Chloride is toxic to freshwater organisms like fish, frogs, and aquatic invertebrates and also alters lakes’ internal chemistry, causing a cascade of unexpected impacts.
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Why is my lake green?
Across the state, numerous beaches have closed unseasonably early due to blue-green algal blooms, which can be toxic to both people and dogs.
How can you tell the difference between blue-green algae and run-of-the-mill pond scum?
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Submit a nomination for 2025 Natural Shoreline Awards
The Natural Shoreline Award Program recognizes beautiful lakeshore, riverfront and streamside properties that incorporate native flowers, shrubs, trees and plants. Award-winning properties can be located in Chisago, Isanti, Ramsey or Washington Counties.
2025 Program Timeline:
– July 1 – August 7: Call for nominations
– August 7 – 31: Program judges will tour and evaluate shorelines
– September 9: Award recipients are announced
Learn more and submit your nominations.
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Good for the goose and gander
Given their current abundance, you might be surprised to learn that Canada geese were a rare novelty in the 1920s. In fact, state and federal agencies actually worked together to breed and re-introduce them to the wild during the 1950s.
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Score your shore: A tool to measure the health of your lakeshore property
Maintaining and restoring lakeshore habitat isn’t just good for wildlife, it also helps to protect valuable real estate from literally washing away.
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Mississippi River – Looking forward, looking back
The Mississippi tops American Rivers’ list of Most Endangered Rivers. And yet, as we look toward the future, there are reasons to remain optimistic.
Learn more and find ways to engage during “Mississippi River Days of Action” on June 1 – 15.
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Keeping invaders out of Minnesota waters
In 2024, Minnesota deployed more than 800 watercraft inspectors to public boat launches around the state to help staunch the spread of zebra mussels, spiny waterflea, and other aquatic invaders. The goal? Preserve Minnesota’s famed “good life” and protect fishing, tourism, and cultural mainstays such as wild ricing and “up north at the cabin.”
One reason for optimism is that we are seeing fewer new infestations and better compliance with state laws for watercraft cleaning and inspections.
Unfortunately, however, the DNR still reported 41 new AIS infestations in Minnesota lakes and rivers last year.
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Do turf lawns protect us from ticks or make the problem worse?
Many homeowners assume that a tidy lawn with short grass is the best defense again ticks. On a large scale, however, suburban lawns may actually be making our tick problem worse.
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No Mow May & Slow Mow Summer
Participating in No Mow May is a great entry-level action that anyone can take to help protect the environment, and best of all, it is FREE!
Many people who participate in No Mow May become inspired to take the next step and transition their conventional turf lawn into a low-mow or alternative lawn. Drought tolerant turf-grass species like fine fescues reduce the need for mowing, watering, and chemicals, while low-growing flowers like Dutch white clover, self-heal, yarrow, creeping thyme, and pussy-toes can also be incorporated to provide food for native bees.
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State funds help to amplify the work of local government partners in the St. Croix Watershed
Nearly 8000 square miles of land in Minnesota and Wisconsin drains to the St. Croix River. Within this larger basin, 915 square miles of land on the Minnesota side is included in the Lower St. Croix watershed. This encompasses 127 lakes, over 1,000 miles of rivers and streams, and approximately 152,000 acres of wetlands.
In its first four years, the Lower St. Croix Watershed Partnership reduced phosphorus to local waterways by 10,959 pounds per year, which is nearly double what the group hoped to achieve over the course of its 10-year plan.
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East Metro Water 