Water Conservation – East Metro Water

Turning Stormwater into a Resource at Applewood Hills

By: angiehongmn March 24, 2022March 24, 2022

Groundwater, Local Achievements, Water ConservationApplewood Hills Golf Course, Brown's Creek Watershed District, featured, golf, stormwater reuse, Washington CountyLeave a Comment

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.

Using rain barrels to save water and money

By: angiehongmn March 3, 2022

Groundwater, Water Conservationfeatured, rain barrels, stormwater reuse, water conservationLeave a Comment

Rain barrels are a simple and inexpensive way to capture rainwater from your rooftop that would otherwise go to waste.

Wandering out of winter into spring

By: angiehongmn February 18, 2022

Water Conservation, Yards and Landscapingfeatured, forest, forestry, pollinators, spring gardening, sustainable landscaping, water conservationLeave a Comment

Beginning next week, local conservation partners are offering a variety of online and in-person workshops to help you transition from winter into spring, and, hopefully, create a more environmentally sustainable landscape in the process.

Adulting 101: Checking for water leaks in your home

By: angiehongmn January 6, 2022January 5, 2022

Groundwater, Water Conservationfeatured, fixing leaks, home improvement, water conservationLeave a Comment

According to the U.S. EPA, the average American household wastes 10,000 gallons of water per year, purely due to leaking toilets, sinks, and sprinkler systems.

Hard Fescue and SMART Controllers Allow for Green Grass with Less Water

By: angiehongmn August 26, 2021

Water Conservation, Yards and Landscapingfeatured, lawns, low mow grass, SMART controllers, sustainable lawns, water conservationLeave a Comment

At the end of a long, hot summer with no irrigation or rain, the plot with 100% hard fescue grass was still lush and green, while the one with Kentucky bluegrass was almost entirely dead.

Boy Scouts and Water Stewards help to create outdoor classrooms in Woodbury

By: angiehongmn November 6, 2020

Keeping water clean, Partners and Updates, Water Conservation, Yards and LandscapingBoy Scouts, environmental education, featured, Master Water Stewards, prairie, south washington watershed district, stormwater, volunteering, water conservation, WoodburyLeave a Comment

South Washington Watershed District created its Campus Greening program two years ago to encourage schools and other large campuses to think holistically about how they can meet stormwater management requirements when expanding buildings and parking areas. At the Lake and Middleton campus, South Washington County Schools (District 844) worked with SWWD to convert 15 acres of turf to prairie, plant 200 trees, and create the two new outdoor classrooms.

Campus greening projects planned for Valley Crossing and Crestview Elementary Schools

By: angiehongmn September 11, 2020September 11, 2020

Keeping water clean, Partners and Updates, Water Conservationcampus greening, Cottage Grove, environmental education, featured, habitat restoration, south washington watershed district, WoodburyLeave a Comment

At Valley Crossing in Woodbury, the school will convert 3.7 acres of turf to oak savanna and revitalize 7.15 acres of existing prairie on site. Crestview Elementary in Cottage Grove will restore 10 acres of degraded woodlands on campus and convert several areas of unused turf to prairie as well. The project is a partnership between South Washington Watershed District and South Washington County School District 833.

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.

Forest Lake Schools chart path to a greener future

By: angiehongmn June 13, 2019June 4, 2019

Keeping water clean, Partners and Updates, Water Conservationcomfort lake - forest lake watershed district, environmental education, featured, Forest Lake, rice creek watershed districtLeave a Comment

Lakes International Language Academy & Forest Lake Area High School both gain recognition for environmental initiatives The fourth grade students at Lakes International Language Academy (LILA) have been learning a lot about water this year. “We have a science unit about matter and have focused on water throughout the year,” explains teacher Roberto Izquierdo. “It…

Pimp your downspout

By: angiehongmn April 30, 2019April 30, 2019

Keeping water clean, Water Conservationfeatured, rain barrels, stormwater reuse, Washington County, water conservationLeave a Comment

Did you ever watch the MTV show Pimp my Ride? In each episode, the team would select a person with a truly awful car and then spend a few days restoring and customizing the vehicle. I could have definitely used their help twenty years ago. My first clunker was a Dodge Omni, which was a…