East Metro Water

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.

Bring on the bees

By: angiehongmn August 11, 2022November 30, 2022

Yards and Landscapingbee lawns, featured, lawns, pollinators, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

It is hard to say whether bee lawns are a hot new trend or a throw-back to the early 1900s.

Mysterious creatures of the St. Croix River

By: angiehongmn August 4, 2022

Aquatic Biology, Outdoor Adventuresbryozoans, featured, fish, freshwater mussels, St Croix River1 Comment

Bryozoans are just one of the many strange and unique animals that call the St. Croix River home.

What’s in the water you drink?

By: angiehongmn July 28, 2022

Groundwaterchloride pollution, drinking water, featured, groundwater, nitrates, wells2 Comments

Free well water testing clinic – Aug. 18-19 at Scandia Community Center

Exploring land-based living: Habitat restoration, hobby farms, and more

By: angiehongmn July 22, 2022July 22, 2022

Uncategorizedconservation, farming, featured, sustainable agriculture1 Comment

On August 1, Brittany Wiitala and Matt Hardy will share their farming stories during a special workshop hosted by the Lower St. Croix Watershed Partnership: You’ve got Land: Exploring farming and land management options for 10-40 acres.

Volunteer to protect Minnesota lakes from aquatic invasive species

By: angiehongmn July 20, 2022

Aquatic BiologyAIS, Aquatic Invasive Species, featured, lakes, Minnesota lakes, starry stonewort, zebra musselsLeave a Comment

During Starry Trek, scheduled this year for Aug. 20, volunteers gather at training sites to learn how to identify starry stonewort and then head out to local water accesses to search for signs of the invasive species.

Creating Water and Wildlife-Friendly Gardens with Native Plants

By: angiehongmn July 7, 2022August 19, 2022

Yards and Landscapingfeatured, gardening, native plants, treesLeave a Comment

In our developed areas, however, yards and gardens can help to form critical habitat connections for birds, bees, fox, and even mustachioed rabbits.

3 Moms + 3 Boys + 1,000,000 Mosquitoes: A Boundary Waters Adventure

By: angiehongmn June 30, 2022June 29, 2022

Outdoor Adventuresboundary waters, bwca, camping, canoeing, featuredLeave a Comment

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA) encompasses more than one million acres of forest, 1175 lakes, and 1200 miles of canoe routes in northeastern Minnesota.

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.