When the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant closed in 2005, it created an opportunity for Ramsey County to restore the surrounding landscape and for Rice Creek Watershed District to nurse the neglected stream back to good health.
Read More
All articles filed in Local Achievements
Restoring Hay Lake, one prairie at a time
Water monitoring data has shown a steady improvement in Hay Lake’s water quality over the past ten years as a result of planting projects completed on the land in the surrounding watershed. In 2022, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency officially “de-listed” Hay Lake, meaning it is no longer considered impaired.
Read More
Bone Lake removed from the impaired waters’ list after more than a decade of watershed work
The water in Bone Lake is clean enough for fishing, swimming, and water recreation for the first time in 20 years, thanks to a comprehensive watershed restoration effort led by the Comfort Lake – Forest Lake Watershed District, in partnership with the Bone Lake Association. Join the Delisting Celebration on Thursday, June 11 at 5pm.
Read More
The Watershed Administrator Who Wouldn’t Wear a Tie
At this year’s Minnesota Watersheds annual conference, Matt Moore was recognized with an Outstanding Watershed Administrator award and the Trout Brook Restoration was selected as Minnesota Watershed Project of the Year. South Washington Watershed District also received recognition for 30 years of programming. When receiving the awards, Moore didn’t give a flowery speech and he definitely didn’t wear a tie.
Read on to learn more about the man who’s led South Washington Watershed District through 25 years of flood resiliency and water quality achievements.
Read More
Minnesota water – some getting better, some getting worse
In the Twin Cities east metro, improving lakes that are set to be “de-listed” include Bone Lake – Scandia (Comfort Lake – Forest Lake Watershed District); White Rock Lake – Scandia, Bald Eagle Lake – White Bear Township, and Golden Lake – Circle Pines (Rice Creek Watershed District); La Lake – Woodbury (South Washington Watershed District); and Kohlman Lake – Maplewood (Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District).
Read More
Sunrise River wetland enhancement promises cleaner water downstream
In addition to reducing downstream flooding, the Comfort Lake – Forest Lake Watershed District project will also keep 89 pounds per year of phosphorus and 51,000 pounds per year of sediment out of the Sunrise River.
Read More
A modern day Lorax or two
Volunteer Water Stewards John Goodfellow, Tom Furey, and Anna Barker helped to build gravel bed nurseries in their communities to support reforestation efforts.
Read More
Trout return to Afton’s Trout Brook
The stream restoration project creates different types of habitat that fish need, including deep pools with slow-moving water, shallow riffles with fast, turbulent water running over rocks, and runs with deep, fast water and little to no turbulence.
Read More
Planning ahead for a rainy day
Comfort Lake – Forest Lake Watershed District launches wetland enhancement project, wins Climate Adaptation award.
Read More
Numbers for the New Year
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.
Read More
East Metro Water 