake watershed district, featured, Forest Lake, volunteeringLeave a Comment

Curt Sparks would love to see more people in the community get involved in lake and watershed stewardship, whether it is by joining the watershed district’s citizen advisory committee, participating in activities led by one of the local lakes associations, or merely adopting a storm drain in their neighborhood.

Street Sweepers to the Rescue

By: angiehongmn October 14, 2021October 29, 2021

Keeping water cleanadopt a drain, featured, phosphorus, stormwater, stormwater pollution, street sweeping1 Comment

Cities use street sweepers to maintain a tidy appearance, but these machines can also be an important and cost-effective tool for reducing stormwater pollution.