Keeping water clean – East Metro Water

Sweeping streets and clearing drains for a cleaner St. Croix River

By: angiehongmn December 1, 2022November 29, 2022

Keeping water clean, Partners and Updatesadopt a drain, featured, stormwater, stormwater pollution, street sweepingLeave a Comment

This winter, the Lower St. Croix Watershed Partnership will allocate $40,000 in state funding to help 16 local communities develop targeted, enhanced street sweeping programs in order to reduce stormwater runoff pollution to the St. Croix River and its tributary lakes and streams.

New technology coming from Australia to fight PFAS “forever foam”

By: angiehongmn November 12, 2022

Groundwater, Keeping water cleanfeatured, fish consumption advisory, groundwater contamination, PFAS, pfos, science, technology3 Comments

Funds from the $850 million settlement between 3M and the State of Minnesota will be used to purchase, import, and operate the two systems.

New study finds that plastic pollution is pervasive in National Parks across the United States

By: angiehongmn November 4, 2022November 4, 2022

Aquatic Biology, Keeping water cleanfeatured, fishing, microplastics, Mississippi River, oceans, plastic pollutionLeave a Comment

Plastic makes up 81% of all trash collected in National Parks and federal lands.

Mercury levels going down in Minnesota lakes

By: angiehongmn October 24, 2022

Aquatic Biology, Keeping water cleanfeatured, impaired waters, mercury, Minnesota lakes, MPCA, water pollutionLeave a Comment

In 2020, the MPCA removed Forest Lake, Tanners Lake (Oakdale), Owasso (Roseville/Shoreview), Johanna (Arden Hills) and eight lakes in northern Minnesota from the state’s impaired waters list. This was the first time in Minnesota history that any lake or river recovered from a mercury impairment.

Friends of Lily Lake invites community to celebrate lake’s “de-listing” on September 30

By: angiehongmn September 19, 2022October 3, 2022

Keeping water clean, Local Achievementsclean water, featured, Lily Lake, middle st. croix watershed management organization, StillwaterLeave a Comment

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.

Local lakes at risk of too much love

By: angiehongmn August 25, 2022November 30, 2022

Aquatic Biology, Keeping water cleanfeatured, fishing, Lake Elmo, Minnesota lakes, Scandia, shoreline habitat, StillwaterLeave a Comment

As shorelines become increasingly more developed, we start to see shoreline erosion, fewer fish and wildlife, more algae in the water, and diminished water clarity.

A secret world beneath the surface of the soil

By: angiehongmn August 19, 2022November 30, 2022

Keeping water cleanconservation, farming, featured, soil health1 Comment

When working with farmers to improve soil health, soil scientists will sometimes begin by digging a soil pit. It is somewhat like an archaeological dig, except the focus is on finding geological clues to the past, as opposed to pottery or dinosaur bones.

Mississippi River – Take a drink, then pass it on

By: angiehongmn June 29, 2022

Keeping water cleandrinking water, featured, Mississippi River, wastewater1 Comment

It is no exaggeration to say that wastewater treatment is a feat of human ingenuity and one of our most important 20th Century success stories.

Lower St. Croix Watershed Partnership ramps up support for local farmers

By: angiehongmn June 22, 2022August 19, 2022

Keeping water clean, Partners and UpdatesConservation farming, cover crops, farming, featured, St. Croix River, sustainable agricultureLeave a Comment

In addition to hiring Jennifer Hahn as a Minnesota Extension agronomist to serve the region, the partnership is hosting workshops for large and small-scale farmers; offering incentive payments for cover crops, nutrient management, prescribed grazing and tillage management; and conducting listening sessions with beginning farmers at Big River Farms in May Twp.

Who maintains raingardens after they are planted?

By: angiehongmn June 2, 2022

Keeping water clean, Yards and Landscapingfeatured, raingarden maintenance, raingardens, stormwater, volunteersLeave a Comment

As raingardens surged in popularity, local communities quickly realized how challenging it could be to keep these new gardens looking good and functioning properly.