East Metro Water

Keeping invaders out of Minnesota waters

By: angiehongmn May 24, 2025May 20, 2025

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

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.

Do turf lawns protect us from ticks or make the problem worse?

By: angiehongmn May 16, 2025June 5, 2025

Yards and Landscapingfeatured, habitat fragmentation, landscaping, lawns, Lyme disease, native plants, ticks1 Comment

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.

No Mow May & Slow Mow Summer

By: angiehongmn May 9, 2025May 8, 2025

Yards and Landscapingfeatured, lawns, Minnesota, No Mow May, pollinators, yard careLeave a Comment

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.

State funds help to amplify the work of local government partners in the St. Croix Watershed

By: angiehongmn May 5, 2025May 2, 2025

Keeping water clean, Partners and Updates, UncategorizedClean Water Fund, featured, Minnesota, St. Croix RiverLeave a Comment

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.

Froggy Figaro

By: angiehongmn April 25, 2025April 24, 2025

Aquatic Biology, Wildlifefeatured, frogs, native plants, nature, spring, WetlandsLeave a Comment

Minnesota is home to 14 species of frogs and toads. During the spring, their chorus rings out as the males search for females and compete to present themselves as the most attractive option with whom to settle down and make a few thousand babies. Because each species has a distinctly different call, you can determine which types of frogs live in your area simply by listening to their symphony.

Tips for dry feet and healthy wetlands

By: angiehongmn April 11, 2025April 11, 2025

Aquatic Biology, Outdoor Adventures, Wildlifebirds, bogs, featured, marshes, Wetlands, WildlifeLeave a Comment

Though Minnesota might be known as the “Land of 10,000 lakes,” we could just as easily call ourselves the “Land of 1,000,000 wetlands.”

two hot air balloons touch down on a lake

Minnesota Lakes – What’s in a Name?

By: angiehongmn April 4, 2025

Aquatic Biology, Uncategorizedbeauty, featured, lakes, lifestyle, Minnesota lakes, nature, travelLeave a Comment

Minnesota is home to 200 Mud Lakes, 150 Long lakes, and 120 Rice lakes.

In addition to their actual names, the Minnesota DNR also assigns lakes a shoreland classification – natural environment, recreational development, or general development – that is used to guide lot size, setbacks, and land uses on surrounding properties.

Three people stand with their arms around a very large tree

A call for Tree Steward volunteers

By: angiehongmn March 25, 2025March 19, 2025

Buckthorneab, featured, planting, trees, volunteeringLeave a Comment

Minnesota’s Tree Steward program is designed for people who love trees, enjoy being outdoors, and want to volunteer in their community. In addition to caring for community trees, volunteers also help to lead reforestation efforts.

This spring, Washington Conservation District hopes to recruit and train 30-40 Tree Steward volunteers to work in communities across Washington County. There will be volunteer trainings on Saturday, April 5, 9am-2pm at Scandia Community Center and Saturday, April 12, 9am-2pm at Lake Elmo Park Reserve. The events are free and include lunch.

To learn more and sign-up, visit http://www.mnwcd.org/events.

An apple farmer by day, conservation champion for a lifetime

By: angiehongmn March 18, 2025March 18, 2025

Local Achievements, Partners and Updates, Uncategorizedapple orchards, Chisago County, Chisago Soil and Water Conservation District, farming, featured, Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources, soil and water conservationLeave a Comment

Over the course of his career, Jim Birkholz has supported SWCDs around the state, established a thriving family-run orchard, and helped to complete dozens of large-scale land and water protection efforts in Chisago County.