angiehongmn

Brown’s Creek Watershed District to work with Oak Glen Golf Course on a new Clean Water project

By: angiehongmn August 27, 2020August 27, 2020

Aquatic Biology, Groundwater, Keeping water clean, Partners and Updates, Water ConservationBrown's Creek, Brown's Creek Watershed District, featured, stormwater pollution, stormwater reuse, stream restoration, troutLeave a Comment

There are three main goals for the Oak Glen stormwater reuse project. The first is to keep warm stormwater out of Brown’s Creek. The second is to keep phosphorus and sediment out of Brown’s Creek and the St. Croix River. In addition, this project will allow Oak Glen Golf Course to reduce the amount of groundwater it pumps for irrigation.

Green days on a summer lake – and that’s not a good thing

By: angiehongmn August 21, 2020August 20, 2020

Aquatic Biology, Keeping water cleanalgae, algae blooms, featured, phosphorus, stormwater pollution, Woodbury1 Comment

Algae blooms in Carver Lake and other urban lakes are usually caused by too much phosphorus flowing into the water from sidewalks, streets, and parking lots.

Help to keep our lakes blue by sweeping dirt and yard waste off of your sidewalk, driveway and curb-line throughout the year and adopting your local storm drain: http://www.adopt-a-drain.org.

A crack in the rock & a beach in the forest

By: angiehongmn August 14, 2020August 13, 2020

Groundwater, Outdoor Adventuresfeatured, groundwater, hiking with kids, native plants, nature, Scientific and Natural Areas, streamsLeave a Comment

Crystal Spring Scientific and Natural Area (SNA) in Scandia was established just four years ago. It contains a crystalline spring that pours out of the side of a rock wall, deep in an emerald chasm.

Search for hidden treasure, and sometimes you find goats

By: angiehongmn August 6, 2020August 6, 2020

Buckthorn, Outdoor Adventuresbuckthorn, Cottage Grove, featured, geocaching, goats, south washington watershed districtLeave a Comment

Charlie and I excitedly watched our beacon move ever closer to the hidden cache as we hiked down a trail into the woods. 350 feet to go. 300 feet to go. 100 feet to go! Then we heard a plaintive bleat from behind the trees. Had I heard a goat?

Gophers and muskrats, oh why?

By: angiehongmn July 30, 2020July 28, 2020

Wildlife, Yards and Landscapingfeatured, gophers, muskrats, native landscaping, prairie, shoreline plantings, Wildlife, wildlife habitatLeave a Comment

In a native planting or restored prairie, however, gophers should be considered a friend. Yes, the prairie will be bumpy instead of flat, but nature tends to be that way.

Green lawns for blue water and good health

By: angiehongmn July 24, 2020

Yards and Landscapingadopt a drain, featured, lawn care, lawns, sustainable lawns, water conservation, water pollutionLeave a Comment

Some common lawn care practices can harm wildlife, pets, and water resources. Happily, there are a few simple guidelines you can follow to get a healthy lawn that looks nice without harming the environment.

What goes down, must come up

By: angiehongmn July 11, 2020July 11, 2020

Groundwater, Keeping water clean, Outdoor Adventures3M, Battle Creek, Battle Creek Regional Park, featured, groundwater, groundwater contamination, Mississippi River, mountain biking, PFAS, ramsey washington metro watershed district, St. PaulLeave a Comment

Ask anyone with young kids and they’ll tell you about the strain of parenting in COVID times. With schools, summer camps, and daycare closed, we dance a wiggly cha cha as we attempt to somehow do a full day’s work while simultaneously caring for stir-crazy children who’ve been stuck at home since March. This summer,…

Dead fish and green water?

By: angiehongmn July 9, 2020July 9, 2020

Aquatic Biology, Keeping water cleanadopt a drain, algae, algae blooms, clean water, comfort lake - forest lake watershed district, featured, fish kills, Forest LakeLeave a Comment

Explanations for recent phenomena observed in Forest Lake In recent weeks, several people have contacted the Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed District (CLFLWD) to report fish kills and algal growth observed in Forest Lake. Read on to learn what’s behind these recent phenomena. Fish Kill: After conversation with the Minnesota DNR, watershed district staff have concluded…

Love Square Lake, Big Marine, St. Croix River?

By: angiehongmn July 9, 2020

Keeping water clean, Partners and UpdatesBig Marine Lake, Carnelian Marine St. Croix Watershed District, featured, Square Lake, St. Croix River, Warner Nature CenterLeave a Comment

CMSCWD includes 17 miles of the St. Croix Riverway stretching from Stillwater Township to Scandia, as well as 31 lakes, three designated trout streams, and hundreds of acres of wetlands. The four largest lakes in the district – Big Marine, Big Carnelian, Little Carnelian, and Square Lake – are in the Top 10 list of cleanest metro area lakes. There are also thousands of acres of high quality, undeveloped habitat in the region.

Where should the district focus limited time and money in the coming decade?

Paddle, Bike, Repeat: Four days on the Namekagon and St. Croix Rivers

By: angiehongmn July 3, 2020July 2, 2020

Outdoor Adventurescanoeing, clean water, featured, freshwater mussels, Minnesota, Namekagon River, St. Croix River, trout, Wild and Scenic River, Wisconsin3 Comments

We started our trip at the County Rd K landing (Namekagon River), near Trego, Wisconsin, and ended four days later at the Lower Tamarack landing (St. Croix River), 47-miles downriver. To avoid using a shuttle or bringing two cars, I brought my mountain bike along and rode back to our put-in at the end of each day to bring our truck and camping gear down to the next location.