Since 2009, Washington County landowners have completed 5325 conservation projects ranging in scale from tiny front-yard pollinator gardens to large-scale conversions of cropland to native prairie.
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All articles filed in Local Achievements
Jim Pechacek and Caroline Mecklin selected as 2022 Outstanding Conservationists
Jim and Caroline are stewarding farmland in the St. Croix Valley that has been in the family for more than 140 years.
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Friends of Lily Lake invites community to celebrate lake’s “de-listing” on September 30
On Friday, September 30, 5-7:30pm, Friends of Lily Lake will celebrate this return to clean water with a family-friendly community event at Lily Lake Park. The event will include food, music, roasted s’mores over a campfire, and kids nature activities. There will also be a short program at 6pm to officially commemorate the de-listing of Lily Lake. The event is free and open to all.
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Lily Lake alum treatment scheduled for May 19
The alum will draw phosphorus out of the water column and also seal sediment on the lake bottom so that the nutrient can no longer feed algae.
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Turning Stormwater into a Resource at Applewood Hills
Washington County is working with the Brown’s Creek Watershed District and Applewood Hills Golf Course to design a stormwater reuse system that will collect runoff from Hwy 36 and Manning Ave. and use it for golf course irrigation. The project will reduce groundwater pumping by 7 million gallons per year and provide 30% of the irrigation needs for Applewood Hills.
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After 100 years underground, Phalen Creek will finally see the light
Lower Phalen Creek Project, a Native-Led, East Side environmental organization, has secured $2.8 million in funding from the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council to begin daylighting Phalen Creek.
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Valley Branch Watershed District named 2021 Minnesota Watershed of the Year
To protect homes in land-locked basins, the district built an emergency conveyance system to pump water out, taking care not to overwhelm any other water bodies or drainage systems during the process.
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Fifty-three Minnesota lakes and streams to be de-listed in 2022
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).
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Channeling a life-long passion for water protection toward community change in Forest Lake
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.
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New project aims to take Lily Lake off the impaired water’s list
A new regional infiltration basin will collect and filter stormwater from a large area of land that includes commercial and residential property, delivering it to Lily Lake cleaner and with less phosphorus.
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East Metro Water 