Keeping water clean – East Metro Water

Slowing the nutrient highway

By: angiehongmn March 1, 2026

Keeping water cleanfeatured, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Mississippi River, nitrogen, phosphorus, St. Croix RiverLeave a Comment

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) recently released a report summarizing ten-years of progress toward reducing water pollution in the state’s rivers, lakes, and groundwater aquifers. The biggest news is that Minnesota is sending 32% less phosphorus and 6% less nitrogen down the Mississippi River, compared with in 2014. In addition, three-quarters of the lakes assessed by the MPCA statewide show declining phosphorus concentrations.

At Pig’s Eye, hope and despair abound in equal measure

By: angiehongmn February 17, 2026February 17, 2026

Keeping water cleanDakota, featured, habitat restoration, Minnesota, Mississippi River, Pigs Eye, St. Paul, water pollutionLeave a Comment

Once, it was C̣hokáŋ Taŋka, the Dakota village of Kaposia, and a bountiful mecca for fishing, hunting, and gathering. Later, it was a highway of pollution, filled with human sewage, garbage, and carcasses from the local slaughterhouses. Today, it includes a regional park and DNR Scientific and Natural Area, surrounded by rail yards and heavy industry.

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency launches new SMART salt module for rural communities

By: angiehongmn January 31, 2026January 29, 2026

Keeping water clean, Partners and Updates, Uncategorizedchloride pollution, featured, Minnesota, MPCA, rural roads, salt, winterLeave a Comment

Road maintenance in rural communities like Grant and Stillwater Township is significantly different than in larger cities like Oakdale and Woodbury. A new rural roads training module aims to help small communities stretch their limited public works budgets while also protecting local lakes and streams from salt and sediment pollution.

Legacy Amendment is one of many things that Minnesota does well

By: angiehongmn January 23, 2026January 21, 2026

Keeping water clean, Local Achievements, Wildlifeclean water, featured, lakes, legacy amendment, wildlife habitatLeave a Comment

The Legacy Amendment has catalyzed significant improvements in Minnesota’s natural environment, including 184 lakes and streams delisted and more than 1 million acres of wildlife habitat protected or restored.

Helping homeowner associations navigate stormwater and green infrastructure maintenance

By: angiehongmn December 12, 2025December 11, 2025

Keeping water clean, Partners and Updatesfeatured, green infrastructure, HOA, Homeowners Associations, lawn care, stormwaterLeave a Comment

The East Metro Water Education Program (EMWREP) and University of Minnesota have worked together to develop an education toolkit and launch a three-part Stormwater Leadership Series for HOA board members, which was piloted tis spring5.

Try chicken grit as an eco-friendly alternative to salt

By: angiehongmn December 5, 2025December 1, 2025

Aquatic Biology, Keeping water cleanchicken grit, chloride, featured, salt, winterLeave a Comment

One way that homeowners, businesses, HOAs, and community organizations can help to reduce water pollution from winter salt is by using chicken grit as a no-salt alternative.

a boat on the Mississippi River near Lake City

Fish, with a side of anti-depressant?

By: angiehongmn November 18, 2025November 4, 2025

Aquatic Biology, Keeping water clean, Wildlifefeatured, fish, fishing, medications, pharmaceuticals, Septic Systems, wastewater, water pollutionLeave a Comment

How and why are chemicals like estrone, DEET, cocaine, antidepressants, oxycodone, and veterinary antibiotics ending up in our lakes and rivers?

Cattails to the rescue?

By: angiehongmn November 7, 2025November 3, 2025

Aquatic Biology, Keeping water clean, Partners and Updatescattails, chloride, featured, invasive species, phosphorusLeave a Comment

Could cattails help to solve phosphorus and chloride pollution in some of our lakes and wetlands? A new pilot initiative led by the South Washington Watershed District (SWWD) aims to find out.

Improvements at Square Lake Park will help to keep the water pristine

By: angiehongmn October 31, 2025October 28, 2025

Keeping water clean, Local Achievements, Partners and UpdatesCarnelian Marine St. Croix Watershed District, featured, Square Lake, stormwater, Washington Conservation District, Washington CountyLeave a Comment

Square Lake is one of the clearest lakes in the Twin Cities area and ranks in the top 1% for water clarity in the entire North Central Hardwood Forest Ecoregion of Minnesota. New park improvements underway this fall are designed to help keep Square Lake clean for years to come.

Minnesota Water Stewards goes statewide

By: angiehongmn October 23, 2025October 22, 2025

Keeping water clean, Partners and Updatesfeatured, Freshwater Society, Minnesota, Minnesota lakes, Mississippi River, nature, North Woods and Waters of the St. Croix Heritage Area, St. Croix River, St. Croix Valley Foundation, volunteering, Washington Conservation District, Washington County ParksLeave a Comment

David, Kim, Barb and Mike are part of an elite cadre of volunteers helping to engage communities across Minnesota and western Wisconsin in grass-roots projects to protect and restore lakes, rivers, and streams.

Beginning in 2026, Freshwater is taking the program statewide and removing the enrollment fee so that more people can participate. Locally, the St. Croix Valley Foundation has provided grant funds to Washington Conservation District (WCD), Freshwater, and North Woods and Waters to train-in a new cohort of volunteers, starting in 2026.